BMW M135i vs. Mercedes-AMG A45

One of our favorite hot hatches on the market is the BMW M135i. It’s not because we’re BMWBLOG, but because it’s the only hot hatch on the market that has rear-wheel drive. It buys a lot of fairness for the M135i in the eyes of car enthusiasts, because while it isn’t the best performing or the most special around, it’s the only one that can happily wag its tail. However, if wagging your tail isn’t your forte, there are a ton of excellent hot hatches on the market, one of them being the Mercedes-AMG A45.

However, if you want a BMW M135i or a Mercedes-AMG A45, you’re going to pay a pretty penny. Both cars are extremely expensive for small hot hatches, which defeats the purpose of hot hatches. Auto Motor und Sport therefore decided to test used versions of each of these two cars. This way you can get top quality hot hatch performance for a lot less money. So which of these fantastic cars is the best used?

It really depends on what you want. The Mercedes-AMG A45 seems to be the most hardcore and exciting car. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 376 horsepower, giving it the best horsepower-to-liter ratio of any four-cylinder engine on the market. This allows for a 0-60mph time of around 4.2 seconds, which is impressive for a sedan. It also makes a hoarse noise, as do all AMG products. All of this coupled with a stubborn all-wheel drive system and precise steering and you get a very exciting hot hatch.

However, its interior began to show significant wear during its life, as it is a used model. Plus, the interior featured areas of low cost and cost reduction, which is quite frustrating in a car that costs that much money. Even at its hefty price tag, its entry-level Mercedes A-Class roots shine through a bit.

The BMW M135i is a bit of a different animal. While offering impressive specs and performance, it acts very differently from the AMG. Its turbocharged 3.0-liter I6 engine produces 326 horsepower and, when paired with an eight-speed automatic, can go from 0 to 100 km / h in about 4.6 seconds. So, although a bit slower than the AMG, the M135i is still an impressive performer. But its engine is smoother, quieter and smoother than that of the manic AMG. It’s fast, but a little quieter than the AMG. Its eight-speed automatic is also a bit smoother and less frenetic with its shifts than the AMG’s dual-clutch unit. Gear changes aren’t as quick, but the Bimmer’s gearbox is a bit more refined.

The flip side is that it feels a bit more luxurious. It also holds up better over the long term indoors. Inside the BMW, the interior has a bit more quality materials and doesn’t feel as cheap as in the AMG.

In terms of reliability, both of these cars had minor issues after being owned before. On the AMG A45, the turbocharger had failed but was replaced under warranty. It also had some clutch issues with its dual clutch gearbox but was recalled and repaired. For the BMW M135i, there were really only a few issues with one of the water drains under the front window and a few rain sensor issues. Stuff like that. Both cars therefore held up relatively well, except for the AMG issues which were resolved by Mercedes at no cost.

Thus, both cars being relatively reliable for a few hot hatches. The AMG is usually the most expensive car, but it’s also the most exciting car. So if you’re looking for a sportier hot hatch experience, the Mercedes-AMG A45 is probably the best bet. If you want a fuller experience that is likely to be a bit more reliable, the BMW M135i would probably be the car for you.

[Source: Auto Sport]