[toggle title_open=”Car specifications” title_closed=”Car specifications” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Prices: $46,900 – $64,900
Engine: Petrol 1.6-litre 90kW/200Nm; Petrol 1.6-litre 115kW/250Nm; Petrol 2-litre 155kW/350Nm; Diesel 1.8-litre 100kW/300Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel economy: 4.6 litres/100km – 6.6 litres/100km
Emissions: 121gr/km – 152 gr/km (Euro6)
Equipment: Class leading
Safety: Five-star rating
Factory warranty: 3-year/100,000km[/toggle]
The original A-Class of the late 1990s broke with convention as Mercedes-Benz set to plot a new front-drive/small-car path. The new model follows it, with a footprint typical of today’s executive hatchback segment. But it has a couple of things on its side: it’s clearly full of Mercedes-Benz DNA and won’t be lost in the mix, it’s sharp looking, sporty even, drives as good as it looks, comes with class-leading equipment and clean engines. All that is enough to ensure it features on European shopping lists. Unlike some of its Euro rivals, there’s nothing conservative about it. The A-Class has been designed to turn heads. Inside and out, it is a racy blend of colour, contrasts, and converging design lines. The cabin is largely driver-focused, remaining roomy for four adults, and providing adequate storage space front and rear. But it can’t claim to be an airy environment. On the road the A-Class clashes with itself. Handling is sharp and responsive, as good as it gets in the segment, no matter which of the engine offerings is under the bonnet. Body control was as good, too, but the ride was a compromise: good over good surfaces, skittery and jarring over bad surfaces. Road and wind noise intruded. The 1.6-litre engine in the entry-level A180 stays quiet at low revs, pulls obligingly in high gears, and returns decent economy. It has price on its side, too.
[hr]
Good features
Cleaner engine and drivetrain combinations, equipment levels, racy cabin, ease of use
Not so good
Ride over uneven surfaces, road noise
[hr]
[box type=”tick” size=”large” style=”rounded”]Rating 7/10[/box]