Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC

The A35 is the first AMG offering for the fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class and as a mild-but-menacing semi-hot hatch made to compete with the likes of the Golf GTi or an Audi S3, there's something cool about the almost-hot hatch that is made for the speedo boys who had less than 53 grand to spare from their wallets.

2019 Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC

As a hatchback priced at less than 53 grand, the A35 may not be the most daring of the hot hatches by the looks of it but when the drivers let loose of its turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder petrol engine, this is where everything's personal when its been taken on the road.

First off, the engine produces about 306PS of power, which is less than the now-defunct Ford Focus RS possess, and thanks to its AMG-tweaked 4MATIC variable all-wheel drive, it does 0-100kph in less than five seconds, which is surprisingly quick for the baby of the AMG family tree but it's not just straight-line quick that makes the A35 worth noticing, it's the way it behaves.

The 4MATIC variable all-wheel drive system that powers it is not what you called fantastic but it feels somewhat mild to drive, which is great for intermediate-level drivers who had their first fill with this semi-hot hatch and because the way it drives ranges from transmitting most of the power on the front to all four wheels, the difference between breaking your arm or breaking a leg is the kind of feeling you'd expect when you take it on the corners. It may not be as easy to smoke things out as a Ford Focus RS but with all that grip, it feels so easy to get the most out of this car.

While it wasn't the least of the problems, there are so many stuff the A35 carries such as the rather bizarre AMG exhaust system with exhaust flap that makes it as quiet as the whispering spell, the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7-speed double-clutch gearbox that promises to shift as fast as an F1 car but it doesn't make you feel like Lewis Hamilton every time you change gear, adaptive damping system, high-performance brake system, electro-mechanical sports power steering, and some other stuff too much to explain.

The Mercedes-AMG A35 may not be the best hot hatch in town but because of its grip courtesy of its 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, and some other stuff that makes it worth noticeable, this entry-level member of the AMG family still has a lot to learn from its bigger relatives but since this is a fast-learner, you never know what sort of fate will this semi-hot hatch will run into, whether if its for better or for worse.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz