Mercedes-AMG A45 versus Volkswagen Golf R review | 4wd hot hatches go head to head | Autocar

Which is the hot-hatchback champion of champions? We've long loved the Volkswagen Golf R - a five-star car by our reckoning - but is it a match for the vastly more powerful and, to be fair, vastly more expensive, Mercedes-AMG A45?​
Our testers pitch the two head-to-head, to see which is faster and, crucially, which is better to drive and own. Join us at our test track for the most exciting, and entertaining, hot hatch test of the year.
Which would your rather have? Comment below...
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[@Albee166]

I feel like they matched the cars with their respective personalities.

[@bbahmed007]

At least compare it to a DSG Golf R 😒

[@dangerwil8526]

Exactly.

[@fatwalletboy2]

Butt Mahmood its still 60bhp short so its still not a fair comparison even with dsg.

[@bbahmed007]

Would be a lot more comparable

[@us3r1ng]

fatwalletboy2 the DSG version is more than half a second faster to 60

[@Malc180s]

I don't think it makes the slightest bit of difference to this review. Read the spec sheet if you want to know the irrelevant 0-60 time.

[@danwilson1983]

I have had the a 45 amg same spec and colour as in the video and I'm loving it so glad I chose it over the golf r, Focus rs and audi rs3.

[@danwilson1983]

The golf r and rs3 look so boring

[@SuperWimpole]

The guy in the Merc is making this very difficult to watch.

[@maurocalo1921]

SuperWimpole Sorry

[@1littlelee]

yeah his laugh is disgusting

[@professorh8398]

The guy in the leather jacket comes across as a college drop out but at the same time, the exact sort of wiley guy that I would like to see doing these reviews. I liked the good cop, crazy cop dynamic between the two of them. I enjoyed watching the review. They just spoke their minds and had fun.

[@granthaley867]

For goodness sake, at least use a DSG version of the Golf you fools! Dont have, then dont bother racing. The AMG is a more powerful car to begin with, why disadvantage the Golf even further. Some of us out here would really appreciate seeing the difference between these cars with the same gearbox!

[@matthewprior2378]

Sometimes we have to test what they can send us. This is one of those times.

[@granthaley867]

Matthew Prior , appreciate the reply and the test and understand the circumstance, however I personally would have preferred a comparison without the drag race given the outcome was a no brainer.

[@tredfxman]

grant haley - GTI Clubsport DSG 2017 - videos on my Channel guys! Enjoy checkig out !!! :)

[@Celsian]

Great to see a review of these two hatches in particular. I've been a fan of the R for a long time, but always wondered if when I'm ready I should just go for the Merc.... nice to have some perspective! too bad the Merc doesn't come in MT

[@18T220]

The guy in the leather jacket shouldn't been on my screen...EVER!

[@maurocalo1921]

18T220 Sorry!

[@dangerwil8526]

Those zipper trousers should never have been worn by someone his age.

[@kurtphillips124]

Mauro Calo I think you done a great job mate, ignore these doughnuts.

[@dangerwil8526]

Yeah whatever chav boy..

[@user-3dfhdha24]

Lmao

[@SeerWS]

I really wanted the a45 but it wasn't available in the States. So I got that Golf R with DSG. Quite a fun step up from my 2012 GTI. :D

[@lukem4580]

you did the right choice ....

[@selrayes2]

I don't care what anyone says the golf r is an all around better car I saw a video of a dsg golf 7.5 r doing 0-60 in 4.2 seconds having a dual clutch in the Mercedes is a big big difference the least you would've done is had the dsg in the golf and with launch control I guarantee you it will be a close race between the Mercedes and the vw

[@saitofahmi]

pushing the A45 through the corners like this is so satisfying to watch,.. tq. great video

[@AlexOliver555]

I'd still have the Golf but with DSG and save the money.

[@davideg5947]

you tubers pay attention to any comparisons with the VW golf R, they always use a manual and not a DSG when directly comparing it.

[@poppaschlong2000]

I'd like to see some drag videos without using launch control. I have it in my Audi S6 and it's arguably one of the easiest systems to engage, but I never use it at impromptu red light drags. I just mash the loud pedal.

[@steerj07]

UNBELIEVABLE banter at the start.

[@Drifty325i]

Nice review guys really enjoyed it

[@garysandhu5082]

I say redo this comparison with the Golf R with a DSG. Much better comparison.

[@tredfxman]

Gary Sandhu - Golf GTI Clubsport DSG 2017 - videos on my Channel guys in 4K! Welcome to check !!! :)

[@mickwrinkles2318]

I wonder which of the best hot hatches would be the fastest in a slalom test. Also great that you have Mauro Calo, one of the best stunt drivers and Guinness world record holder with you.

[@dexnpy]

Autocar has their own Robin Williams now?

[@martinmcfarlane8806]

Auto car use to have Steve sutcliff and Chris Harris. Now they have some irritating wannabe wide boy

[@rustystuff]

Martin McFarlane who is he? What's he keep laughing at?!!!! He sounds like a chipmunk!!!

[@dangerwil8526]

Notice how his driving position makes him look like a 10 year old driving daddies car. Also his watch must be borrowed from daddy too.

[@stefanpetrov8]

Im guessing none of you know who Mauro Calo is?

[@dangerwil8526]

Stefan No one cares who he is or have you failed to read the rest of the comments?

[@stefanpetrov8]

Based on what? Most of the people are commenting he needs a booster seat, which is completely irrelevant when it comes to presenting. As i've answered you in the other comment, i don't give a shit if he's not that entertaining, he can drive better than 99.9% of the so called 'car reviewers' on youtube.. Much prefer to see someone drive something the way it was meant to be driven than a useless 'reviewer' going 40 mph and taking how it feels like a racecar for the road P.S. your only criticism in the comment above was addressed about his driving position, which has nothing to do with his actual driving or presenting.. Oh yeah, and you mentioned his watch for some reason.. funking wanker

[@Niffty83]

Golf = 30k ish, chip it for £500, boom you're with the AMG!

[@mayank8818]

a better comparo is a45 vs rs3

[@backseatdriver8902]

The RS3 is just wayyyy better. Nobody can touch the 5 banger with a DSG. Nobody.

[@CP-vg4vy]

Backseat Driver helll noo, a45 out handles the rs3 any day.

[@zhbroder]

he is a good foil for matt, and I find this video supremely entertaining!

[@lamberkp1]

Great review love it

[@abarthspider3479]

I got the Golf R 2020 mk7.5 All i did was add a stage 1 APR tcu and dsg tune. 0 to 100 in 4.1 second. 370hp 500nm 275kw. The Golf R is a pleasure to drive. I may change to an AMG 45 as my next car, for a change.

[@MH-jm4pw]

These two guys are hilarious 👍😃👌 they are so cool and the best car testers i have seen so far ✌️👍😃 please more videos and if possible please test the cars next time in a kind of race in the snake 👌😃👍

[@matthewprior2378]

M H Thanks mum.

[@jerk3851]

7:17 that dude Mauro weirdass laughs sounds like a car failing to start lol.. my day

[@soumyasaxena1141]

would you go for a new golf R 7.5 or a 2016 - 2017 golf R. Please do comparison for that!

[@nathanscott9075]

Ive watched Mauro Calo a few times driving and hes brilliant, great video!

[@maurocalo1921]

Nathan Scott Cheers Nathan. Really appreciate it.

[@2Je11ies]

'Free' hundred and seventy six horse power. PMSL. Free is one big number I guess! lol

[@shanesommerville7717]

thats true it still a golf...love my scirocco R

[@Camy8211]

Did this have the front diff lock?

[@MrArchie800]

I really like the Golf because it can also do the normal boring day-to-day stuff (leisurely potter to the shops with the dogs in the back, wife driving, the comfortable work commute etc.), and within a reasonable budget, whereas the Merc - not so much. If I wanted (and had the money to buy) a hard-core performance car, then the chances are I would also have an everyday car, therefore I’d probably buy neither of these cars on a pure performance basis. But as an ‘only car’ it has to be the Golf.

[@popdog200]

The Golf suits you so well Matt, like a grey M&S suit...dunno about the bank robber geezer next to you though

[@matthewprior2378]

Beige would be more me than grey, wouldn't it?

[@popdog200]

I wasn't aware you could still buy beige suits, but I suspect you are more in the know.

[@dommelville8613]

Wideboy, put the car in race mode it turns off the ESP. I can get the back out on mine on a roundabout and I'm no racer. Chris Harris had no trouble with the adjustability when he drove the red one on track. Autocar please bring back Steve Sutcliffe

[@maurocalo1921]

Olds Kooler Chris drove a different car, on a different track, with different tyres. Cheers for the ESP advice. But if you have one you'll know that you're talking utter bollox. Race only puts esp in to Sport handling mode. Dose not turn it off.

[@dommelville8613]

I have checked on mine and you are correct. I do not have the diff but mine gives angles of slip in Racemode. I wrongly assumed that it turned it off. You can turn it off on the dash however. Was that done in the test as it does not look like it from the video ? Chris was on sportmaxx tyres when he tested the Jupiter Red one which as far as im aware are the worst tyre out of the 3 tyres makes it rolls out the factory on (perelli and conti being the other two). I had them on mine from new and with some very spirited driving at times never had problem with understeer whatsoever. I wouldn't class myself as a top driver ethier. My wife even commented once when sat in the back that she could feel the back move out. I have not tracked it but on the road its not difficult to do. There are several vids on youtube with these cars sideways. Its not a power oversteer machine but it is adjustable if driven in the right way. Im suprised this wasn't shown in Autocars video. I owned an audi s3 8p before so i'm well versed in understeer btw.

[@tredfxman]

Olds Kooler - Golf GTI Clubsport 2017 - videos on this Channel guys in 4K! Welcome to check !!! :)

[@danieljordannicol9937]

He needs to just calm down a bit and move his seat forward he was struggling to keep hold of the wheel.

[@Alexr-uf3zn]

daniel jordan nicol that's what I thought he looked to be sitting to far back

[@NBASFAN]

Andrew Martin that's for the camera u dimwits, but he is a bit of an arse.

[@Alexr-uf3zn]

NBASFAN his seating position is hardly for the camera lol

[@lejink]

I can't help but laugh at a bunch of children on KZbin criticizing an *actual* professional driver on his seating position Do a little reading on the guy, he knows what he's doing. I know I know, you passed your driving exam so you're an expert now

[@alanmachin3054]

I have owned three Golf Rs and now have a A 45 Mercedes. There is not too much between them, I do not have to cancel the stop /start in the A45 each time I set off and the Road Tax is higher because the price new was over £40,000.

[@dantedimassimo567]

Boi explain to me why the hell if but the amg when I can buy a rs for half the price and still be a 0 to 60 of 4.5 sec. explain plz

[@pjay3028]

Who on earth is that guy driving the AMG, VERY annoying...

[@harleycollins6074]

patrick robinson Mauro Calo is his name, he is a professional drifter, but not a good presenter I admit

[@maurocalo1921]

patrick robinson That's me !

[@pjay3028]

Mauro Calo Thanks, are you confirming your name or that you are indeed annoying!?

[@dangerwil8526]

patrick robinson LOL Chris Evans sprints to mind...

[@Malc180s]

I like him. Just a nice bloke.

[@jonathan_careless]

That was fun!

[@syco711]

which car is louder dhen?

[@aidanhayes6101]

Pretty disappointing VW couldn't supply you a car with performance options(akro exhaust and bigger brakes) and the better wheels. Those Cadiz wheels looks so dated against the new exterior changes.

[@andrereed2898]

Entertaining. Thx

[@markreed7278]

Brilliant video

[@michaelhetherington3167]

I love how you lot know more than a professional driver does lmao.

[@jacksonbeje]

nice done guys!!

[@matthewprior2378]

jacksonbeje gracias

[@MrSmithyboy1990]

Enjoyed that Video. I genuinely don't understand the hate 😂 Either way. Keep the similar sort of Videos up guys 👍

[@SoftPorridge]

this guy just thrashed the Merc AMG , ,ha ha ha ha ha ha , That merc was begging for forgiveness

[@dennis.r1064]

Anyone know where they test these cars I would love to hit these roads 😛

[@raymondo8752]

does the AMG really have red seat belts? that's so cool!

[@peterbennpan7288]

Cant understand why they havnt got the golf r dsg at least

[@EgoVolsung]

The A45 looks so much better (regardless of the silly wing)... Additionally .1 or .2 of a second in this segment is meaningless (new RS3 comparisons, etc). Naturally, design language is a matter of taste, subjective in nature and as such I'm sure not all will agree.

[@JasonMilner]

Excellent review - hot hatch test for (sort of) grown-ups :)

[@matthewprior2378]

Jason Milner ta muchly

[@mark-se6ef]

had the R now got the gti performance 245 BHP and to be honest cannot tell a great difference, the GTI is much better looking and nicer inside, plus better fuel economy. might get it chipped to add 45bhp making it 290 bhp. My verdict get the GTI as its cheaper.

[@theraving90s65]

Hahaha his face over the jump priceless 😂😂😂

[@DIgitusSmartas]

Whats with AMG launch control?

[@Adam-M1]

What's the price difference between the two?!

[@officialvisaural]

10:43 "Scandy flick" You mean Ｋ　Ａ　Ｎ　Ｓ　Ｅ　Ｉ　　Ｄ　Ｏ　Ｒ　Ｉ　Ｆ　Ｔ　Ｏ

[@amritmcamc]

Camera angles need improving.. Couldn't see both cars doing their 60-0

[@yandisamtshali7228]

You can compare the latest golf r to the previous generation A45

[@wezloka6674]

would hv liked to see one with the DSG.

[@jameswilloughby5240]

Who remembers the video with Steve sutcliffe and Mauro in golf r vs cupra r where they both agreed the Seat was faster, gripped more and more fun plus cheaper

[@maurocalo1921]

James Willoughby Me!

[@kamicupra3142]

James Willoughby where is that video?

[@benshaw887]

Great video guys. Mauro, love your style, don't ever change!

[@maurocalo1921]

Ben Shaw Thank you mate. Really appreciate it. 👍👍👍

[@marwood9421]

Mauro was on that Top Gear episode with Ray Winston and Plan B.

[@snyggmikael]

In Europe the R has 310 BHP, and 400 Torque, 0-60 in 4.6 sec, Max speed 250km/h. Thats Very close to the Mercedes demonstrated here. 250km/h is plent in the speed compartment already. If you want to go faster, you can always mod it, but for most people its already enough. (DSG)

[@backseatdriver8902]

DSG stock R's have done 4.3 to 60. Launch Control is legit.

[@chehadeyoussef97]

Isn't it the same place carwow do their reviews (the jump the corners) and why on earth would you drag a manual golf r against the automatic amg?

[@fazer12779]

I dislike this video because you didn't use the golf DSG, why not whyyyyy?

[@dangerwil8526]

Its what they were given to do the review. Guess beggars can't be choosers.

[@fazer12779]

Fastest version A45 vs Slowest golf R. There's no excuse, they could just asked anyone with a DSG golf R to borrow it for the test.

[@Malc180s]

It makes no difference to the review. Stop being such a bore.

[@dangerwil8526]

Malc It makes all the difference when they are drag racing. If it was just a review then fine but they make a point of doing a standing start. And as such the Golf is at a disadvantage. You may find a one sided race interesting but the rest of us certainly don't.

[@tredfxman]

DanieI Joseph - Golf GTI Clubsport 2017 - videos on this Channel guys in 4K! Welcome to check !!! :)

[@oppanheimer]

Why on earth would you compare the manual golf r to the a45?

[@dangerwil8526]

Its what they were given to do the review. Guess beggars can't be choosers.

[@henryon400cc2]

Why isn't the golf R with a DSG Transmission ?

[@CandyX1979]

Good agresive driving and comments ;) But please tell to Merc driver how to sit behind steeringwheel, with zero back support he has zero chance to make a proper corection when something goes wrong :/

[@matthewprior2378]

CandyX1979 I promise you he doesn't. Even if he did ever go wrong.

[@davidvilchez2209]

Get the Golf R with dsg and an APR tune and it will be damn close to that A45

[@rolexkings7747]

...typical, sensible person driving the Golf.

[@LoveGod16]

One more thing, you don't need to spend another 100K to get the next fastest accelerating AMG. The E class AMG does 0-60 in 3.3 seconds. Get your facts straight.

[@CarswithB]

A45 looks better, sounds better and faster... Rs3 should been in this test

[@Fearzzy]

golf definietely looks better

[@regularcarsreviewlatest4829]

so awesome

[@1066gaz]

The golf r is all you need in the real world. You won't come across cars very often that will destroy the golf. You can get a good one 1 to 3 years old with low mileage for around £17,000 - £20,000. It's the perfect all rounder with all the tricks.

[@3eeeDee]

Why aren't you too in a DSG R?

[@samvrs]

Dat Merc🔥

[@nickn3237]

376 hp amg A45 .... ddnt they drop the hp to 250 in the 2017 model ?

[@patrickdubord-dupuis7850]

In the next episode, a 2012 honda civic vs 2017 Z06 corvette!

[@samdurling6053]

Um isn't the rs3 quicker than the a45???

[@lucacarneiro839]

The A45 AMG has 381HP and 450NM and not 376HP

[@chewmeful]

I'd like to see these 2 an rs3 and an m140i all autos all launch control 1 mile drag race :p

[@energyfreak]

whats the point? it should have been dsg vs auto.

[@realtorque]

This cracked me up haha

[@swanblake]

love these two. Fantastic take!

[@Mockle07]

Hahaha ooooo the banter!

[@diogoalmeidavisuals]

Now go get the Golf R with the 3.6L from the Passat, and twin-turbo.

[@detective3728]

Still get the normal Clubsport over the Golf R...I dove one, and they're not that stiff to drive.. :) But save money and don't get the DSG even if it's quicker..

[@jayrave4]

Great video...until you realise they didn't get a DSG golf R, which is far more common and a much better comparison.

[@spadgm]

The other chap looks like a football hooligan, but does a great review lol!

[@yitongxia4002]

This is so unfair, rematch it with the DSG version golf r, I bet ya it's gonna be a close match! VW families which included Porsche's PDK, Audi's S-Tronic, Volkswagen DSG and those gearboxes are literally faster than manuals.

[@mjozic3785]

Who would by the RS3 over this amg?

[@mushy1983123]

U should do a drag race without launch control cause on the street at a set of lights u don't always use launch control

[@lomate1963]

Has wide boy moved up from selling double glazing or time share 🙉 😊

[@DeniJasmina]

Manual vs automatic???

[@CJizzleJ]

can he see over the steering wheel in the AMG?

[@balazsrisko1926]

cool!

[@SpeedFreak0122]

seems as though the UK cannot spit out one decent drag race film.