Which Mercedes-Benz A-Class is better: diesel or petrol?

By Farzana Chaumoo

Mercedes-Benz has introduced the all-new A-Class to the South African market in August 2018, offering an unprecedented pairing of luxury and technology in the compact car segment. Two variants were initially launched: the A 200 and the A 250 Sport, with the promise of a diesel model to be launched early in 2019. Let's take a look at these engines to see which is better. 

 

Engine Specifications

	A 200	A 250 Sport	A 200 d
Engine (cc/cylinders)	1332/4 (1.33-litre)	1991/4 (2.0-litre)	1950/4
Power (kW)	120	165	110
Torque (Nm)	250	350	320
Maximum CO2 emissions (g/km)	129	149	113
Transmission	7G‑DCT dual-clutch transmission	7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission	8G-DCT dual-clutch transmission
Fuel Consumption (l/100 km) (combined cycle)	5.6-5.2	6.5-6.2 l/100 km	4.3 l/100 km
Fuel Type	Petrol	Petrol	Diesel
0-100 km/h (sec)	8.2	6.2	8.1
Top Speed (km/h)	225	250	220
Recommended retail price (Rand)	499 000	593 300	536 000

 

New features for both petrol engines include CAMTRONIC for the intake camshaft, and particulate filter as standard.

There is a choice of suspension systems for the A-Class, depending on engine variant and driver preference. DYNAMIC SELECT is standard equipment and at the touch of a button, provides an individual driving experience in conjunction with the suspension with active damping control (optional).

Like all its predecessors, the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has a McPherson front suspension. The more powerful A 250 Sport is equipped with adaptive damping in combination with larger wheels, giving it a sophisticated four-link rear suspension. The rear axle is mounted on a subframe isolated from the bodyshell by rubber bushings so that fewer vibrations are transferred from the suspension to the body. The proportion of aluminium in the suspension components is one of the highest of any suspension system in this vehicle segment.

As standard, the  is equipped with a comfort suspension with steel springs and DYNAMIC SELECT. The comfort suspension has been lowered by 15mm and specially configured springs and dampers for more sporty characteristics. The suspension with active damping control enables the driver to choose the preferred damping characteristics.

 

Verdict 

Keeping ever-increasing fuel prices in mind, owners are more conscious of how much fuel they're using and petrol usually increases more than the diesel prices. Many buyers are looking to diesel cars because of their efficiency. For the month of May, the department of energy announced a petrol price increase of 54c a litre, attributing the increase to domestic and international factors, while the price of diesel with 0.05% sulphur will increase by 1c a litre. The latest increase brings the official inland price to R16.67 for 95 petrol and R16.49 for 93 petrol.

The real differences between these engines, however, come in daily driving and the distances you're doing. Diesel engines always perform better for longer distances and petrol is usually better for short distances. There are driver modes to play around with, but these are also affected by your right foot. 

You have to be fairly open-minded here. If fuel efficiency is your biggest concern, then the A 200 d is your winner as it has the lowest fuel consumption and carbon emissions and when compared to the petrol 2.0-litre equivalent in the A 250, the diesel variant is sufficiently cheaper. But if fuel economy and pricing is not your highest concern, then the A 250 Sport is where you can put your money on for a more performance oriented car and one that has sportier characteristics.