Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG safety is clearly of paramount concern to the German manufacturer, and as such it has fitted a range of systems to keep occupants and pedestrians safe. For this reason, the A-Class and CLA score a maximum five stars at EuroNCAP crash tests.

As with most modern cars, you get ABS and electronic stability control, although in this case the latter is a three-stage system which the driver operates depending on the type of driving they want to do.

Other safety systems include Attention Assist, which monitors the driver for fatigue and suggests a break if cause for concern is detected. You also get nine airbags and automatic headlights along with ISOFIX child seat mounting points and an electric parking brake with hill-start assist.

Finally, and importantly, you also get excellent high performance brakes which resist fade well.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the question of Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG practicality is a simple matter of investigating the regular CLA. The interior and boot spaces are exactly the same, which is to say it has a large, long and low boot and a lack of rear headroom for taller passengers.

You get the usual cup holders and cubbies along with hooks for hanging up jackets in the back and hooks in the boot for shopping bags.