BMW's M135 v Mercedes-AMG's A35 – car pictures of the week
In the latest issue of evo, we test the Mercedes-AMG A35 against BMW’s M135 in its most hardcore guise – these are our favourite images from Aston Parrott's shoot
Hot hatchbacks are dying. Or are they? Affordable petrol hot hatchbacks are indeed falling by the wayside, but electric alternatives are trickling in, and there’s still a choice of higher-end options from the likes of AMG, Audi RS and BMW. Mercedes-AMG's A35 and the latest BMW M135 are two circa-300bhp options you can grab within a £50k budget, and we pit them head-to-head in the latest issue of evo. To read the full test, pick up a copy of evo issue 340 in-store or online via the evo shop.
The A35 is the known quantity here, being a milder version of the all-singing A45 S with a 302bhp four-pot engine, four-wheel drive and AMG-specific chassis tuning. It was given a light facelift in 2023 which included the addition of mild-hybrid support for the engine and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, replacing the old seven-speed unit. It’s a fast, likable hot hatch, if not an outright thriller, and here it squares up to BMW’s most hardcore M135 yet.
BMW’s four-wheel drive hot hatch has been updated too, gaining revised suspension, a stiffer body structure and a new interior last year, but most important is the introduction of a new M Dynamic Package, tested here for the first time. With lightweight wheels and suspension tweaks, as well as the fitment of sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, the hope is that the pack will bring some much needed life to the M135, which is a capable but largely bland hot hatch in standard trim.
The signs are that the new package does indeed turn up the BMW’s bite and aggression, but is that enough to take on the AMG?
‘The BMW immediately feels keen, and really quite lively,’ we said. ‘You sit high in the sports seats and the wheel rim is too fat in typical M style, but there’s a pointiness that’s reminiscent of a hot Mini, the nose responding to small twitches of the wheel and the whole car feeling firm and tense. The A35 is calmer by comparison.’
To find out which £50k hot hatch comes out on top, pick up a copy of evo 340 in-store or online.
