And the less-than-intuitive touchpad controls of the A35's MBUX infotainment system—with dual 10.3-inch instrument cluster and center-stack screens, upsized from the A-class's standard 7.0-inchers—requires some acclimation. Search pre-owned Mercedes-Benz AMG GT listings to find the best Toronto, ON deals. Yet, if the new S-class is anything to go by, a full touchscreen interface will be the way forward for Mercedes. We analyze hundreds of thousands of used cars … At any pace below that, it becomes more than a little annoying. A huge bank of identical-looking buttons labelled in small font gives off a pretty confounding first impression, while the carbon-fibre interior accents are used sparingly. My tester's leather-and-suede seats are grippy and have just the right amount of support. While some of the A-class's interior materials aren't as posh as you'd find in a C- or E-class, there's little else to complain about.
And that will happen often, thanks to some strange power delivery. Load up the direct but not overly quick steering, and the A35 changes direction with impressive assertiveness. Conversely, there’s something about the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S that just feels imposing. Another $800 opens up autodimming mirrors and keyless entry, but I'll skip the navigation package since I prefer CarPlay. HIGHS: Big grip, stout turbo-four, a cabin fit for a Mercedes, reasonably priced for an AMG.
The A35's upscale ambiance is in sync with its price point—the $400 AMG Drive Unit controls on the $600 AMG Performance steering wheel are a welcome ergonomic touch in hard driving. Today, the AMG name is synonymous with world-class performance and … Considering there needs to be room for the A45 above it, this isn't much of a surprise, although I will admit I'm a sucker for angry cold starts.Every other femtosecond of existence inside the A35, though, is engineered for high energy -- not always for the better, either. The vents and buttons are largely the same as you'll find in more expensive Mercs, although the vinyl AMG treatment on the passenger-side dashboard is a little on the kitschy side. My tester lacks these, but previous A-Class experience dictates that these packages should be pretty useful on long journeys.My tester's not obscenely priced, starting at $45,945 including destination and rounding out to $51,635 with options. Spending $550 opens up blind-spot monitoring, while a $1,090 package adds a surround-view camera system and active parking assist. The history of AMG is oddly cyclical: It began when two ex-Mercedes engineers set up shop in a small garage after their former company discontinued its motor sports division in the mid-’60s, and it became the catalyst for the Mercedes’s incredible return to performance nearly 30 years later. Other than a $580 heated seat option, all this stuff is standard, too, including the perfectly sized suede-wrapped steering wheel.The AMG stripes on the passenger side are thankfully optional.The A-Class might be a compact car, but it's not oppressively tight inside. You're more likely to notice its roughly two-inch-narrower width, which makes its cockpit feel more intimate. My ideal A35 starts with a $720 shade of Denim Blue Metallic, while I add $900 for LED headlights and $750 for the AMG Night Package, since I despise exterior chrome.

Everything else is tucked away in the $1,700 Driver Assistance Package, which includes adaptive cruise control with active steering assist, lane-keeping assist, active lane-change assist and route-based speed adaptation. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io,Porsche 911 4S Manual Fills a Narrow Niche,Tested: 2003 Nissan 350Z Returns to Its Roots,Tested: 2020 Nissan Frontier Is a Resto Rod,Tested: Cayman T Simmers in Basic Excellence,Tested: 2020 Alpina B7 Upends the 7-Series Order,Tested: Porsche Boxster GTS 4.0 Sings a New Song,Tested: S6 Puts Value Ahead of the S7's Style,Tested: 2020 AMG CLA45 Grows Up, Gets Better,2021 Honda Odyssey Delivers Smart Updates,Kia Forte GT Puts Value Ahead of Sportiness.We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. Save $75,724 on a used Mercedes-Benz AMG GT near you. This vehicle will not disappoint you. You just have to be ready to have that good time all the time.Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. Yowza.Mercedes-Benz's biggest competitors for the A35 can actually be found on the same dealer lot. 2018 Mercedes Benz E63 AMG S 4MATIC+ Sedan with Navigation, Panoramic Roof, Keyless Go, LED Lights, Active Blind Spot Assist, Carbon Trim, 20 Inch AMG Wheels and AMG Drivers Package. Tons of fun, actually. Mercedes-Benz Brampton Enjoy 0.9% financing on select 2016-2019 Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. But there's still ample room to get comfortable in AMG's standard sport seats (more supportive performance thrones cost up to $3290), and its back seat is relatively accommodating for a compact car, thanks in part to an upright greenhouse that lends the A-class a conventional three-box sedan profile with decent headroom. Starting the car is actually a pretty sedate affair, its 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 jumping to life with (predictably) less clamor than some of AMG's heavier hitters.

America's newest baby Benz has more luxury than CLA- or GLA-Class. It's frantic, sure, but the A35 is nicely composed, never once making me feel like the car is unsettled as I dig deeper. Buying Certified gets you: Reassurance: … We'd still prefer a bit more refinement, and AMG's more powerful CLA45 and C43 sedans are a short stretch away, with starting prices around $55K. Starting from a stop requires what feels like a full second of clutch slip, making it difficult to time a departure from a side street to an artery, and the issue is further compounded when the engine decides it's time for max acceleration. By Erik Johnson, contributor. Just make sure you're constantly looking for that kind of fun, because again, there's no stopping it.Mercedes-AMG must be saving most of the A35's chill for highway speeds, because its fuel economy is pretty decent. I'll also pass over the safety systems, but I'll splurge on the $1,090 surround-view camera getup and the $990 adaptive dampers.

When the A35 claws through corners, the DCT seamlessly transitions from gear to gear. Our car experts choose every product we feature.