Mercedes-Benz AMG A35 Saloon Review & Prices

Think of the Mercedes-AMG A 35 Saloon as being like a wrong guess on Catchphrase. You’ve spotted the four doors, the big AMG wheels, and the boot sticking out the back, and so naturally you’ve guessed it’s the AMG CLA 35 four-door coupe. Well, it’s a good guess, but it’s not right…

The thing is, the A35 Saloon might actually be the better purchase, not least because there’s a reasonable price gap between it and the slightly lower, slightly longer, slightly slicker CLA 35. And if you’re getting the same mechanical package, performance, and AMG kudos for a bit less money, isn’t that a good thing? Even if it is a bit like a model wearing joggers and a loose-fitting hoody by comparison.

If you’re hoping for some AMG fireworks in the styling, well… The A 35 Saloon is actually one of the quietest-looking AMGs of them all. It’s pleasantly muscular, but nothing more than that. All of the brassy visual stuff is reserved for the more powerful AMG A 45, which is only available as a hatchback.

Inside, the MBUX digital dashboard still looks rather good — like an elongated iPad stretched out across the dashboard — and thanks to physical heating and air conditioning controls, it’s easier to operate than some others. Some of the bits that you actually touch — the stalks behind the chunky three-spoke steering wheel, notably — do feel rather disappointingly cheap for something that costs this much.

Space in the back seats is okay, but nothing special. The A35 Saloon’s big advantage is that although the separate boot isn’t as versatile as in the hatchback, it is quite large, at 405 litres. It also makes the A35 look a touch more premium, more like a shrunken C-Class than a hopped-up hatchback. 

Certainly, there’s no doubting the performance. The turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine develops 306hp — with a little help from some mild-hybrid technology — and dumps all of that onto the tarmac via a 4MATIC four-wheel drive system and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. 

It’s certainly quick, racking up a 0-62mph time of just 4.8 seconds, and a top speed of 155mph (assuming you’re taking it to Germany on holidays for a stretch on the Autobahn). Quick enough? Well, yes, but then there’s the AMG A 45 hatchback, which comes with 421hp, a 3.9-second 0-62mph, and which makes even this rapid A35 Saloon feel slightly pedestrian in comparison. You may end up feeling that you’ve bought the wrong small Mercedes. 

Then again, the A35 is slightly easier to live with as a day-to-day car and certainly is a little softer on the spine when tackling bumps and speed humps. That said, you’ll have to upgrade to the Premium Plus model if you want to get adaptive suspension that adjusts between Normal, Sport, and Sport+ modes. 

Thanks to the four-wheel drive, the A35 Saloon is just about permanently stuck to the road, even when conditions are greasy, and while it’s not as much out and out fun to drive as the A45, or indeed as some other more affordable hot hatches, it is supremely confidence-inspiring, and a good choice if you want something that’s actually easy to drive but which has muscular performance for overtaking and so on.

If this sounds like your kind of car, check out the latest Mercedes-AMG A 35 Saloon deals available through Carwow. You can also browse used AMG A 35 Saloon models and other used Mercedes cars from our network of trusted dealers. And when it's time to sell your current car, Carwow can help with that, too.

So, there is a considerable price gap between this AMG A 35 saloon and the CLA four-door coupe equivalent. It’s about £3,000, and that is enough of a saving that, were you choosing between the two, would allow you to upgrade your A 35 Saloon to that Premium Plus specification and get the adaptive suspension dampers, plus some other choice equipment. The CLA is slightly the better looking car, and it will have fractionally better residual values, but there’s a big question mark over whether it’s actually worth the extra expenditure. 

Against the competition, the AMG A 35 Saloon has a tougher time. It’s pricier than the equivalent BMW M235i Gran Coupe four-door, which is in theory more of a CLA competitor anyway, and which is just as quick and a little more fun to drive. It’s also quite a bit more expensive than the incoming new Audi S3, which will have more power — 333hp — and which is fractionally quicker to 62mph if that’s important to you.

Standard equipment for the AMG A 35 Saloon includes 19-inch alloy wheels, a ‘Night Package’ de-chromed look, an AMG body kit, LED headlights with high beam assist, keyless entry and ignition, twin 10.25-inch digital displays, parking sensors and a rear-view camera, active lane-keeping steering, anti-collision braking, leather trim, an AMG sports steering wheel, two-zone climate control, and 64-colour ambient cabin lighting.