A Generous Touch of A-Class

The A-class was a game changer for Mercedes. Before its revolutionary metamorphosis 3 years ago, the A-class was more of a senior citizen’s car -  easy to get in, easy to get out, reliable and trustworthy. Then the A-class became sexy, athletic and suave, and Mercedes had plenty of new customers, most of whom were previous owners of BMW’s and Audis. And despite the decline in overall new car sales, January 2016 shows sales figures that are markedly more optimistic than Mercedes-Benz’s German counterparts.

So how is the new A-Class different?

The A-class hasn’t changed dramatically, because its biggest selling point is its design.Mercedes-Benz says their keywords for the new A-Class were “more of everything”: An increased sporty appeal, better driving dynamics, a more dynamic design and interior optimisation. And they’ve done just that, but you’d have to have a trained eye to notice the difference at the first take.

Around the front, the A-class’s regal nose seems to gently taper towards the three-pointed star. The front bumper is more arrow-shaped, with new LED headlamps if you tick that option box. Taillights have been redesigned as well, with elongated dual tailpipes that are flush with the rear bumper. The colour choice remains the same, but Universe Blue is replaced with Elbaite Green, which emphasises the A-Class’s sporty design. It is something completely different, and I wonder how popular it will be - I think it’s gorgeous and striking, but South Africans are quite conservative with their colour choices and green is not known for its great resale value.

On the inside, the instrument cluster with its sporty gauge design and anodised switches refresh the upmarket cabin - it’s a modern twist on a classic interior.There’s a large, free-standing frameless display for the infotainment system, which is now optionally available with a larger 20.3-cm (8-inch ) screen. There are plenty new colours and materials (including new trims for the dash) to doll up your A-Class to your exact specifications. The new dual-toned Sahara/Beige leather seat trim is to die for!

In for a ride

All five models were at the local launch in Cape Town, and we hopped into an Elbaite Green A 250 Sport immediately. The biggest difference between the outgoing A-Class and the new is, without a doubt, its ride quality and suspension. Previous A-classes were sprung rather hard, and weren’t particularly comfortable for everyday driving. The spritely A 250 was a controlled yet comfortable ride, and great fun too - after all, it’s the model with the most powerful engine after the scorching hot A45. The A 250’s 2.0 litre turbo-petrol engine packs a 160 kW punch with 350 Nm of torque.

After a vehicle change we secured the Mercedes-AMG A45 4MATIC (with all wheels driven), which has the most powerful 4-cylinder production engine in the world. Its already insane power has been increased to 280 kW, with a ‘Race’ function on the AMG Dynamic Select dial. It features a front axle locking differential for road holding and grip, and has a performance exhaust system to delight the ears with. This was also the car I used for my last lap around Killarney. It accelerates from 0 to a 100 in 4.2 seconds, which is enough to make a grown woman cry tears of joy! At first I kept the ‘electronic nanny’ on to keep me on track, but in the end I switched to Sport Plus to let loose a little. The smooth seven-speed DCT gearbox just kept on shifting seamlessly. On the sportier settings, things are a little more aggressive. Full throttle upshifts make for some friendly chortling from the engine - at times it was so loud I couldn’t hear what the AMG instructor next to me was saying. Bliss! My favourite touch is the suede sections where your fingers grip the steering wheel - it seems to absorb the adrenaline-induced moisture so your hands don’t slip.

Top pick

I did get a chance to drive every derivative, and if I had to pick the most sensible buy, it would be the A 220d. I drove it from Killarney to the airport in congested traffic, and it was a star where fuel economy is concerned. Its pretty punchy too, with 130 kW and 350 Nm at its disposal. If the A-Class’s styling isn’t exciting enough for you, there’s an optional Motorsport Pack that adds some Petronas Green accents and other sporty finishes. It’s only available on the non-AMG derivatives.

Naturally, Mercedes-Benz isn’t stopping at the midlife-refreshment of the A-class alone. They’ll be launching a whole host of exciting new models in 2016, such as the C-Class Coupe, the 10th generation E-class, the iconic SL, the SLC, GLS, S-Class Cabriolet and GLC Coupe. The Smart ForTwo and FourFour will also be making their appearance later this year.

Prices:

A 200	- R 389 200 (115 kW / 250 Nm)
A 250 Sport	- R 491 500 (155 kW / 350)
A 200 d	- R 419 200 (100 kW / 300 Nm)
A 220 d	- R 460 100 (130 kW / 350 Nm)
AMG A45 4MATIC	- R 683 600 (280 kW / 475 Nm)