Drive.co.uk has been testing the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class this week. Read our first impressions on the new premium hatchback.
Tim Barnes-Clay enjoys the latest Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 250 AMG Line DCT
The A-Class has become sexier with each incarnation – and 2018’s Mk4 is a car oozing desirability.
It’s a classy hatch with one diesel option – the A180d. Then there are the A200 and A250 petrols. All are offered with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. But, from 2019, manuals and more powerful engines will join the party.
The A250 I’m reviewing here gets your juices flowing tastefully. It’s got a bit of ‘oomph’ to it – as you’d expect from a car with a 224PS 2.0-litre lump under the lid.
Inside, you feel like a King, with a digital set-up that you’d expect to find in a chauffeur driven luxury limo. The brand’s clever ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control responds well to pretty much anything you ask of it. Additionally, although the Audi A3 trumps the A-Class on rear seat space, comfort is better than that offered by the German rival. The seating and dash materials are marginally better, too – and that takes some doing! Indeed, I’d go as far to say that this Mercedes-Benz has set the bar one notch higher in the compact class.
On the move, the sporty sound the new A-Class makes is gratifying, and it’s always eager to please – especially in ‘Sport’ mode. But the hatchback delivers a calmer experience in ‘Comfort’ setting, soothing the parts that some other compact cars fail to reach.
The auto ‘box can sound a bit strained when you give the Merc the beans, but most of the time it’s a smooth operator. What’s more, the shift paddles on the steering wheel - if you want to use them - are highly responsive.
As handling and ride go, this small Mercedes is perfect for everyday motoring needs. I drove it on motorways and rural roads and felt satisfied all day. Even the potholes on the Cotswolds’ test route didn’t rain on the parade. The A-Class handled them with aplomb.
The car holds its own at 70mph, and there’s quite a bit of fun to be had when you point it at the twisty tarmac. The front-wheel-drive A-Class hunkers down, relaxes and then pings you out of the bends accurately and pleasingly. All this makes it a comfortable, easy hatchback to like and live with.
So, if sexy looks, a charming cabin, great handling and a premium-badged hatch float your boat, then the A-Class A250 comes highly recommended.
Car reviewed: Mercedes-Benz A-Class A250 AMG Line DCT - Base Price On the road £30,240 price as tested £32,635 0-62mph 6.2 secs Top speed 155mph Fuel Economy combined 45.6mpg CO2 emissions 221g/km Engine 1991cc 4-cylinder petrol turbo EU6 Max Power 224PS@5500rpm Torque 350Nm@1850rpm Transmission dual clutch man sequential auto mode
Handsome
Handling and Performance
Comfort
Rear-seat space
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