Video: Mercedes-AMG A45 versus Volkswagen Golf R review

14 April 2017
Review

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...

Matt Prior

Matt Prior
Title: Editor-at-large

Matt is Autocar’s lead features writer and presenter, is the main face of Autocar’s YouTube channel, presents the My Week In Cars podcast and has written his weekly column, Tester’s Notes, since 2013.

Matt is an automotive engineer who has been writing and talking about cars since 1997. He joined Autocar in 2005 as deputy road test editor, prior to which he was road test editor and world rally editor for Channel 4’s automotive website, 4Car. 

Into all things engineering and automotive from any era, Matt is as comfortable regularly contributing to sibling titles Move Electric and Classic & Sports Car as he is writing for Autocar. He has a racing licence, and some malfunctioning classic cars and motorbikes. 

Latest videos

spartan

Spartan video review: 460bhp track toy driven

Spartan video review: 460bhp track toy driven
0055 LUC

Ford Focus ST Track Pack vs Toyota GR86 track battle

Ford Focus ST Track Pack vs Toyota GR86 track battle
Ford Raptor vs Jeep Wrangler 19 1

Ford Ranger Raptor vs Jeep Wrangler Rubicon video review

Ford Ranger Raptor vs Jeep Wrangler Rubicon video review
View all latest car videos
Volkswagen GOLF 1.4 TSI BlueMotion Tech SE DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
2015
£8,099
76,000miles
Petrol
Automatic
5
View detailsopens in a new tab
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI GTD Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
2018
£14,260
70,107miles
Diesel
Manual
5
View detailsopens in a new tab
Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Tech GT Edition DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
2016
£10,490
69,800miles
Diesel
Automatic
5
View detailsopens in a new tab
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TSI BlueMotion Tech R DSG 4Motion Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
2016
£19,794
40,781miles
Petrol
Automatic
5
View detailsopens in a new tab
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TSI R DSG 4Motion Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
2019
£22,995
45,693miles
Petrol
Automatic
5
View detailsopens in a new tab
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TSI R 4Motion Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
2018
£19,995
45,435miles
Petrol
Manual
5
View detailsopens in a new tab
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech GTD DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
2015
£12,990
60,000miles
Diesel
Automatic
5
View detailsopens in a new tab
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TSI BlueMotion Tech R DSG 4Motion Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
2017
£15,995
97,398miles
Petrol
Automatic
5
View detailsopens in a new tab
Volkswagen GOLF 2.0 TDI GTD DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
2019
£17,450
61,527miles
Diesel
Automatic
5
View detailsopens in a new tab
Next
Prev
View all 7625 cars
In partnership with
View all used car deals
Advertisement
Advertisement

Join the debate

Comments
19
Add a comment…
bomb 24 April 2017

I wonder what this video

I wonder what this video would be like without the #bantz? We'll never know. I managed to get to 5:42 before switching off.
Bishop 19 April 2017

Is the other bloke there to make Matt look good?

If so, it works ... where did you find that annoying so-and-so?
cunnibmw 16 April 2017

amg45 vs golf r vs focus rs vs m140i

M140i £7k off list is the way to go, what a car- might be a biased view but having considered all the options, only downside is no 4wd
cunnibmw 16 April 2017

amg45 vs golf r vs focus rs vs m140i

M140i £7k off list is the way to go, what a car- might be a biased view but having considered all the options, only downside is no 4wd
vrskeith 16 April 2017

Only a downside......

For six months of the year. Big discount might just indicate a further big depreciation loss later when you px . The replacement 4cyl 1 Series in 2018/19 probably Xdrive replacement for old M135i & facelift and further facelifted M140i
vrskeith 16 April 2017

Only a downside......

For six months of the year. Big discount might just indicate a further big depreciation loss later when you px . The replacement 4cyl 1 Series in 2018/19 probably Xdrive replacement for old M135i & facelift and further facelifted M140i