Why Buy a Mercedes C43 AMG Over a CLA45 AMG?

The brand new Mercedes C43 AMG is slower, will use more gas, & most likely cost the same (or more) than a current CLA45. So why would you want one?

The CLA45 is really an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp. A CLA denotes an entry level vehicle, yet AMG indicates an upper echelon speed machine. It's the best worst Mercedes ever created! Don't get me wrong, i like the CLA45 but it doesn't have the spirit of a real AMG. While it is AWD it has a FWD bias with up to a 50/50 split, it feels like a Subaru STI or a Mitsubishi Evolution on the track. It suffers from under-steer on power & doesn't have a real wild side. Enough about the CLA45, you're here to read about the the new 2017 C43 AMG, so here's whats up...

Under the hood of the C43 AMG you'll find a 3.0L Biturbo V6 engine cranking out 362hp & 384 ft-lbs of torque. That power will propel you from 0-60 in 4.6 seconds (only 0.1 second faster then a $35k Ford Focus RS). Unlike the CLA45, the C43 will have a rear bias AWD system with a power distribution of up to 31/69. We estimate the cost to be near $51k, and more importantly we think it will be way more fun to drive than the CLA45.

So how would a slower car be more fun to drive? The C43 AMG will have a 9 speed automatic transmission with paddle sifters & 5 different driving modes. We're hoping for the C43 to be a little bit more of an animal, especially in certain drive modes. With the RWD bias you may be able to break free and drift the corners a bit rather then break free & under-steer right into a pole. While technically both over-steer & under-steer are bad, i think most people would prefer the earlier. While we can compare the CLA45 AMG to a Subaru or a Mitsubishi, i find myself wanted to compare the C43 only to its bigger brother the 469 HP C63 AMG & that's a good thing. As far an an AMG goes, the C43 is affordable, classy and we think it will be a really fun ride.