Mercedes CLA 45 AMG review, test drive

The feeling goes away as soon as you get access to the higher gears. Now in its power band for a longer duration of time, the CLA 45 makes really good use of all that available grunt. It feels shockingly quick from around 80 to 180kph, the speedo needle arching across the dial like it is springloaded. And you can ‘feel’ the speed, even on the wide expanse of the autobahn. It pushes you firmly in the back every time you accelerate hard and that connection between the accelerator pedal and the seat back makes you feel great. AMG engineers may have dialled back the manic response of the engine (in comparison to the A45), but the CLA 45’s raw pace still comes through.

What’s actually odd is that even though it doesn’t feel all that quick, it is seriously rapid at lower speeds too. Its four-wheel-drive system helps it launch off the blocks and spool up to 100kph in just 4.6 seconds, a fruity, bass-heavy snarl accompanying the heady rush; that’s seriously quick by any standard. So, overall performance is right up there with what you expect from an AMG, especially when you use launch control. 

What’s impressive is that the handling is just as good as a rear-wheel-drive car. Of course, being four-wheel drive, it approaches corners differently, and as a result feels a bit dull and wooden when driven at medium speeds. Yes, the steering is accurate and the car has a decent amount of grip, but to get to the really good stuff, you really have to drive it hard. You have to enter corners harder, turn the car in later and add power a bit earlier than you would in a car with rear-wheel drive. And that’s when the CLA 45 AMG truly wakes up and comes alive. Suddenly, the turn-in seems more positive, the balance around a corner feels just right, and the huge amounts of grip allow you to slingshot out of corners like being shot out of a cannon. Yes, it lacks the poise and balance of a rear-wheel-drive car, but this slightly altered driving experience feels so raw and transparent, going quicker is simply addictive.