Looking for a car that exudes luxury and performance like no other car on the market? Look no further than Motor Authority’s Best Performance/Luxury Car to Buy for 2014, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG. For more information, visit your Mercedes-Benz of Tucson dealership.

Motor Authority declares the CLA45 AMG to be “the most powerful production four-cylinder engine in the world. All-wheel drive. Sleek four-door coupe styling. Advanced electronics and entertainment equipment. A sporty, elegant interior. For $48,375?! Really?”

For the most part, yes.

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG, based on the front-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, starts at a paltry $48,375. An optioned model can reach around $60,000 though—but that is common for most cars available today.

The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine, each hand built by a single builder at the plant in Affalterbach, Germany, produces an astonishing 355 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of twist. A 0-to-60 run comes in just 4.5 seconds and is electronically limited to 155 mph. Even though all-wheel-drive, which is standard on all AMG models, finds its way on to the CLA45 AMG, 50 percent of the power can be sent to the rear wheels.

“The CLA45’s mix of size, style, luxury, and equipment hits a sweet spot we haven’t seen in the U.S. in a long time—if ever,” wrote Motor Authority scribe, Nelson Ireson.

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG’s interior follows Mercedes’ current design ethos, which makes it a comfortable place to spend any amount of time. Options are abundant. The $2200 Premium package includes satellite radio, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, Harman/Kardon premium audio, garage-door opener, compass, and auto-dimming mirrors. The Multimedia package, $2370, adds rearview camera; COMAND system and enhanced voice control with hard-drive navigation, six-CD changer, 10-gigabyte music storage, and SD card slot. A Driver Assistance package has blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assist, and radar cruise control.

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG is a great example of what an automaker can do with an already interesting base car and a penchant for uncompromised speed and performance.