The Mercedes-AMG A 35 and A 45 S may look very similar from both the outside and the inside, but as this video proves, there is quite a bit of performance separating the two.

Driving both cars is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder but in the A 45 S, it has been overhauled to deliver much more grunt. However, the A 35 is no slouch as it churns out 302 HP (306 PS) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque.

This puts it right in the sweet spot of the hot hatch market to rival the likes of the VW Golf R and BMW M135i as well as front-wheel drive alternatives like the Honda Civic Type R and Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy.

Mated to the A 35’s engine is a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission driving all four wheels and helping to hustle the hot hatch to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.7 seconds. These are very impressive numbers but how do they compare to the A 45 S? Aussie publication Car Expert has the answer.

AMG’s engineers really worked their magic on the A 45 S’s 2.0-liter turbo to the point where it now pumps out 416 HP (422 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. Mercedes has paired this engine with an eight-speed dual-clutch for the A 45 S that looks to deliver even crisper shifts. Want proof? It will get to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds.

For its tests, Car Expert headed to a drag strip and did some straight-line launches as well as some braking comparisons you can watch in the following video.