Mercedes-BenzA-Class

The Mercedes Benz A-Class has evolved considerably towards becoming one of the most coveted propositions in its segment today. Mercedes Benz has thoroughly revamped the A-Class and it promises to be quite the package for connoisseurs today. How does it stack up at its price point? Here’s taking a closer look at the same.

How is the design?

This new Mercedes-Benz design philosophy is evident in the new A-Class's exterior styling. The distinct V-shape, the separate headlamps, the radiator grille with the center Mercedes star, and the double slats on either side of the star, as well as the additional air intakes on the sides, are typical aspects of the long, dynamic front. The "dropping line" that is seen in the side profile fades away as it gets closer to the front of the car. A crucial component of the design concept is how the headlamps are created, along with how the light functions are organized inside of them. The daytime running lamps and indicators feature a distinctive "flare effect", thanks to the placement of the light modules and LEDs below the headlamp cover glass. The roof, with its clean surfaces and taut, arcing shape, perfectly demonstrates the interaction of dynamic design with superb aerodynamics.

The car's coupé-like characteristics are emphasized by the muscular shoulders above the rear axle. Smooth, flowing lines with a flat edge can be seen in the silhouette. The beltline rises sharply in the back, forming a wedge-like appearance. Sensually molded sculptural side panels and clean lines set out the side perspective. An interaction of convex-concave surfaces and edges reveals the broad emphasis of the tail end. The horizontal arrangement of the tail lights highlights the car's width while continuing the line of the musculature shoulders towards the back.

How does it perform?

Mercedes has introduced the Benz A-Class Limousine in the A 200 guise with a 1.3-liter turbo-petrol engine, a A 200d guise with a 2.0-liter diesel engine, and interestingly, a third performance-oriented A 35 AMG version, which is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo-petrol engine. It is one of the fastest cars and has a maximum speed of 227 kmph, which is truly amazing. The car has a well-tuned engine, and it is also great on gas which is another brilliant aspect of the car. This car has an engine capacity of 1595 cc. The engine produces 122 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque between 1250 and 4000 rpm. The Mercedes Benz A- Class has a 188- horsepower output along with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic system which sounds truly interesting. Another important aspect of the car is that it provides a sporty driving performance that would give a pleasant experience overall. In short, when talking about the performance of the Mercedes Benz A- Class, there is no scope to question how efficiently it performs, because it does all that you expect of it, and more.

How is the mileage?

The Mercedes Benz A-Class ensures 15 to 20 kilometres per litre, in terms of mileage. For city driving, the Mercedes Benz A-Class ensures around 12 kilometres per litre of petrol and 17.5 kilometres per litre of diesel. The 2.2-liter diesel engine and excellent sports mode allow it to accelerate from 0 to 100 in only 9 seconds. It also includes the excellent feature of cruise control, which is highly recommended to get the best driving performance.

How is the driving experience?

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the Mercedes-Benz A-Class as the CLA's replacement. It has an entirely new look. The new A-Class is not only stylish, but it also has smart technologies that use artificial intelligence to make driving easier and more convenient for the driver. With its muscular posture, the new A-Class delivers on its promise of dynamic aesthetics. With 1.3 litres and four cylinders, the A-200 has 163 braking horsepower. That may not seem like much, but in this bundle, it works rather well.

The A-Class 250 features a powerful 224 horsepower from its four cylinders and a 7-speed DCT as standard equipment. Additional engines will be released including the A-180d's nimble 1.5-liter, 116-horsepower, 4-cylinder diesel engine. Steel springs are a basic feature of the comfort suspension setup in the new A-Class. To emphasize its sporty appeal, the new A-Class is optionally offered with a 15 mm lower suspension than the standard setup. They can customize the damping behavior as an extra feature using an adjustable system. In the end, it's all about flexibility, allowing the driver to alter the car's dynamic according to the place. So, at the push of a button, the automobile can adjust to the driver's preferences for a sporty drive, a leisurely country journey, or a slower speed in the city. In the end, the driver must ultimately choose the ideal A-Class handling and driving style. Everything else is simply top-notch to say the least.

People would have the option of selecting the Eco, Comfort, Sport, or Individual driving modes. Paddle shifters can be used to increase driving enjoyment. The ground clearance has also improved, and Mercedes has adjusted the suspension system for varied terrains. The side wall of the tires has increased to 113mm, which further improves the ride quality.

What is the interior like?

The car differentiates the instrument panel into a muscular lower segment and an upper section with a wing-inspired design. The front panel of the free-standing display screen has a black piano-lacquer appearance, and the silver frame is flush-fitting. Two big spherical instruments with one little dial each make up the instrument cluster. Although they are red on the sportier design and equipment lines like Urban and AMG Sport, the pointer inlays are still white. The dials on the lines and packages of athletic equipment are silver in color with a checkered flag look. There are 12 function buttons and an electroplated bezel on the three-spoke steering wheel.

The positioning of the different components, including the head unit, bottom control panel, air conditioning operating unit, storage compartments, rotary push-button, and armrest, as well as the central dome and console, are all based on the recommendations of Mercedes Benz’s ergonomics specialists. A wide variety of personalization possibilities are present, thanks to the wide variety of seat coverings which come in a variety of materials (such as leather, and fabric), colour combinations, and geometrical designs. For instance, all design and equipment lines include sports seats with built-in head restraints as an optional extra. The gap between the head restraint's upper edge and the seat backrest emphasizes the sporty design of the seats. This opening is rimmed with a silver chrome frame on the rear of the front seats, and when combined with the Light and Sight option, it can also include ambient lighting.

Tech and infotainment

In the A-Class Limousine, Mercedes-Benz has included two widescreen, 10.25-inch screens with excellent quality. When you say "Hey, Mercedes," Mercedes-Benz features an intelligent virtual assistant that responds. It can almost always carry out orders that are entered using buttons. Software over-the-air upgrades are supported by the MBUX as well. The central information display is a touchscreen that either has steering-mounted switches or a trackpad and shortcut buttons on the center console that you can operate. Users can access the digital driver display through a small steering-mounted capacitive touchpad.

A fast access menu gives the driver access to the Mercedes app, dimmable ambient lighting, screen brightness, seat functions, smartphone connectivity, and other features, while a primary menu lets them control important tasks like the phone, navigation, radio, music, info, and settings. The infotainment display's themes are displayed on the screen when you swipe up. The AMG line A35 4Matic has additional features that let you modify a number of the car's operational dynamics. An integrated navigation app shows the optimal path to your destination using real-time satellite data. Multiple users can set up their accounts in MBUX's profile menu. In addition, the voice command capability can read, recognize, and transmit messages as well as adjust the temperature, open the sunroof or sunblind, modify the ambient lighting, and more. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported by this system.

Safety Equipment

The Mercedes Benz A- Class has excellent safety equipment, and it has a long list of safety features aside from the usual electronic aids like ESP and Pre-Safe. This car also has radar-based Active Brake Assist for something emergency braking, and the Active Bonnet Function to minimize fatal injury. Besides these features, it has seven airbags, with a knee airbag for the driver. It even is featured with semi-autonomous Park Assist to make driving easier in the city. The car also comes with an ignition disabling device that would prevent the engine from getting started if you could not use the correct and original manufacturer key. It also has many other safety features like Seat Belt Warning, Child Lock, Anchor Points for Child Seats, Over speed Warning, Speed Sensing Door Locks, an Anti-theft Engine immobilizer, Middle rear three-point seatbelt, Central Locking, Puncture Repair Kits, etc. You basically all the safety features that are necessary and then some more.

Which variants to buy?

The CLA is being replaced by the A-Class Limousine in the Mercedes-Benz line-up. Both petrol and diesel engines are available for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class model. This is the variant to buy, especially in its fully-loaded Progressive Line trim.

Which cars compete in this segment?

The A-Class has several rivals in the Indian market including the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, Audi A3, and others.

Verdict Value for money

The A-Class may be used for both comfortable everyday commutes and thrilling weekend excursions if anybody needs a luxury vehicle. At this pricing point, you would anticipate a more potent engine from the luxury automaker though. At the same time, rear legroom is slightly constrained than what one would like. However, the A-Class still gets plenty of equipment, a gorgeous design, and all the bells and whistles that you would w