Mercedes Benz A-Class Review & Pictures: A Class Apart


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“A Class Apart”

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The car was coasting along beautifully at 120 Kmph as I snatched fourth and slammed the throttle to listen to the gruff German exhaust burble one more time. The nicely weighted electromechanical steering responded with willingness of a hungry German shepherd, presented with KFC’s best as I slammed on the brakes and scrubbed off residual excess speed to hit the right apex, all the while fervently hoping that dreaded tread shuffle would not develop into terminal under steer. It didn’t. There was a spot of squirreling as I downshifted to second and unleashed the entire wave of torque that the creamy Mercedes in line four turbo petrol could throw out at the fat 225 section front tires.

One more up shift using the paddle shifters on the 7 speed DCT and within no time the speedo nudged the ton mark again. TAI’s first review of a Mercedes was going as smoothly as it could and Janis Joplin was belching her famous “Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz……” on the stereo. And that’s when the cow decided to appear. Bang in the middle of a National Highway. In the broad daylight. Out of nowhere. Chewing cud. Blissfully. Not caring whether it’s a Mercedes or a mosquito that would hit it in a matter of seconds. Maybe it believed in God and destiny. Achtung baby!

Holy Cow! As I swore, slammed on the brakes, and yanked the steering to the right at 110 kmph to avoid the inevitable collision, I could almost hear the bovine looking at the A-Class and mumbling “Volvo, eh?” For an instant that felt like an eternity, my brain flash-backed to the year 1997 when the first A-Class (W168) had rolled over while being subjected to the Moose test by Swedish auto testers. This was 2013; here was the new A-Class. The cow was the Moose. Iron Rock was the Swedish (err Pune’ish) auto tester. And for those who came in late, ‘Volvo’ is Latin for “I roll”. The ABS went berserk, the ESP light went into Bhappi Lahiri mode, the tires yawned, the monocoque swerved and the A-Class came to a sure, safe halt. No twitching, no drama, no shimmy, and certainly no roll. It. Just. Stopped. This was 2013. Welcome to the new Mercedes Benz A Class (W176).

The first A-Class was born way back in 1997 when Mercedes Benz decided to offer an entry level car for the hoi polloi. A humble (by Mercedes standards) five door hatchback with power going to the front wheels. Exactly 111 years after Karl Benz got his first petrol engine up and running. As a manufacturer with zero experience in building small cars, it was a bold move by the German automaker to expand their product line, something that was necessary in order to bring more volumes in the cash starved 1990s and to combat the growing threat from the other two German marquees: BMW and Audi. The W168 was reasonably successful and more than a million units were sold during its eight year life cycle despite the Moose test debacle, which cost the company a massive DM 300 million to fix – ESP was added and the suspension suitably modified to arrest the tendency of flipping over due to the high center of gravity.

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Year 2004 witnessed the launch of second generation A-Class (W169) that was also introduced in 3 door hatchback body style along with the 5 door hatchback version. It carried forward the tall boy architecture of the W168, although with its A pillars raked a bit more than the ones on erstwhile model (look closely and it seems as if the B-Class has morphed out of the W169). The front engine, front wheel drive layout was retained. Indeed, all Mercedes models that slot below the C-Class have a front engine, front wheel drive layout. The W169 also sold more than a million units till Mercedes decided that they need something ‘more’ from the next A-Class in order to achieve their sales target of 1.6 million cars in year 2015 and more than 2 million cars in year 2020.

Cut to end 2012 when Mercedes Benz had to be content with having sold only 1.32 million cars with the three pointed star on bonnet while BMW sold 1.54 million units and Audi sold 1.45 million cars. To add supercharged fuel to the fire, Merc’s sales grew less than 5% from the previous year’s sales figure (2011) while BMW and Audi both registered more than 11% growth in corresponding sales. “Zis iz not going ze way vi want it to,” said the men in white coats at Stuttgart and California, “letz teach zese guys a lezzon.” And as a result of this, the latest A-Class (W176) has both the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A1 firmly in its cross-hairs.

Mercedes’ problem has always been that its cars have found it tough to attract the attention of the young hip hop crowd with increasingly swelling pockets. Consequently, when it came to building the new A–Class, the think tanks at Stuttgart ditched their flip charts and ze zetailed prezentations and decided to take the hatchback competition head on. “Ze young crowd hav to like our A-Klasse. Yes they hav to like eet.” The legacy of the original design was ditched in favor of a more modern, youthful approach in order to open up new markets such as China and the US.

The idea was simple, catch them young and offer them something to graduate up to as they move up in the food chain. Accordingly, the Concept A-Class was shown to public in 2011 at the Shanghai Auto Show and the production model largely kept in sync with the concept, albeit with a few changes here and there. With the number of premium compact cars sold around the world rising every year and the W176 having already garnered more than 100,000 orders globally, Mercedes-Benz has high hopes from the current generation A-Class, which they have now decided to bring to India as well. “Ci meester, vi told you, zis wud sell.”

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Mercedes Benz A-Class: Looks and Design


New A Class is a serious transformation from its predecessor, the older generation was more or less an odd ball in the Mercedes lineup. However, the new A class breathes a fresh air, it’s futuristic, sporty and yes, it is "A class" apart. This model is significantly bigger than the preceding generation, the large hood area (compared to the body) clearly offers it a sporty stance. The body-line is designed to be low slung and aerodynamic. From the front, some might mistake it for a Merc sedan at quick glance. The large lights with DRLs and big front 3 pointed star gives it a classier look, more like a sedan rather than a hatchback.

The one thing which stands apart in this all new Mercedes design is the front grille, the diamond grille looks a million bucks and oozes class – 302 diamonds to be precise and giving an impression as if its floating in the front. Unfortunately this is a limited edition introductory grille only and will feature in the first 300 cars. However, we did suggested Mercedes Benz to atleast make it available as an optional accessory because it’s too good to ignore. From side profile the aerodynamic and the low slung nature is evident, I was bowled out by the design philosophy Mercedes has employed muscular sporty arches and the convex meets the concave at the right places, it looks modern and plush. Finally, retribution to their design team, I have forgiven them for the previous generation tall boy design. :tongue:


The front bumper very seamlessly integrates with body shell and looks like a large single piece that goes upwards flows till the bonnet; dollops of carbon fiber look alike neatly integrated within. Note there are no separate fog lamps provided, although the front lamp is Bi Xenon. Front bumper has headlight washers and front sensors for safety. The panoramic sunroof accentuated in black adds to the stealthy look - It’s fully electronic with a sun-blind. German engineering (though Mercedes design is now located at California) ensures there is hardly any air turbulence noise even when the roof is open at over 100kmph. The B pillars are blackened further adding to the aerodynamic profile.

The rear is probably the 3rd best when it comes to looks (Front and side steal the show), the rear spoiler adds to the sports theme and it’s here, where it looks like a low slung sports hatch. The rear lights are again LED and make the car standout at night. The reverse camera is very neatly hidden above the number plate and provides a very wide view of the rear. Additionally, rear bumper features four reverse sensors as well. The rear spoiler has an integrated antenna for the radio. The twin exhausts look great alongside the broad low profile tires. The 17 inch five twin spoke grey alloys looks refreshing and host 225/45 profile tires (Bridgestone Turanza). Fit and finish, paint quality are top notch. The build quality is undoubtedly premium and the doors shut with a soothing German thump. There’s hardly anything to complain except for the puny rear wiper.

 
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Mercedes Benz A-Class: Interiors and Comfort


The interiors is where the A-Class shows its class. They are typical Mercedes Benz and sporty as well. The all black and brushed aluminium finish is premium. The A Class is also gizmo loaded; the feature list is virtually endless. If you are an owner you could be forgiven for not knowing certain features even after driving this car for ages, the manuals are exhaustive and you would need a few months to read them. Step inside and you will be cocooned in a class of its own, everything is thoughtfully placed and functional. However, it will take some time to get used to the complexities. The steering is leather coated and provides immense grip, neither too light nor too heavy, precise and an arrow like darting capability, simply point and shoot. There are two sets of controls, you can use the left set to navigate through the MID, the MID virtually has a host of indicators and controls and nearly duplicates the COMAND (display interface) for a variety of functions. Pretty easy to use once you get a hang of it. The right hand set of controls helps you use the phone / volume / mute and voice control features.

The A Class COMAND unit can be controlled by a variety of voice commands and once the voice command button is activated, the display shows you the most relevant voice command for that screen. The horn needs unusually high pressure to activate – but sounds really good and different – You might not use them much in Germany but out here in India it’s not exactly bad manners using the horn - its more a question of survival. There are 3 stalks besides the steering apart from the paddle shift, one to control the automatic gear (Yes, you read it right), one for cruise control and speed limit setup and another to control the wipers / washers, high / low beams and side indicators. It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you are familiar it all comes easy. The cruise control stalk will probably take the most time getting accustomed. IRVMs are auto-dimming with lights incorporated within.

The dashboard features twin dials with smaller dials indoor, sporty grey /aluminum and well backlit, making it very easy to read – in fact it looks much better at night. The dials show the standard stuff like Speed, RPM, Engine temperature and fuel gauge, there are a set of digital MID displays covering a host of functions and also setup information. You can configure a lot of items here like DRLs, Automatic Door Locks, Ambient Light levels, Attention assist, ESP. The mid features an innovative Eco Display which shows the level of Acceleration, Smooth Driving and Braking. It has a host of other features like displaying FE, trip meter readings, Driving range, Tire pressures, Run Flat Indicators, Service Information, and Audio etc. The right side of the steering has a conventional european style button to operate and switch on the headlamps or put them in an auto mode.

The central console looks beautiful with COMAND system. The 14.7 cm TFT display takes prime space. It’s a fully integrated Audio / Video / Reverse Cam / Navigation / Communication comprehensive Multimedia system. However, the catch is its not touch screen and in this time and age you will end up trying to press the buttons on the screen expecting it to work – a joystick type turning knob is provided where you usually reach out for your handbrake – this can fully navigate and control the complex COMAND interface (Mercedes nomenclature for the Display). The music system (Mercedes calls it Audio 20 CD) comes with a 6 speaker system - one of the best you will hear in the segment, excellent sound quality with USB, iPod, SD Card and DVD/CD console. Surprisingly even the radio quality is phenomenal, no wonder considering that Mercedes claims in its manual that it uses either a Harman Kardon or Bang and Olufsen.


Below the display system, there are quick navigation buttons to access GPS, Dial the mobile connected or use the multimedia function like audio/video. Below these functional buttons lie a set of buttons to control front seat heating individually for the driver and passenger seats. Eco button to activate a start stop system, hazard light switch, Vehicle Mode selector (Sports, Eco, Manual) and the front bumper sensor disarming button. The bottom most panel is for control the dual zone AC, temperature can be set individually and all the usual functions exist, the front AC vents look a million bucks, it looks crafted rather than manufactured with subtle texture, vents can be closed individually.

There are 3 functional cubby holes, one with a 12v charger and removable ash tray to store handy kick-knacks and 2 cup and card holders. The central holder has the usb and ipod ports as well. Since there is no gear lever or handbrake, space is well utilized for storing handy items. The parking brake is rather located below the right switch towards the right of the steering and it’s electric which could be engaged by just a press of button (push-pull type). There’s a lot of intelligence put in to release it automatically, it is also automatically engaged when the Hill Hold function brings the vehicle to a halt, the engine is switched off if the driver leaves the vehicle, bonnet is unlocked or the vehicle is still for a longer period of time. All in all it indeed does a lot of thinking for you.

The front seats are extremely plush and sporty, the driver's seat and backrest are electrically controlled using the controls in the door panel. Seat settings can be stored in 3 memory programs and we can have a choice of our position immediately reset, handy especially if there are multiple drivers in the family and you don't have to search for the best position every time, it also stores the ORVM position for every seat map. There are a plethora of settings available to make sure you find the royal and most comfortable position. Both front seats come with a 3 stage seat warmer to keep those buns warm and satiate the comfort needs more than adequately. Four way lumbar support is an optional accessory provided in the front seats to inflate and deflate the air cushions, worked like a breeze.

The rear seats are comfortable as well and can easily seat 2 adults - at best its 2.5 seater at the rear. Thigh support is limited though, but leg room is more than adequate even with a tall driver up front. Separate AC vents at the rear make sure chilling in the rear is more than sufficient. There is a big hump that goes through the center which is why it’s at best for two adults. Ingress and egress is fairly standard and things are ergonomically laid out. There is no center armrest for the rear seat which is a surprising omission. A Class has a boot space of 341 liters, pretty decent for a premium hatchback. Rear seat can be split folded and can create a further load space of 1,157 liters. It almost folds flat and creates over 1.2 meters in space longitudinally. Plus a large parcel tray is available as well.

 
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Mercedes Benz A Class: Performance and Handling


The all new A180 Blue Efficiency turbocharged petrol engine is 1595cc unit delivering 122bhp (90kW) with a max torque of 200NM (from 1250 – 4000 RPM). The engine is extremely refined and efficient. Mercedes uses piezo injectors for precise milli-second accuracy in fuel injection leading to more efficient, less polluting silent engines. It’s coupled with a 50 liter fuel tank offering a flexible travel range of 700 Kms without a fuss. ARAI claimed numbers for the petrol motor is 15.5 Kmpl. Mercedes Benz is betting big on modular front architecture platform (MFA), similar to the on new B-Class. Although a 1.6 Liter engine for premium hatchback could provide a decent performance, it cannot be termed as blindingly quick. It manages to do a 0 – 100 Kmph in a claimed time of 9.2 seconds. Not bad but to give an analogy, that puts it in the territory of a Honda Civic which can do same in approx 10 seconds or so or a VW Polo GT TSI with claimed 0-100 of 9.7 seconds.

This 1.6 liter engine is mated with a seven speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) auto box. Thus, two unique gearbox units with independent clutches so they can shift fast as needed. There are three modes available for a driver to choose: Economy, Sports and Manual. I found the manual with the paddle shift the best combination. Sports mode is rather a higher revving mode, so not exactly fast. We were nearly half a second slower in the 0-100 runs in the sport mode. The sport is a bit of misnomer it just down-shifts earlier and up-shifts later. Practically making it useful in the ghats. It goes till the red line in each gear and then up-shifts.

You could also hear muted engine growl in this mode. The economy mode is alright for all practical purpose of automatic driving but for an enthusiast, you might find it up-shifting very early or downshifting late - the amount of pressure on the accelerator pedal dictates a lot of it. Personally I found the manual paddle shifters a joy to use. The modes are clever you can use the paddle shift in any mode really and it temporarily goes in to manual mode and then reverts back to the original mode. Don’t worry about stalling this Merc. Even in a manual mode if you don't shift, it shifts eventually for you, so that the engine doesn't scream and burst. The gearbox is very smooth but could have been a tad more responsive (read as fast).


Noise, Vibration and Harshness levels are very impressive and at idle you can’t hear the engine from inside as it hums at around 700 RPM or so. It’s totally refined and only when you are using the sport or manual mode aggressively, you can hear a baby tiger growling under the hood. The engine comes with a start stop system which can be activated from the front console or switched off as needed. What it does basically is switches off the engine at the signals for you as soon as you stop at a signal with your foot on the brake pedal or when HOLD is activated. The moment you release the foot or in case of HOLD the moment you touch the accelerator pedal the engine fires up. What’s astounding is how quick the engine dies down on stopping and how quick it fires up - it’s quite simply lighting fast showing how well the engine is tuned. It starts up before you can blink and doesn’t feel like a mechanical engine with pistons but rather a battery operated car.

The steering is precise and taut standard rack and pinion. It’s plush to feel and joy to operate, big in size as well and adequately balanced. You can dart around but for turns closer to 180 degrees be prepared to keep it turning that little bit longer. The brakes are an absolute standout in the A class - super precise and hyper really. It’s really one of best brakes in the segment especially with those fat tires and heavy braking from triple digit speeds doesn't feel any different to normal . The brake performance could be lesson in physics on uniform deceleration, when we did our 100 - 0 tests with heavy braking, rear passengers were hardly thrown forward. The brakes manage this pretty linearly and the driver is always in control.

Mercedes calls it BAS (Brake Assist) which is integrated with ESP; Sensors continuously monitor the pressure on the brake pedal and control the brake boosting functions. The brake liners start thinking and priming the moment you start leaving the accelerator pedal saving you costly milliseconds. This is not all even the brake lights are adaptive depending on the speed the vehicle is travelling and the pressure/velocity on the brake pedal. A HOLD function can also be optionally manually activated by simply tapping the brake pedal twice. If the vehicle detects emergency situation pattern it starts flashing the rear red led flash lights automatically and even puts the hazard lights on once the vehicle comes to a stop - of-course all of this when certain critical conditions are met. All in all a very well thought out comprehensive system.

Ride quality is good, though not really customized to the Indian conditions, suspension travel as expected in a German hatchback is limited and is set up stiff more suited for dynamics. Ground clearance however is a cause of concern, any large speed breaker and you will end up scratching the underbelly of your prized possession. We hear Mercedes is already working on improving it based on some early feedback. The front suspension is the McPherson setup while the rear is a new multi-link. The suspension travel is limited, it doesn’t come crashing on big potholes and suspension edges are well dampened.

 
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Mercedes Benz A Class: Safety, Fuel Efficiency and Verdict


Mercedes Benz is not new to the word safety. They have in fact been pioneers in safety for the last 125 years with over 80000 patents applied. The A class is no different, a spectacular 5 star NCAP rating to say the least. In a gist, this is what it’s equipped with:

> Hill start assist

> Attention Assist

> Front and Rear Sensors

> Acceleration Skid Control (ASR)

> ESP / ABS/ EBD with adaptive braking

> Adaptive braking lights / flashing

> Tyre Pressure Loss warning system

> ISOFIX child seat anchorage system

> Automatic Head / Tail and Number plate Lamps

> Automatic Child seat recognition (Optional accessory)

> Automatic emergency callout (works in conjunction with a connected mobile phone)

> 7 Air bags including driver knee air bag, side airbags and window airbags with combined pelvic/thorax protection


The attention assist is an interesting feature which can be turned on and off and displays a coffee mug sign in the dashboard when active. Via complex sensors it monitors over 70 parameters from the beginning of a drive for a particular driver, understands the driver pattern and then operates within a set range of speed to check if anything untoward is seen in the driving pattern like drowsiness, tiredness, inattentiveness etc. It also monitors if the driver is actively using dash buttons - the whole thing is interpreted via an algorithm to define if the driver is in a state to drive - if not the dash starts giving an indicator to take a break. As much as I wanted to test this out, I couldn't as while testing I ended up fiddling with buttons, and also the sanity prevailed.

Front and Rear sensors + camera with display and audible warnings work amazingly well in jam packed situations. You might find it going paranoid though just in case a motorcycle or a rickshaw comes horribly close (which is the usual in Indian traffic conditions) but thankfully, there is a button to switch it off. The A180 Sport (Petrol) which we tested comes with ARAI certified mileage of 15.5 Kmpl. I am quite sure it could hit it. As the worst we could see was around 9-10 kmpl mark in aggressive driving and 15 Kmpl while at a leisure pace. Therefore, efficiency is not compromised just because it’s a premium German car. The car also shows your driving skill in the ECO-display mode on the instrument cluster reminiscent of the Blue Efficiency tag that Mercedes Benz reinforces their commitment to efficient and environment friendly products.


Virtually, A Class has no competition until the BMW 1 series is launched. So far, this car has proved to be a worldwide hit. Out here in India, it received 400 bookings in the initial 10 days. There is a 2 month waiting period currently with the A class and Mercedes India is already asking their German parent to allocate more this way, all this inspite of the current overall poor situation in the automotive industry. The A Class has literally revived the fortunes of Mercedes in India which until a recent few years were hit hard by competition constantly. What Mercedes have done to the A Class is phenomenal. It’s a surprise they still call it A-Class, since this is so radically different than the predecessor. Finally here is an uber cool premium hatchback with three pointed star that can (finally) appeal to the young and growing masses including the women folks in India.

 
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Mercedes Benz A Class: Likes, Dislikes and Star Ratings


You'll Love: [thumbsup]

> An overall premium and super uber cool long wheel base hatchback.

> Loaded with long list of safety features. Plus, a 5 star EuroNCAP rating.

> Brilliant design. A vast shift from the previous generation model to appease the youth.

> Exceptional quality levels. Typical Mercedes Benz. High on features and plush interiors.

> Extremely refined and efficient engine equipped with a 7 speed dual clutch auto-box + outstanding braking ability.

You'll Loathe: [thumbsdown]

> Outright performance is average for a ‘premium hatchback’. It’s not lightning quick.

> Ground clearance is poor for Indian road conditions and suspension setup is hard.

> Lack of touch screen facility would make the COMAND interface cumbersome to operate for a few.

> High price tag being a CBU. Mercedes is making a case for CKD to reduce price in light of the competition.

> The rear seat can comfortably accommodate only two adults. The boot space is taken up by the space saver spare wheel.

The Ratings:

> Design and Quality.......................:


> Comfort and Features..................:


> Engine and Performance..............:


> Handling and Ride Quality............:


> Safety and Security Levels...........:


> Overall Fuel Consumption............:


> Sales and Service Network..........:


> Value For Money Factor...............:


> The Automotive India's Verdict....:
 
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Mercedes Benz A Class: Technical Specifications, Comparisons and Price

Mercedes Benz A-Class Comparison


Mercedes Benz A-Class Price (Ex. showroom, Mumbai):

> A 180 Style: Rs.21,93,500

> A 180 Sport: Rs.22,73,500

Mercedes Benz A-Class Specifications:

> Engine: 1595cc (Petrol) / 2143cc (Diesel)

> Power: 90 KW @ 5000 RPM (Petrol) / 80 KW @ 3200 - 4400 RPM (Diesel)

> Torque: 200 NM @ 1250 - 4000 RPM (Petrol) / 250 NM @ 1400 - 2800 RPM (Diesel)

> Acceleration 0-100 Kmph: 9.2 seconds (Petrol) / 10.6 seconds (Diesel)

> Top Speed: 202 Kmph (Petrol) / 190 Kmph (Diesel)

> Transmission: 7 Speed Dual Clutch

> Fuel Tank: 50 Liters (6 Liters Reserve)

> Length: 4292 MM

> Width: 1780 MM

> Height: 1433 MM

> Wheelbase: 2699 MM

> Tyre Size: 225/45 R17

> Turning Radius: 5.5 M

Did you know ?

> PARKTRONIC : One of the many Mercedes jargons, Parking assist which helps you find space while moving slowly through a parking lot, a P sign is displayed when this is active on the MID and you are alerted of the parking space around.

> THERMATRONIC : Mercedes calls its ACC system a Thermatronic system, in case of the A class its dual zone automatic.

> DISTRONIC PLUS: Mercedes Advanced radar system to sense distances, in higher classes of vehicle this works in tandem with Cruise Control, STEER ASSIST, PRE SAFE etc.

> SPEEDTRONIC : Part of the crusie control system which ensures you do not exceed certain set speed. It also does braking for you when you set the Hill descent function

> A Class has a service interval of 12 months or 25000kms, every 2nd year is a major service (Oil and filter change happens in all services)

> Mercedes have a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty as standard, its called the STAR CARE programme and you can purchase an additional 4th year package called the STAR CARE PLUS. They also have a STAR EASE programme covering all consumables as well including wiper, brake pads, filters, oil etc

> Mercedes Benz ETS (Electronic Traction Control) remains active even if you switch off ESP. Even when its off if the situation demands ESP activation ESP light flashes on the screen. Apart from the usual torque and braking to stabilise, additional STEER CONTROL is available to help provide crucial steering boost.

> The sunroof can auto close at times of heavy rains, works in tandem with the rain sensor. If the sunroof movement is obstructed, it will move back slightly.

> Heated seats have 3 levels, if you set it to the highest level it will move to level 2 after a preset time and level 1 again after a preset time, 20 mins after reaching level 1 it automatically switches off.

Suggestions To Mercedes Benz For A-Class:

> Improve the GC and suspension travel specifically for Indian conditions.

> Move from a CBU to a CKD mode - with upcoming competition it might be anyways inevitable.

> COMAND Interface should be touch screen.

> Rear seat can be more comforting by means of a center arm-rest and extra thigh support.

> A 1.8 liter performance engine option would be a welcome addition.
 
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Mercedes Benz A Class: Video Review

Mercedes Benz A-Class Video Review

Mercedes Benz A Class Walkaround


Mercedes Benz A Class Interiors


The panoramic sunroof operates really smooth and has a 2 step arrangement with sun blinds opening first and then the actual glass, depending on how like the arrangement. There are wind deflectors and a net at the top which ensures NVH is at the minimum even at 3 digit speeds with the roof open. The panoramic roof cover 2/3rds of the roof.


Video of the Head Washer in Action


 
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Mercedes Benz A Class: Pictorial Review

Smashing contemporary aerodynamic design. Looks a millions bucks any which angle you look at it.

























The beautiful 302 diamond grill alongside the projector lamps



Front sensors, Head light washers and tow hook opening integrated neatly in the front bumper



Posing near the Bopdev ghat at Pune









A180 badging at the rear.



The only exterior badge with Mercedes Benz written. Not quite prominent.



A huge 3 pointed star upfront.



Fantastic looking 17inch 5 twin spoke alloy wheel, Mercedes calls its Himalayan grey with high sheen finish riding on 225/45 R17 Bridgestone tires



Sporty Chrome tipped exhaust at the back



Reverse Camera neatly tucked above the number plate with a good wide view, you cant even see it standing in front





Bi Xenon Headlamps with integrated DRLs/side indicators, no separate fog lamps for the A Class





Rear LEDs are very bright as well



 
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Mercedes Benz A Class: Pictorial Review

Neatly laid out engine bay, also notice no cushions on the bonnet underside to reduce NVH further, its already pretty good!





The only panel gap i could nit pick, is around the bumper/bonnet area



Driver side Wiper are pretty long and do a very effective job



Fuel lids work along with the central locking



ORVMs look small, but do the job effectively, snazzy side indicators integrated







Stylish pull handles to open the doors, again go well with the aerodynamic get up



Even the keys are uber cool, if the batteries are dead, a manual key can be removed from the same key fob and used.





You could enjoy a nice monsoon, with just the sun blinds off



It loves the twisties

 
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Mercedes Benz A-Class: Pictorial Review

Very premium looking AC vents over black leather stitched interiors. Minute care taken for the finishing on the AC vents. They can individually closed.









The audio console buttons to operate the A class audio system, navigation, telephone



Central console with one touch openable cubby holes. There is a glass and card holder and also the round button is a joystick / dial to operate and navigate through the COMAND display options. The Dual zone AC can be set independently and works great.



Controls to operate the ECO mode(engine start-stop), Heated seats and disabling front sensors



No conventional gear lever frees up a lot of space, notice the usb and iPod interfaces neatly integrated inside the centre arm rest.



Premium quality leather stitched doors, the black leather and brushed aluminium inserts gives a a very classy feel.



Sporty Front seats with brushed aluminium see through.



Front driver seat can be fully adjusted electrically with 3 memory presets, the headrest is fixed and not movable though. I noticed even the external ORVMs positions are kept in the memory - brilliant!





The usual buttons for power windows operations, all are one touch down. The external ORVMs can be adjusted and folded using the controls and directional switches



Steering is exquisite, premium, big in size and grippy as well. Buttons on the right to control phone and voice commands, on the left to fiddle with the MID display



No conventional gear lever for the A class, its operated using this stalk beside the steering. It takes a little getting used to, but after that its a breeze, a single press on the right silver edge and it goes in a park mode.



An integrated wiper and indicator stalk. Also used to operate low-high beam.



Stalk to deploy the cruise control and also set a max speed, takes a little bit of time to get used to, its over engineered.



Paddle shift option which works great in all modes.





Illuminated visors on the driver side as well, Mercedes takes care of ladies deal breakers





The only piece looking a bit plain jane in the interiors , height adjustable seat belts



Grab handles for the rear seat passengers with a hook



Beautifully contoured door design - all black leather stitched, small recess available to keep nick nacks



No puddle lamps in the A Class, only this light to improve visibility to oncoming traffic



Illuminated Glovebox average size with a pen holder



Premium stitched leather rear doors with integrated speakers



Front Passenger seat also gets electrically adjustable seats, Sporty looking but very comfortable front seats





Top Quality stitching and seats we hear come from Tata Johnson Controls

 
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Mercedes Benz A-Class: Pictorial Review

A decent dead pedal provided, notice a small lever alongside the top of the brake pedal - thats for opening the hood, strange hidden position that you can barely see



Rear seats are very comfortable for 2 Adults though limited thigh support on offer, in pic a 6 footer, headroom is just about adequate, the center hump makes it inconvenient for the middle passenger



Rear seats come with ISOFIX attachment point to place the child seats - an international standard now



Rear seat AC vents along with a 12V charger



AC vents exist below the front seats for effective rear side cooling



Rear Boot Space taken up the spare space saver, no typical deep recess to hold the tyre, it hence takes up boot space





First Aid kit available using a openable lid within the boot, also used to check wiring harness to rear LEDs





Toolkit with a air compressor available as standard



The rear fold to give 1.24 m long boot - approx 1157 litres of space



The COMAND interface takes the centre stage in the fascia (Details of the COMAND Interface options and MID below)



A minute by minute graphical representation of how much fuel the car gulps





COMAND screen showing the reversing directions. Yellow lines are dynamically generated based on steering inputs.



Various views/options from the COMAND Audio interface







Connectivity to Internet Mercedes Benz site and apps available via the COMAND unit



When you press the voice command in the steering a contextual message appears in the screen prompting you towards the potential command



GPS Navigation screen



An analogue clock if you still fancy one



The MID screen has a plethora of options and settings that can be controlled using the steering buttons

















 
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Mercedes Benz A-Class: Pictorial Review











Night view of the A-Class Interiors.











The centre button beside the IRVM is to control the panoramic roof, while the rest to control interior/reading lights



Ambient Lightening again gives a very very premium and classy feel.

















Intricate ambient lighting setup even inside the seat recess - looks great



A prominent Mercedes Benz scuff plate.



Front sensors telling you someone is getting closer



Red Light : Time to save your Mercedes Benz, its too close for comfort -> This will happen a lot in city traffic conditions though.



Similar warning lights available on the rear which come on your IRVM perfectly, IRVM view is very limited though for the rear. Hence the need for all the gizmos

 
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Re: Mercedes Benz A-Class Test Drive Review

Some comparison shots, the A class even though a premium hatchback is a long wheelbase (2699mm) - this is larger than many sedans in our market





In terms of height its even shorter than a Ford Figo, no wonder it has a coefficient drag of 0.27.



Beside a distant and very sporty cousin (SLK)



Our very own Sam Dinkar makes a dashing(different) debut with a ze zerman introduction for this article! Also a big thanks to 350Z for his huge contribution towards compiling this mega article. Some photos courtesy Bumblebee - Thank you!

© TheAutomotiveIndia.com. Any attempt to republish the text or pictures anyway without prior consent of our authorities is strictly forbidden.
 
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350Z

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Re: Mercedes Benz A-Class Test Drive Review

Note: Thread Now Live From T.I.P Zone.

Drive Safe,
350Z
 

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