The Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG features a 355bhp turbocharged engine AMG popped its hot hatchback cherry in inimitable fashion, but do less expensive rivals like the Honda Civic Type R and Golf R deliver greater thrills? You only need to peruse the first-gen AMG A45's specs to see why it lured so many hot hatch buyers away from segment leaders like the Audi RS3 and BMW M135i.This was Merc's first crack at a mega-hatch - it was so potent that a new hot hatch classification was needed - and they came out swinging. With 355bhp and 332lb ft giving a stunning 0-62mph time of 4.6sec the A45's engine was the most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder fitted to a production car at the time of its launch - or so Mercedes would claim (Mitsubishi's 405bhp Lancer Evolution FQ-400).Now, a decade later, you can have it on your driveway for as little as £10,000.We declared the A45 "the performance king of the class". The four-pot delivered such beguiling grunt and mid-range torque that it could blast from 50-100mph far quicker than the RS3 and M135i, with a cacophony of whistles and growls to accompany it.Indeed, the powerplant is a brute, but it's one that can be tamed and still just about deployed on a British B-road without undue concern for your wellbeing or driving licence.Any downsides? The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is a potential bugbear: it can be a bit sluggish when you swap cogs using the paddles, and at times the engine lacks some charisma compared with the five- and six-cylinder units in the Merc's Audi and BMW rivals. That said, the A45 more than makes up for its foibles when it comes to handling: its taut, agile and responsive chassis delivers sports car levels of engagement.You can stick it into a corner with confidence, and it's easy to find a good rhythm when pressing on. There's plenty of traction, too, thanks to the A45's 4Matic all-wheel drive system, although its lack of rear-wheel bias limits its adjustability on the throttle. Early cars weren't the most supple-riding and the gearbox can be unreliable, so we would opt for the facelifted A45 that landed in 2016. Post-facelift examples start from around £15,000, but you will pay more than £18,000 for an immaculate car with 50,000-60,000 miles.It's worth the extra: these later cars have a plusher interior, with a larger 8.3in infotainment screen and Apple CarPlay. AMG also fettled the turbo four to produce 376bhp (it was just enough of a hike to outpunch the 362bhp Audi RS3 that was launched the year before) and fitted a slicker dual-clutch 'box with revised ratios.It's a more polished hot hatch, with an even more communicative drive, a better ride and a frankly monstrous turn of pace. Unlike the current Mk2 A45, the first car was a relatively understated proposition, and only minimally restyled over the standard A-Class. There was an optional Aero pack, though, for the more extroverted enthusiast, and it gained front and rear winglets and a roof spoiler.If you do opt for a post-facelift model, find one fitted with the AMG Dynamic Plus pack, which adds a limited-slip diff to the front axle and adaptive dampers. Pleasingly, the A45 is still the same refined and practical A-Class underneath. The figure-hugging sports seats are comfortable, and the materials used throughout the cabin, alongside the ambient lighting and metal brightwork, give the Mercedes a true premium feel. You would have paid almost £40,000 for that premium feel and searing performance when the A45 was new, but now you can have a tidy example for £15,000. It makes AMG's wild child hard to resist for anyone hunting for a hot hatch.