Skip to main content
  • The 2021 Mercedes-AMG A35 is a dead car that shouldn’t be
  • Mercedes made this sedan for someone who doesn’t care about reliability
  • The AMG A35 blows the BMW competition out of the water

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG A35 has a problem. It’s a really good car. The problem is, it’s a really good dead car. Unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz won’t be bringing back its most affordable AMG model. It served as an entry point to the AMG brand in practical sedan format, all for the price of a new Toyota Supra. Mercedes-Benz loaned me this charcuterie board of AMG-ness for the week, and we now know it’s going to be one of, if not the best used Mercedes-Benz sedan you can buy.

What is the most reliable used Mercedes-Benz?

  • A Denim Blue Mercedes-AMG A35 sedan shot in profile on a mountain pass at sunset
  • A Denim Blue 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG A35 sedan shot from the rear 3/4 on a mountain pass at sunset
The Mercedes-AMG A35 is practical and fast | Chase Bierenkoven

Now, a lot of that “best used Mercedes-Benz sedan” claim is going to come down to two factors. First, whether or not this Denim Blue Metallic AMG A35 can be had as a certified pre-owned sedan. If that’s the case, you’re entitled to many of the perks of buying this car new. That means a limited powertrain warranty and a good deal of peace of mind.

Second, of course, is going to be reliability. Consumer Reports predicts this Mercedes-Benz will have somewhat… spotty reliability. Obviously, this is just a prediction, as neither I nor CR has had time enough with the car to see whether any issues pop up. But this is an AMG product. Mercedes’ target buyer isn’t worried about reliability. They’re worried about whether or not the A35 is a real AMG.

How much is the 2021 Mercedes-AMG A35?

  • A blue AMG A35 sedan shot from the front on a mountain pass at sunset
  • The interior of the AMG A35 illuminated by its ambient lighting at night
The A35’s interior comes alive at night | Chase Bierenkoven

Our loaner car came to a grand total of $52,990. That’s a fair bit above the AMG A35’s base price of $46,900, largely thanks to the Multimedia and Premium packages. So, at least in that regard, the A35 is no big-money AMG. Point: Mercedes. However, there are some places where you can tell Merc has had to save some money. First, there’s the materials and driving position. Everything I touched frequently in the AMG A35 felt phenomenal. The volume knob is a particularly clicky highlight. However, everything below your knees is plastic, and the seats had a bit too much lumbar for my liking.

However, we’re willing to make that sacrifice for how the 2021 Mercedes-AMG A35 drives. Think of this like a much sharper Volkswagen Golf R. It blows its closest competitor, the BMW M235i Gran Coupe right out of the water in every category, looks included. The smallest AMG brings many of the elements of faster AMG models into a 302 hp, 295 lb-ft turbocharged four-cylinder package. The turn-in response is incredible, thanks to AWD grip, and the 7-speed auto changes gear faster than you can think. Plus, the ride in every mode, from Comfort to Sport+, kept me comfy and with all four tires stuck to the road.

The Mercedes discontinued the A35 for 2022

  • The trunk of the AMG A35 with the seats folded down
  • The interior of the AMG A35 sedan with two-tone black and white leather seats
The A35 will carry your big water bottle, but it’ll be hard to drink from | Chase Bierenkoven

Really, it is a shame that Mercedes-Benz has axed the A35. Hopefully, we can get Denim Blue Metallic on other cars. Cool paint and jests aside, the AMG A35 impressed the hell out of me. It’s competent, luxurious, and way more fun than many of its competitors. The 2021 Mercedes-AMG A35 was a high point in the fast subcompact sedan segment, and we know it’s going to make a killer used car.

Related

In Wake of Tesla Video Game Debacle, Mercedes-Benz Recalls EQS for Distracting Infotainment

Best in Sedans & Coupes
MotorBiscuit Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Chase Bierenkoven

Chase Bierenkoven has been obsessed with cars his whole life and now finds joy in sharing what he’s learned from his own daily drivers. Chase earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology with a focus on legal studies from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and quickly became an automotive journalist. When he isn’t writing, Chase is either driving his passion project, a 2004 BMW M3 in Carbon Schwartz Metallic, or playing around Colorado’s terrain, mainly mountain biking and skiing.