All petrol heads love a properly balanced hot hatchback, but choosing one in today’s market might be tricky. You have everything from the ultra-popular front-wheel drive VW Golf GTI, to the Renault Megane RS, Honda Civic Type R and newcomer of the bunch, Hyundai’s i30 N.
Kicking it up a notch will get you an all-wheel drive model, like the new BMW M135i, Mercedes-AMG A35, Audi RS3 Sportback or Volkswagen Golf R. But what if you want the most powerful of them all? Well, then you’ll have to fork out a small fortune for the Mercedes-AMG A45 S, which continues to impress reviewers with its whopping power squeezed out of a small four-pot.
Also Watch: Mercedes-AMG A45 S Beats Ford Mustang GT At Hockenheim GP
The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine has been tuned to deliver a stunning 421 PS (415 hp / 310 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque, directed to the 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system via an 8-speed automatic transmission. The zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint is truly impressive, needing only 3.9 seconds, which is quicker than some of yesterday’s supercars, while flat out, the mega hatchback can do 270 km/h (168 mph).
All this comes at a price, though; namely, €61,820 ($68,476) in Germany and £50,570 ($64,839) in the United Kingdom. So, is it worth spending that much on what is, in essence, a compact hatchback, albeit an immensely powerful and capable one? If the previous video reviews did not help you make up your mind, then perhaps this POV drive will. After all, what’s not to like about experiencing it on B-roads from the comfort of your home/office?