Mercedes-Benz A-Class [2015-2019]

Summary

With the A-Class hatchback, Mercedes-Benz created a new segment for luxury hatchbacks in India. The luxury hatchback targets young professionals and enthusiasts in India. Seeing the positive response for the A-Class, BMW and Volvo too introduce their luxury hatchbacks 1 Series and Volvo V40 respectively. One of the most affordable luxury cars from the German luxury carmaker, the A-Class hatchback flaunts sophisticated yet sporty design and offers class leading performance.

Further to this, read Mercedes Benz A Class Road Test details by our expert.

Exterior

Mercedes-Benz cars are known for offering sophisticated interiors and dynamic styling, and the A-Class is not an exception. The vehicle gets a diamond grille with shiny metallic pieces, sharp headlamps with Bi-Xenon projectors, which are covered by a bold metallic rim on one side and LEDs on other side. The long bonnet with aggressive flowing lines adds to its sporty look. On sides, the aggressive character lines and strong belt line that starts from headlamps and ends just above the rear wheels further enhances the overall appeal. The flared wheel arches have been fitted to large and light-weight, multi-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, while the wing mirrors get integrated blinkers. At the rear, the hatchback has spoiler with an in-built FM antenna and LED tail lamps. The premium hatchback is available in 10 exterior shades including Cosmos Black, Polar Silver, Canyon Beige Metallic, South Seas Blue, Monolith Grey, Cirrus White, Jupiter Red, Mountain Grey, Night Black and Universe Blue.

Interior

The interiors of the A-Class flaunt sophistication. Introduced as CBU, the hatchback comes with high-quality material, top-notch fit & finish and loads of gizmos to play with. It features quality plastics, polished aluminium weave and rich leather upholstery that offers a comfortable and premium feel. It features a black theme that offers sportiness, while the high-mounted, large wind-shield and side windows offer airy cabin. Adding to it, the large panoramic sun-roof makes cabin airy.

The dashboard features Mercedes-Benz Command system with glossy plastic bezel. Its 5.8-inch display has good graphics and interface. The seats are well-cushioned, and supportive, while the spacious cabin offers excellent legroom and headroom for both front and rear occupants.

Engine & Transmission

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatch is available in both petrol and diesel fuel options. The gasoline version gets a 1.6-litre, in-line four-cylinder engine that produces 107.3bhp of power at 3200-4400rpm along with a top torque of 200Nm at 1250-4000rpm. The oil burner is a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel unit that is good for 120.7bhp of power @ 5000rpm and a peak torque of 250Nm @ 1400-2800rpm. Power is transmitted to the front wheels of the premium hatchback via a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

Performance & Handling

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class offers decent performance, but it still lacks the power punch you would expect from a Merc. However, the handling is pretty good. The steering is quick and precise, and the car reacts quickly to every command of the driver. The car performs really well on corners. Its steering feels light on low speeds, and it stiffens on high speeds. It is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol motor that helps the car cross 0-100kmph mark in just 9.2 seconds before hitting a top speed of 202kmph. The oil burner is a 2.2-litre motor, and it sprints the car to 100kmph from zero in mere 10.6 seconds, before touching 190kmph.

Braking System

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class features all-disc brakes which are solid and supportive. It features 'brake-hold', which is one of the most convenient braking systems for city driving. The car driver doesn’t need to press the brake pedal as it automatically keeps the car at standstill. The braking system is further assisted by ABS, EBD, brake assist and ESP.

Mileage

The 2143 cc Diesel - powered variant delivers a fuel economy of 15 kmpl in city and 18 kmpl on highways, while the Petrol variant offers a mileage of 12 kmpl on urban roads and 15 kmpl and freeways, respectively.

Safety Features

The A-Class luxury hatchback is equipped with a range of safety and security features including seven airbags, ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution) and Brake Assist, EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), front and rear fog lamps, engine immobilizer, reversing camera, etc.

Verdict

The Mercedes A-Class has got all the ingredients that make it a perfect luxury hatchback. It offers dynamic looks, spacious and trendy interiors, powerful engine and good handling and performance. However, the rear occupant space could have been better.

Competition

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback rivals the likes of the BMW 1 Series and the Volvo V40 hatchback.

Pros

1. Sporty design
2. Feature loaded cabin
3. High quality interiors

Cons

1. The rear occupant space could have been better
2. Engine power output