Mercedes is worth its price
Mercedes AMG A35 4Matic compact sedan is the most powerful and expensive version of Mercedes’ smallest car.
The automaker’s legendary AMG tuning group reworked its drivetrain and chassis to make it fast and fun.
Its interior has Mercedes’ latest digital assistant, upgraded materials and a big AMG label to make sure you don’t forget why you paid more than $54K for a sedan the size of a Honda Civic.
Mercedes is the oldest carmaker in the world, but it’s a relative newcomer to selling cars that size.
Endowing them with the level of luxury, exclusivity and performance that justifies the price of Merc’s bigger models isn’t easy, particularly in America, where many people think luxury and size are synonymous.
That’s why the small A-class sedans have to fight for attention as capital-intensive electric vehicles get more corporate resources. Small SUVs, like the appealing GLB that shares the A35 architecture, are probably safe, at least until there’s an EV doppelgänger to replace them. Small cars, which make less money, particularly in the U.S., are on thin ice as Mercedes looks to trim a model line bloated with body styles and drivetrain combinations to free investment for an upcoming range of EVs.
A35 prices start at $45,850. That’s a cool $12,200 over the base model, which has less power, front-wheel drive and few, if any, performance aspirations. Adding all-wheel drive raises the tab $2,000. Those models come with a modest 188-horsepower 2.0L four-cylinder turbo and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
All A-class sedans are 179.1 inches long and 56.9 inches tall, about 3 inches shorter and 1.2 inch taller than a Honda Civic sedan. Those stats have always made the A-class challenging for Mercedes: The Civic — any mainstream compact, really — is a fine car. How does a luxury brand justify prices $10K+ higher for a car about the same size, with a similar mechanical layout?
That’s where the A35 comes in. Heavily revised by Merc’s AMG tuning house, all A35s have upgraded running gear, starting with performance-tuned all-wheel drive, a 302-hp turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The A35’s base price is competitive, but a lot of features most buyers will want are optional, so the tab rises fast. I tested a well-equipped model that stickered at $54,970. All prices exclude destination charges.
The A35’s steering is responsive and quick, transmitted through a thick AMG-designed steering wheel with small multipurpose buttons you can swipe up, down, right or left to position displays and other features.
The digital instrument cluster display is sharp, as is the touch screen mounted in the middle of the dashboard. The touch screen and voice-activated digital assistant provide easy ways to control most systems. Leather-wrapped dash and suede door inners provide appealing touch points.