When you're rolling around town, don't expect to get any looks unless you're downshifting and getting those exhaust pops and crackles, as the 2021 Mercedes-AMG A35's restrained look belies its capability. The only real tells that this is a serious sport sedan are its decklid badges and the slick, black-accented AMG 19-inch rims shod with Pirelli P Zeros. We think that's a good thing.

Sleepy Outside, Slick Inside

The wow factor is saved for the interior, at least for this particular car. Upholstered in Nova Grey and Black MB-Tex, the cabin looks dynamite, highlighted by piano black and aluminum accents and adjustable lighting elements. With 20.5 inches of screens spanning the dash, the A35 is next-generation in its digital instrumentation and infotainment execution, with Benz's MBUX touchscreen system offering myriad controls, configurable clusters, and other vehicle features. The Mercedes trackpad system has redundant controls on the center console, and for a subcompact sedan there's a decent amount of space between the front seats. It's also not too cramped for rear passengers given its size, with more headroom than its CLA-Class sibling.

Checking in at $46,900 to start, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic isn't exactly a steal, but it's priced pretty competitively given it's roughly the same as the M235i. This particular test car came with a couple of key options that we'd add, including the Multimedia package ($1,295 for navigation and additional MBUX features) and those sweet rims ($500). All in, it totalled $52,990. So if you want that AMG caché but can't go big for one of its mega-powered brutes, the compact-in-size and (relatively speaking) small-in-price A35 might just be the AMG for you.

SPECIFICATIONS	2021 Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic
BASE PRICE	$46,900
PRICE AS TESTED	$52,990
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan
ENGINE	2.0L/302-hp/295-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4
TRANSMISSION	7-speed twin-clutch auto
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	3,480 lb (61/39%)
WHEELBASE	107.4 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	179.4 x 70.7 x 56.9 in
0-60 MPH	4.4 sec
QUARTER MILE	13.1 sec @ 105.1 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	112 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.96 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	24.7 sec @ 0.77 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON	22/29/25 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	153/116 kWh/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.79 lb/mile