VIDEO: Mercedes A-Class review
Wendy Knowler reviews the Mercedes A-Class, one of the most keenly anticipated cars on the market, in this week's Motoring Zone.
The Mercedes A-Class was one of the most keenly anticipated cars on the market, being a radical departure from its old elevated MPV shape.
Well-to-do women of a certain age loved its classic lines and the fact that its driver’s seat was at the perfect height to enable them to glide in and out without stressing their thigh muscles.
The new A-Class appeals to a completely different set. A lot younger, for starters. More male.
More the Golf GTI set, who prefer their cars lower to the ground, in-your-face sporty with a good dollop of bling.
And they’ve responded to the new A-class in such overwhelming numbers that there’s a long waiting list - you won’t get one to call your own until next JUNE!
The line-up
The models boast high-tech turbocharged petrol or diesel engines, all featuring idle-stop as standard - in other words, the engine cuts out on standstill to save fuel. All in all, the range is 35% more fuel efficient than the old one.
All engines are linked to a six-speed manual transmission as standard, but can also be had with Merc's seven speed automatic box.
In the past week I’ve driven three of the six models in the range, all very different in looks and performance:
The entry level A180 at R275 000, the diesel A220 CDI at R355 000 and the A250 Sport - “engineered by AMG” model - at R395 000. The crazy powerful A45 AMG - R555 000 - has just been launched here, but it hasn’t made its way to my driveway. Yet.
The models got progressively racier - the 220 CDI’s styling and performance made the C180 seem bland and underpowered and the C250 had the same effect on my impressions of the 220 CDI.
The A250 Sport
This 250 has an AMG-esque chassis - firmer than some of the cheaper models, so you really feel in touch with the road. It also sports low profile 18 AMG alloys, which are perfect for beautifully maintained tar roads, but can be a bit jarring on our not so perfect stretches of tar.
So this is no cushy cruiser - this is a driver’s car. All the dynamics combine to give you an incredibly connected driving experience.
Under the bonnet is a two-litre turbopetrol engine which puts out 155kW and 350Nm and squirts from 0 to 100 in 6.6-seconds.
This is the model that goes head-to-head with the Golf Gti - there’s only about R15 000 difference in their price tags, thanks to Mercedes’ aggressive pricing strategy.
The new A-class range also provides the BMW 1-series and the Audi A3 with some premium competition.
Special touches
The A250 Sport has lots of Go Faster trim to set it apart, mostly to do with the colour red: Bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime lights and red trim for the front and rear bumpers, privacy glass, red seat belts and air vent rings and Sport badges on the wheel arches.
The Spec
The A-Class has a really good looking, premium feel cabin, with range of colour schemes and seat designs to choose from.
The multifunction display has come in for a lot of criticism for looking like an afterthought, a tablet stuck on there, but I think it works - it’s the right size in the right place, and I don’t think it looks odd at all.
Standard spec includes a radar-based collision warning system with adaptive Brake Assist and the Pre-Safe system that prepares the cabin for an impending collision.
But you’ll have to pay extra for the Comand system that connects you to the internet via your phone, and also comes with an advanced navigation system with 3D map display, blind spot and lane keeping help and reverse camera.
And if you have an iPhone, there’s the Drive Kit Plus option, which enables you to access content from your phone through the display, including SIRI.
So the A-Class has breathed new life into its range and its image with this sexy new A-Class, and if the concept appeals to you, there’s a wide enough array of engines, trims and optional extras to make one your own.
If you’re prepared to wait until next winter, that is.
Range prices:
A 180 BlueEfficiency - R275 000
A 200 BlueEfficiency - R298 000
A 180 CDI BlueEfficiency AT - R310 000
A 180 CDI BlueEfficiency - R300 000
A 220 CDI BlueEfficiency - R355 000
A 250 Sport - R395 000
A45 AMG - R555 000
The A250 Sport numbers
Engine: 2,0-litre, four-cylinder turbopetrol
Power: 155 kW at 5 500 rpm
Torque: 350 Nm at 1 200-4 000 rpm
0-100 km/hr: 6,6 seconds
Fuel consumption: 6,4l/100 km
CO2: 148 g/km
Top speed: 240 km/h
Price: R395 000
- Wendy Knowler