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Mercedes recently updated its A45 AMG, adding more power, more equipment and a fairly decent overhaul of the chassis, too.
We’ve run it down the drag strip, where we found it ballistically quick – if not quite as quick as Audi’s new RS3 – and we’ve also compared it to Ingolstadt’s equivalent hyper-hatch in our latest issue.
Overall we’re pretty impressed, however here are a few quick likes and dislikes.
Likes
Adjustable dampers – Arguably the biggest improvement the update A45 displays is its ride quality thanks to the new standard-fit adjustable dampers. It’s still pretty firm, but now has enough absorbency that it’s perfectly acceptable for everyday use.
Gearbox – The A45’s Achilles heel continues to be its transmission. The seven-speed dual-clutch ‘box just can’t match its competitors for responsiveness or shift speed. It’s not too bad left to make its own choices in Sport, but needs improving, especially on downshifts.
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