2023 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ review: A menace that makes your inner child giggle

Nov 1, 2023 6:36 pm

Have you ever experienced how chaotic a bunch of toddlers can be? There is a total disregard for social rules and acceptable behaviour with this bunch of human beings, but they are essentially a reflection of how all of us grown-ups would really like to behave – to be free from social norms and judgement from others whatsoever. The truth is, as we’ve grown up, we’ve learned to suppress our true feelings in exchange for an orderly society. But once in a while, we all wish to have an avenue to break free from being a boring grown-up, and boy do I have the perfect car for you to do this – the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+.

Now, let’s talk about the car. This is a four-door coupe by Mercedes-Benz which is quite small. If you didn’t know it yet, the AMG and Affalterbach badges mean that this little car packs quite a punch – One start-up of the car is all you need to hear to get an idea of how wild it is. Introduced in 2013, the CLA is a fairly new model line by Mercedes-Benz and it is currently in its second generation. This second generation debuted in 2019 and received a facelift in 2023. Right before your eyes is the 2023 AMG version of the CLA.

Before we carry on with the review, here’s a quick look at the basic information about the 2023 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+:

Engine	2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4
Maximum power output	421 hp
Maximum torque	500 Nm
Transmission	8-speed DCT
Drivetrain	AWD
0-100 km/h	4.1 seconds
Top Speed	270 km/h
Price	RM527,888

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S Exterior: Sleek despite the overgrown head

When it started out, the CLA wasn’t exactly a good-looking car. It looked like it had an overgrown head and felt like an afterthought that was created based on the A-Class hatchback. It did, however, introduce an interesting model line for the brand – it was something somewhat sleek in a truly compact package.

Most of the design “problems” in the first generation were fixed by the second generation as it now looks like a dedicated design. It still appears to have an overgrown head (from certain angles), but that’s because the C-pillar has to quickly match the coupe boot height with very little length to spare. Its looks were a bit difficult for yours truly to stomach at first, but think of it as a male cat – their skulls are usually quite big and it does make them look a bit more macho.

As for the colour of the car, the test unit looks like something you’d get if you let your child spec the car for you. As its name suggests, the “Hyper Blue” colour screams for attention and the only downside of it is people making fun of the fact that it looks similar to a colour provided by one of our local budget carmakers.

You need to be able to not take yourself so seriously if you want to drive a car like this. It is after all, a little powerful car that you should have fun with. I didn’t start out liking the colour at first but having seen it in various lighting conditions after a few days, I’d say it isn’t so bad (coming from someone who prefers mundane car colours).

Funny colour choices aside, the CLA 45 S does look intimidating in the rear-view mirror and that’s just an expected effect of the AMG grille with the vertical slates. Other cars just move out of your way even when you’re driving in a civilised manner.

The whole A-class range from Mercedes-Benz has been updated this year including the hatchback and the sedan as well. The exterior differences, however, a rather minute. Part of it is the new headlight interior design and the new front bumper. This facelift for the CLA 45 S also introduces the Affalterbach badge to the front end (previously the Mercedes-Benz emblem). There is more black gloss on the front bumper and that helps to keep it looking fresh. Also on the front bumper are canards, which are also finished in gloss black.

What else has changed on the outside? Well, you get a new set of wheels which look like Patrick from SpongeBob, gloss black wing mirrors, gloss black window trims, a gloss black rear spoiler, and a new taillight interior design. Now one thing to note about the CLA is that it has always had frameless doors even from its first generation. So, it isn’t simply an A-Class hatchback with a boot.

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S Driving: It would make a child giggle, and it begs to be driven hard

I initially wanted to rant about how high-performance 4-cylinder turbocharged engines are pretty much the final hope for petrol heads in the age of electrification. However, I’ll talk about something else instead that left quite an impression on me – This car made my 2-year-old son giggle. He loved the sound of the car, the jolts that the gear shifts made, and of course, the pops and bangs that came with it.

This giggling that the AMG CLA 45 S caused relates very strongly to what I have mentioned before in a review of the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+. You don’t need to know the technical specifications to enjoy or be intimated by a car. My 2-year-old son has absolutely no idea what an internal combustion engine is, and he is also totally clueless about what a transmission is. But he enjoyed the car, and this is what a fun car should be capable of doing – transcend language and mental capacity, and just be a bonkers and enjoyable machine on 4 wheels.

That little experience is enough to make me want the car, regardless of how hard it rides or how hard the sports seats are. I also couldn’t care less if my neighbours get slightly annoyed by its startup sound. As I mentioned earlier, a car like this is the perfect avenue for temporarily escaping that orderly life that we have become accustomed to. I am not encouraging you to break the law, but I am encouraging you to have a little fun in your life and to not take yourselves so seriously once in a while.

And if you’ve come to this review to get a more serious insight into how the car drives, here it is. The car is grippy, the suspension is tight (minimal travel), the steering is tight, and the transmission is eager. For hard driving on B-roads, you might want to take over the transmission as it can sometimes not really know what you’re trying to do. For slightly spirited driving, you’re fine with the car set into Sport + mode. Power is plenty.

If you want to compare it to other “hot little cars” out there, I’d say it is more fun than the Golf R. The CLA 45 S just has the correct amount of silliness and stupidity for you to let loose. The sound that the car makes is glorious, and this can be a problem, as you’ll enjoy burning all that fossil fuel. Before you know it, your gas tank will be nearly empty.

Another thing about a car like the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S that strikes a chord with me, is that enjoyable cars are more than just about 0-100km/h acceleration times. And this is a matter that I wish carmakers would not forget. There are plenty of electric vehicles that do century sprint times that can almost rival (or even beat) the CLA 45S. But I have driven most of the “performance EVS” out there and they just don’t quite cut it in terms of excitement. There is no doubt that they are fast and smooth, but us humans need some fun.

I am not looking forward to a future where we forget our true human nature in exchange for a “more efficient” society. I’m quite sure EVs can also be designed to be fun – carmakers just haven’t quite figured out how yet.

For now, I am glad that something as stupid as the AMG CLA 45 S still exists. It just begs to be driven hard.

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S Interior: Nice and tight

The cabin of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ hints at the fun and hard ride that it offers. If you have a bad back or if you’re not really in shape, you will curse the front seats – the bolsters are tight, and the bench & backrest are unforgiving. But they’re perfectly ergonomic so you won’t have a bad neck after a long drive. They also come with seat kinetic functions, which makes the ride a bit easier to stomach.

It is the same cabin design as the rest of the A-Class, with an AMG twist to it. Admittedly, the AMG design with stripes on the dashboard is a little tacky, and the omission of the centre console control unit for the infotainment system is a bit of a bummer – it was a pretty useful feature.

The new steering wheel is a bit more aesthetic and that is my personal opinion. The black gloss finish just makes it look classier, sportier, and sleeker. However, I do wish that the red centre marker was not removed. I’m not a big fan of the capacitive controls, but I didn’t really bother fiddling with it as I was busy enjoying the car.

A bit of boring stuff here, but I do believe the new MBUX is worth mentioning – the built-in navigation is very helpful, especially with the augmented reality feature. Like the rest of the A-Class cars, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ also now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.

Almost a video game-like experience with the augmented reality navigation

The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC + isn’t exactly a family car, but I’m sure you’d like to bring your family in it just to enjoy the sound that it makes. Second-row creature comforts include air cond vents (no climate control), a USB-C port, and a centre armrest with 2 cupholders.

Boot space is alright, no problem putting a stroller in there and you pretty much get the practicality of the average B-segment saloon (albeit with a much higher price tag and a much louder engine). Oh, there’s also a sunroof in the CLA 45 S, so you can hear the pops and bangs a bit more clearly.

Verdict

If you want fun, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ provides that. You also get B-segment saloon-like levels of practicality. With all cars going electric or electrified, this is one of the last ICE configurations that hits the sweet spot.

GALLERY