TOP GEAR: Mercedes-Benz AMG A35 4MATIC SaloonFast but a tad uncompromised

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IT’S my view that the marketing people at M-B have over-used the AMG moniker by applying it to some fairly ordinary models by way of trim differentiation, so it was with more than a measure of anticipation that I welcomed the arrival on my driveway of the real deal, the AMG A35 Saloon.

The “35” may sit below the “45” in the compact performance Merc pecking order but that shouldn’t in any way detract from its impressive powertrain. The 2,0 turbo has been massaged to produce compelling figures – with the aid of a 48V mild hybrid system – of 235kW and 400Nm with the added rider that the engine doesn’t have to be revved to Mars and back to access most of the available energy.

All that rippling muscle is fed on a “most needed” basis to all four wheels which means that the most aggressive treatment has little bearing on the Merc’s measured deportment even if the gas pedal is stamped on leaving a T-junction. But don’t let me get ahead of myself before I tell you the ‘A’ range was the recipient of a fairly recent upgrading which in this instance saw a new “Panamericana” grille, fettled external detailing and smarter cabin materials.

That long-winded name for the grille – for the uninitiated – is derived from a famous and very dangerous open road race held in Mexico in the early 1950s as the Carrera Panamericana which saw Karl Kling (and others) compete in the forerunner of what was to become the immortal 300SL Gullwing.

So, there’s more than a bit of history in that snout just as there’s a bit of history behind the AMG moniker itself. Indeed, this tweaked model incorporated an AMG aero package which aside from the distinctive grille, includes sexy gloss black flick-ups (those little curved foils applied to the front flanks in DTM-style) and a slightly after-market-looking gloss black boot spoiler. Gloss black sill extensions and lower front valance along with a very real looking rear diffuser and glamorous multi-spoke alloys add just enough pizazz to make this low-riding compact Merc saloon look discretely menacing.

Truth be known, I’ve not been partial to the banana-like profile that infused so many Merc saloons since the CLS first came out, but this latest A-Class saloon looks altogether ‘straighter’ and more composed in profile, so much so that I found myself frequently staring at it out of my front door. The stumpy bum occasioned by the cabin rearwards structure that’s been lowered over wheels that fill out the arches, give it enough “come-on factor” to rank it very near the top of my favourite lookers department.

This specific car featured a coat of metallic white paint that showed off a decent gloss sullied by less orange peel than the recently tested GLC, and happy to report, panel gaps all proved to be close and even and the doors shut with a nice thud too.

We’ll get to the interior after we’ve been for a ride, suffice for now to declare that the interior is accessed by a keyless system and that a push button start fires the energetic four into life. Unless the most “Dynamic’ drive mode is selected, it’s very soon apparent that this 2,0 straight four does not sound particularly melodious. In truth, it sounds somewhat weedy, so much so that my wife wrongly (and happily) thought she was sitting in an innocent shopping car!

After allowing the engine oil to warm up, a switch to Dynamic mode immediately brings with it a much more inviting baritone burble from the pair of satin black tailpipes. There is indeed menace in this Merc’s make-up as a good prod of the loud pedal quickly confirms. Thanks to the clever distribution of power, the AWD system means there’s no scrabble and no torque steer.

And the new 8-speed dual clutch auto holds on to lower ratios with more determination, while the rapid and sometimes abrupt shifts are accompanied by a delicious pop from the rear. A series of lesser pops on the overrun simply adds to the aural appeal served up in Dynamic or Sport+ mode, but more important is the fact that there’s genuine thrust on tap in the 35.

In fact, it feels faster than its 0-100 time of 4,8s suggests, which means there’s a fun factor at play, but it’s a characteristic that’s to be enjoyed on smooth surface tar – such as will be most commonly encountered in the Fatherland.

You see, when the wick is turned up, the Adaptive Dynamics really stiffen everything up and add a hard edge to this Merc’s make-up. The big Conti Sport contacts – 235/40ZR18s – create a pervasive din on coarse tar while bumps and hard edges thump through the cabin. Disturbingly, a number of clonks could be heard from somewhere in the depths of the Merc’s underpinnings.

I can hear some of you suggesting that a less aggressive driving mode would solve the “problem.”  Indeed, for the most part Comfort mode was employed and while this did take away some of the unyielding feel, the sporty sounds disappear but the chassis remains a tad wooden whatever the driving mode.

The upside is that fast cornering remains remarkably flat and grip hugely assured thanks to the AWD but be aware that the lack of fluidity in overall feel extends to the steering that also varies in accordance with the driving mode selected, but which also can’t shake off the slightly leaden feedback that the chassis delivers. The brakes, however, are imperious and deliver huge stopping power with a beautifully judged pedal feel.

What all this should tell you is that the 35 is a car of little compromise in that it shows off its best on billiard-like surfaces which are becoming an increasingly rare (excuse the deliberate oxymoron) commodity in southern Africa. And don’t forget the aforementioned road roar either. It can become invasive and undermines, from a refinement aspect, the minimal wind noise that’s contained by double door seals all round. Personally, I enjoyed the slightly uncompromised set-up and the exhaust’s pops and whooshes, not to mention the rapier-like acceleration, but my regular Cape driving routine takes in many of the better roads in Mzansi.

As for liquid thirst, usage patterns create divergent results. For example, the long-term odo in the beautifully clear digital cluster showed an average 11,1L/100km but out on the motorway at 120 clicks, a figure in the high 8s was easy to achieve.

Now for creature comforts. The interior is undeniably sporty in its execution just as it should be, and in this specific instance, the seating blends the usual black with bright red, leather-clad centre panels. The sportily executed front pews feature full automation and memory along with thigh extensions and a really grippy feel to the backrest, but those in the back will find things rather claustrophobic, albeit that two shorter adults shouldn’t feel too compromised.

As with all modern Mercs, the upper surfaces of the cabin sport lots of squidgy surfaces, but lower down, things get somewhat more utilitarian, no thanks to the use of hard plastics. In this instance though, mat surfacing and prominent graining of those plastics improves visual impressions at least. Sad to report though, a number of creaks and trim vibrations undermined the Merc hewn-from-granite feel of old and I also noticed that the covering of the cushion extension of the front passenger seat was not uniformly attached.

For sure, the brilliantly informative and amazingly clear MBUX display panel dominates the interior and while some may bemoan the departure of the once familiar touch pad activation, voice control has taken over and works rather well.

A smart, fully adjustable leather clad steering wheel is home to a myriad of functions, not least cruise control, Bluetooth, volume and engine/chassis modes and along with all this functionality are niceties such as a large sunroof, traffic/parking proximity warnings, a cabin full of airbags supplemented by an array of electronic safety aids, smartphone integration and charging with generous connectivity, camera views and an effective auto air con system that’s operated from a rather flimsy “add-on” panel in the lower dash.

Overall, the cabin ambience is decidedly pleasant and infused with sporty overtones that avoid being garish, but be warned that rear space is not this model’s prime selling attribute. The beautifully trimmed boot offers 370L expandable to a generous 1 210L, but the absence of a spare wheel is a worry.

Note too that this test unit was decked out with rather a lot of options which included the leather pack, the added aero bits, a night package and an expensive premium plus pack that incorporates a number of MBUX extensions along with the aforementioned sunroof and a head-up display. A visit to https://www.mercedes-benz.co.za will help SA residents, at least, clear the air on what’s standard and what’s not, but bear in mind for anyone sourcing from outside Mzansi, specs may vary wildly.

I guess I’m old fashioned in my thinking as befits someone of my advanced years, but I still have a soft spot for Mercs delivered in traditional saloon clothes. The low slung, muscular demeanour of the A35 AMG therefore triggered instant appeal but also reaffirmed how today’s relatively huge bakkies and SUVs severely curtail all-round visibility from within such a sportily executed saloon. Sure, this AMG interpretation is a little too uncompromised in terms of its rather stiff chassis and lack of suppleness, but if you can overlook that, it’s thrusting performance and baritone bark in Dynamic/Sport+ mode makes all the compromises worthwhile.