Mercedes-AMG A 45 S

Hottest A-Class benefits from changes introduced on rest of the range

- Alex Ingram

MERCEDES has given its A-Class a little nip and tuck for 2023. We've already sampled the changes to the standard family hatch, but now it's the turn of the AMG models. Both the A 35 and A 45 S receive a little attention, but it's the hotter of the two cars that we're trying here.

We reckon that Mercedes struck a great balance between subtlety and menace the first time around, so it's a good thing that changes to the A 45's looks are minimal.

The headlights have revised LED internals and flank a grille that has been reshaped. Look closely and you'll see that the traditional three-pointed star above the grille has been replaced by the AMG logo. There are revised lights at the back, too.

The interior tweaks mirror those in the rest of the A-Class range. The key change comes with an improved version of the MBUX infotainment system. It's very slick, with quick loading times and razor-sharp graphics. It also introduces some new menu structures that will appeal to keen drivers, because it's now much easier to switch between the drive modes and customise each one to your specific taste.

Better still is the fact that a small round dial on the right-hand spoke of the steering wheel lets you switch between drive modes on the fly, while the one on the left allows you to configure specific features, such as the exhaust note, damper modes and gearbox. The buttons don't just look cool, they're also incredibly intuitive - unlike the slightly fiddly touch-sensitive switches for the stereo and cruise control.