Best sports car $50k - $100k

Winner: Mercedes-AMG A 45

The Mercedes-AMG A 45 is once again back on the winner’s podium in the premium sports car class. But it wasn’t a win that came easily, having to withstand concerted challenges from Honda’s affordable and stonking new Civic Type R, and the BMW M240i – an old adversary and very worthy past winner in this class. In the end, the points tally across 17 assessment criteria gave the Merc a skinny six-point winning margin to the Honda in second spot.

Owning and running the hot-shot A-Class will punish the bank balance more than the similarly priced BMW and fiscally-friendly Honda. For a small hatchback, it’s not that cheap and you can expect depreciation to bite harder, while running and repair costs are amongst the worst in class. The Merc is reasonably fuel efficient by class standards, but its beverage of choice is the dearer 98 RON fuel.

On the upside, its standard features list is more generous than the Honda or its German rival. The lengthy equipment list includes heated power front seats, LED headlamps, dual-zone climate control, leather trim, keyless start, infotainment system with 8.0-inch colour screen and navigation, Harman Kardon sound system, plus a host of AMG specific enhancements. These include the instrument cluster, performance seats, steering wheel, 19-inch alloys, high-performance brake system, performance exhaust system, spoiler, and a selective ride control adaptive sports suspension system.

Buyers expect strong safety credentials in a car such as this, and there are no disappointments – the A 45 and Kia Stinger GT are the only two cars in the class to score a perfect 10 for safety.

First impressions count, and the Merc’s body and interior styling shout the performance car message. But it’s what it can do, not what it advertises, that really counts. It’s hard to imagine any driving enthusiast that wouldn’t be impressed by its on-road talents.

There’s a ballistic 2.0-litre turbo engine that pumps out a mighty 275kW and 475Nm, making it one of the most powerful production engines of its displacement you’ll find. Mated to a seven-speed DCT gearbox, performance is nothing short of exhilarating, and there’s that lovely exhaust ‘snap, crackle and pop’. The 0-100km/h sprint is dispatched in just 4.2 seconds.

The AMG Dynamic Select system allows driver control over engine and transmission response, plus steering and suspension settings to best suit driving conditions and style. The 4Matic all-wheel-drive system efficiently puts power down to the tarmac, allowing it to carve through and slingshot out of corners. With limpet-like grip, it’s more a point-and-shoot weapon than the agile and lively rear-drive BMW, with which it shares class-leading handling scores. The AMG braking system does a great job of restraining the vehicle when called on.

The A 45’s more overtly styled interior has switchgear that’s too fussy for the judges’ liking, however, like the Type R, the Merc’s body-hugging AMG sports seats provide great comfort and support, even during hard cornering.

The simple fact is, whichever of the three cars that made our final cut you choose, you won’t be disappointed. They all offer that wow factor and you’ll get a superb drive. Yet, by the numbers in 2018, the A 45 is the more complete premium sports car package.

Mercedes-AMG A 45
Indicative drive-away: $85,254
Body type: five-door hatch
Fuel economy/fuel type: 7.3L/100km, PULP
Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre four-cylinder, seven-speed DCT
ANCAP: 5 stars

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