Mercedes-AMG A 45 review - MPG, running costs & CO2
Only hardcore fans are likely to choose the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S
Rather like a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 or Audi RS3, the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S is a seriously hardcore performance car with a higher power output than many racing cars. With 415bhp, downforce generating wings and wide tyres, it would require a miracle to be genuinely fuel-efficient. During our testing we managed around 30mpg combined when driving carefully, which is fairly close to the current combined WLTP figure of 30.7mpg.
CO2 emissions of 208g/km mean a first-year vehicle tax bill of £1,565, and after that, the A45 S is subject to the same annual bill as any other petrol or diesel car. Well, if you don’t count the £570 surcharge applied to every vehicle with an on-the-road price of more than £40,000, which means in years five to six, you’ll pay £750 a year to tax the hottest hot hatch.
Surprisingly, given the performance on offer, the A45 S stops short of reaching the top of the insurance group tree, at group 41. The A 45 S will also sit in the top band for company-car tax and consumable parts such as tyres, brakes and even oil will be expensive.
