The Audi RS3 and Mercedes-AMG A45 S are the current kings of the hot compact scene. With 400+ horsepower, all-wheel drive, and sub-4-second 0-60 times, these cars truly represent how far the humble compact car has come. And to find out how they stack up to each other, Carwow decided to pit them head-to-head in a series of tests.
On paper, these cars are extremely similar. The Audi has a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine that makes 400 hp (406 PS / 298 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque, and it weighs 3,472 lb (1,575 kg). The Mercedes features a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four that makes 416 hp (421 PS / 310 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque, and it weighs 3,461 lb (1,570 kg). Both cars send their power to all four wheels via dual-clutch automatic transmissions, but Mercedes claims the A45 S can make the sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) a tenth of a second quicker than the RS3.
See Also: Can Today’s Hottest Hatchbacks Keep Up With Proper Sports Cars?
Moving on to real-world driving, while the Audi’s the best it’s ever been, the Mercedes was deemed simply more fun to drive, with a more characterful engine and playful powertrain and chassis overall. In the braking test, the Audi beat the Mercedes, but not by much, stopping only 1 meter sooner from 60 mph. Finally, in the 0-60 mph test, the Audi achieved a blisteringly quick 3.90-second time, but the Mercedes managed to beat it out with its 3.83-second run. However, Carwow was able to achieve faster times for both of these vehicles in previous tests, and on those separate occasions, the RS3’s 3.63-second time was 0.02 seconds quicker than the A45’s.
To hear Carwow’s thoughts on other aspects of these cars like the engine sound, styling, and comfort/livability, you can check out the video below.
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