Here's How Much Faster A Mercedes-AMG A45 Is Than A Honda Civic Type R

With a lot more power plus the traction benefits of four-wheel drive, it's no surprise the Mercedes is quicker. But the gap to the Honda is even bigger than you might expect...

Matt Robinson

16 Dec 2016

The result itself for this drag race isn’t surprising. Of course the Mercedes wins: its 376bhp output puts it 70bhp ahead of the Honda, and it has the benefit of four-wheel drive traction off the line. Oh, and given that it’s £10,000 more than the Civic, the A45 bloody well ought to win.

What is perhaps surprising is the gap between the two: it’s absolutely massive. It’s a quick car that A45, as the Car Wow lot proved with another drag race featuring a whole roster of Mercedes-AMGs.

Which car would you rather have, the Mercedes, or the Honda?

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

I think the A45 just became the new benchmark for hot hatches. Gonna make that my goal for my subaru- to make it faster than the A45

So yeah the Honda might look fast and aggressive but it still gets spanked by a pretty average Mercedes

pretty average mercedes lol

(until they get to some corners)

I agree, the Mercedes is one quick car undoubtedly. However, I would have the Honda every single day without regrets. I may seem old fashioned but my kind of hot hatch is to screech the wheels, slam it into gear, turn in hard and brake hard. A proper clutch and gear shifter is what I want. To enjoy driving, not let electrical components do it for me. The Honda is a grippy car, and although it wouldn’t be my first choice of Type R, it is a masterpiece. It is a drivers car. My dad had a 98’ imported Integra type R with the Japanese from end shape. It was awesome and I wish he never sold her. One day if electrics do all the work, we wont be able to drive cars at all. Make the most of them while we can.