Mercedes Benz A-Class Limousine

Mercedes-Benz in India may not be as well recognized as BMW as makers of sporty cars but when it comes to full blown performance machines, things are quite different because their AMG division is not the one to be taken lightly. Mercedes-AMG, in fact, have managed to roll on the correct path and gain a lot of prominence in the last few years thanks to a supremely exciting lineup of high-performance cars.
The recently launched A35 AMG is one such model. It’s a fiercely powerful and compact sedan that’s all set to compete in the fast mid-size sedan segment which has become a reflection of the changing tastes and ambitions of young buyers who are not hesitant to splurge on compact performance cars. Here’s how the most affordable AMG fares in the real world.

Starting off with the design, now the overall look is obviously that of an A-Class given that the A35 AMG is based on the relatively mainstream sedan offering from Mercedes. That said, there are so many eye-catching details on the A35, right from the more aggressive grille with twin louvers, the AMG front bumper with flics on the air intakes, to that front splitter and the silver chrome trim elements. The 18-inch AMG alloys and the adaptive tail lamps further enhance the performance-focused nature of the A35. Also, it’s the rear-end look that shouts of AMG’s manic intent. You get a nice rear spoiler and two twin diffusers for better aerodynamics and of course the sporty appearance. We also like those round exhausts with chrome elements and the curtain element in the bumper that overall results in a more purposeful look compared to the regular A-Class sedan. 

Inside, the A35 AMG primarily uses black to set the ambience and features a lot of expensive elements from larger Mercedes models. Things like the large dual digital displays, the chunky three spoke steering wheel and the knobs and switches on the door and the center console. As for the quality, the cabin includes plenty of nice looking metal inserts around the center console and the dash. Mercedes has also used high grade plastic and chrome bits for the clean and rather cool looking dashboard. You also get AMG-specific bits like the red seatbelts, body-hugging sports seats and drilled aluminium pedals.

In terms of space and comfort, the A35 does alright. While the seats themselves are extremely supportive, there isn’t much space to move around, especially at the back. Though not as much as in the old CLA45, you can notice the sloping roofline and the small windows once you are seated at the back, making the otherwise comfortable cabin feel a bit claustrophobic and that’s also because of the all-black upholstery and an equally dark headlining. As for features you get adaptive LED headlamps, tail lamps, twin digital displays that are high on clarity and fluidity, a high-end Burmester surround sound system, adaptive AMG suspension, AMG 18-inch wheels, wireless charging pad, ambient lighting, Nappa leather, electric front seats, several airbags, ABS, stability assists, and speed warning chimes. You also get active brake assist which can alert the driver if it senses that a collision is imminent and apply the brakes eventually if it doesn’t receive any braking input from the driver.

The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine in the A35 is basically an A250 model engine that has been upgraded with a twin-scroll turbocharger, a better cooling system, and a stronger manifold to deal with the additional intake pressure. Although it’s plenty powerful for its size, it’s a surprisingly friendly engine that is supremely responsive. Using launch control, we managed a 0-100kmph time of 4.98 seconds and 0-60kmph in just 2.37 seconds – impressive figures considering we tested the car on a very hot summer’s day. As for the gearbox, the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic works well for the most part, finding the right gear to mask the turbo lag. From the multiple driving modes, it performs the best when put in Sport+ wherein gear changes are lightning quick and fairly brutal at the same time. For pottering around town though, it’s better to shift to Comfort and let the drivetrain work in the least stressful manner.

The A35 AMG sits low on big 18-inch wheels with low profile tires and to top it all off, the AMG derived suspension is stiffly sprung and that’s never a good thing if you have a bad back. Having said all that, the A35 impresses but has its limitations. You get adaptive damping as standard with this car and it does work across mixed road surfaces. In Comfort mode, the ride quality is genuinely forgiving and as long as you are on pothole-free roads the A35 doesn’t feel hard-edged or brittle. There is, however, a lot of movement over bumpy roads even at acceptably fast speeds, and moving to Sport+ only amps up the fidgety nature of the short travel suspension. And with a ground clearance of 160mm, you have to be super careful when going over speed bumps or crumbling city roads as there is a good chance you will bottom out if there are passengers at the back.

Now for the all-important handling, the level of grip and cornering speeds that you can achieve with this little sedan go well beyond several rear-drive sports cars currently out there. This is primarily down to how well AMG’s variable all-wheel-drive system distributes power, depending on how much load and grip each wheel has at any given point through the corners. Even though it never sends more than 50 per cent of the power to the rear wheels, the A35 feels neutral and beautifully poised, especially across tight corners. The A35’s steering is also very direct and beautifully assisted and yet never too pointy, making the turn-in very predictable.

If the compact proportions and limited rear seat space do not appeal to you, the powerful AMG-inspired drivetrain and the sorted dynamics certainly would. Better still, the top-notch cabin and better rear seat comfort mean the A-Class is more enticing than ever and this A35 is a worthy flagship offering. As an alternative to the Audi S5 or even the BMW M340i, it is an intriguing proposition, one that ticks a lot of ‘everyday performance’ boxes.