What’s it like inside?
The Edition 1 pack also adds extra interior kit including AMG performance seats, a special sports steering wheel, combination black and titanium grey leather upholstery with yellow contrast stitching and brushed aluminium highlighting.
These extras give sporting vim to a cabin that is already a standout across the entire AClass range. Core features such as the dualscreen MBUX infotainment system, layered dashboard, and turbinelike air vents carry straight over to the A45 S, and the already high standard of materials and finish gets a further lift.
The front seats are firm and supersupportive, with plenty of adjustability in the driving position. Sticking with Mercedes’ columnmounted wandstyle gear selector may seem odd for a performance car, but it makes sense; when manual shifting is needed, it’s performed using the paddle shift controls nestled behind the wheel.
Extra controls are located beneath the steering wheel spokes to enable the faster selection of the vehicle’s drive modes. Gimmicky at first acquaintance, they quickly prove their worth in daytoday use.
Unlike bespoke supercars in which luggage space is typically restricted, and rear seats — if provided at all — are an absolute joke, hot hatches count interior practicality in their favour. The AMG A45 S is a case in point; there’s decent head and legroom in the back as well as the front, the cabin features plenty of useful storage cubbies, and the 370litre boot capacity is the same as a standard AClass. systems, driver aids, connectivity and convenience features are included in the A45 S package. Look the list up online for further details if need be. If you would like a Drivesouth verdict on the quality of the premium Burmester surround sound system, apologies; the car itself sounds so good, I never got around to giving the audio a serious blast.
Standard features that were sampled regularly on test included the array of performance displays on the MBUX screens (a personal favourite being the realtime displays of power and torque).