Driven! Merc's new A-Class sedan and CLA four-door coupé

You'd think Mercedes-Benz are rather courageous for bringing the A-Class sedan to SUV-obsessed South Africa, but there is method in their madness. While most South Africans turn their noses up at the new sedans of late, the C-Class sedan continues to sell in big numbers, but as the local economy struggles, many people are following the buying-down trend. It actually makes perfect sense that older couples, professionals, and young families would opt for the premium practicality of the smaller A-Class sedan, then.

As for the new CLA four-door coupé, it still serves as an aspirational vehicle for many, and is the first port of call for those who want something fashionable but relatively affordable - in premium saloon terms, that is. Merc's Chief Design Officer, Gorden Wagener, reckons that it's a car to fall in love with, and the initial gateway to more opulent coupés in their line-up, such as the CLS.

Related: Mercedes-Benz A200 hatch: The distilled essence of modern-day Mercedes.

 

Style and design

Both the A-Class sedan and CLA benefit from Merc's 'sensual purity' design philosophy of swooping lines, reduced edges and creases and all-round eye-pleasing proportions.

It's a good thing that the CLA's rear-end was thoroughly revised, as it now looks pert and much sportier than its performance figures suggest. Viewed directly from the rear, its backside is a thing of beauty, a vast improvement over the droopy rear lights of its predecessor. As for the A-Class's back-end, I expected a slightly less generic end result, but it's not a deal-breaker.

The CLA is only a smidgen more expensive than the entry-level A200 sedan, and boasts more boot space but less headroom and legroom for rear passengers, thanks to that sloping coupé roofline.

 

Finally! Merc's designers have refreshed the CLA's tail to be more worthy of its handsome front-end.

 

The shapely CLA is also longer, wider and lower than its A-Class sedan sibling, and responsible for whopping 80 percent of young new Mercedes-Benz customers worldwide, who don't need to worry about the comfort of rear passengers just yet.

And on the inside, it's all we've come to know and love from Mercedes-Benz: Both cars feature that old-world glamour and high-end tech all rolled into one. Both the A200 sedan and CLA200 we drove on launch were fitted with two floating 10.25-inch high-definition touchscreen displays with images as clear as crystal. If you don't specify this option, you'll get two 7-inch displays as standard, but they don't quite have the same effect.

 

 

Behind the wheel

You wouldn't think that it's only a 1.3-litre turbo hiding beneath that stylish bonnet, now would you? Both the A200 sedan and CLA200 we drove on launch were powered by a refined 1332 cc four-cylinder, forced-induction engine, producing 120kW and 250Nm. Progress is made quite swiftly and the engine is hushed, even at sudden acceleration. Suspension felt a little unsettled over some choice potholes, though, and some road noise permeated the cabin when we traversed a dirt road to hunt for the perfect photo, but that is to be expected. If you do decide to add a few options, just stick to the standard-sized 17-inch wheels.

In the A200 sedan, 100km/h is reached in 8.1 seconds, while the CLA 200's 0-100km/h sprint figure is a split-second quicker. Both the CLA200 and A200 sedan are front-wheel driven with 7G-DCT (dual-clutch) automatic gearboxes that quietly go about their business. Steering-wheel mounted gearshift paddles are at your service in both models, as standard.

 

 

S-Class safety features in the A-Class and CLA

Mercedes-Benz pride themselves on their standard safety equipment, and made sure to bestow a generous helping of kit upon the A-Class sedan and CLA. Included are Active Brake Assist, traction and stability control, seven airbags (nine are optional), and hill-start assist.  For semi-autonomous driving systems such as Active Distance Assist, Distronic and Active Lane Keeping Assist, you will have to pay extra. In my experience, Merc's Lane Keeping Assist can be a bit severe, jolting you back into your lane a little too eagerly, but the Distronic system (Merc's nomenclature for adaptive cruise control) works a treat. With the help of your navigation data, it's also able to provide route-based support and will even reduce your speed when you're about to enter a bend or traffic circle, for example.

Related: Top 5 safety features on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class 

 

 

MBUX - Artificial Intelligence in your car

Mercedes-Benz's User Experience System (MBUX) also finds its way into the new A-Class sedan and GLA. It's activated by saying "Hey Mercedes", and then awaits instructions from you, much like Siri or Alexa would. It is said to learn your driving habits, people you call regularly, music preferences, and your daily route home, as time goes by. It can also be accessed by using the touchpad, touchscreen, or steering wheel buttons.

For this system to work as effectively as it could, I expect one would have to spend a fair amount of time with one car to give it a chance to get to know you, and you would also have to give the correct commands. On our launch route, the system did not want to change radio stations upon my request, but had no issue setting the air-conditioning higher or lower when I said "Hey Mercedes, I'm cold." With so many different drivers behind the wheel in one day, it would be unfair to pass judgment on how well the system works just yet. Most systems still have issues understanding natural speech especially when there are Afrikaans or African street names involved, not to mention our eleven different local accents...

 

 

Pricing

Mercedes-Benz A200 Sedan  (driven on launch): R533 400

Mercedes-Benz A250 sedan AMG Line: R604 800

Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 (driven on launch), R570 500

Mercedes-Benz CLA 220d, R612 800

(The Mercedes-AMG A35 sedan will make its appearance in the first quarter of 2019.)

Related: BWM 1 Series vs. Audi A3 vs. Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatch: Which one is the best value for money?

 

 

Verdict

The A-Class sedan and CLA both offer S-Class levels of tech and opulence for a fair bit less than a C-Class or C-Class Coupé would cost you. While the A-Class may feel a little tight for larger people, the average-sized citizen will be comfortable enough. It's almost tempting to say, just buy a CLA already if you don't plan on having children just yet. Who wouldn't be enamoured by that sensuous silhouette? 

 

Related reading

2019 Mercedes-Benz B200 AMG Lne: Much like an A-Class, only better.