Offering up a compact sedan in today's market is a brave move. The shift from three-box designs to larger, higher-riding SUVs and crossovers has been taking place for many a year now and the sedan market is fast dwindling to the point where there are questions about the longevity of the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Is there still a place for them and if so, for how long? Especially in budget-friendly trim levels.
Mercedes-Benz is adamant that there is still enough of a market to develop and sell, not only the C-Class, but to introduce a new entry-level compact sedan, based on the A-Class: the A-Class sedan.
I hear you say that this is nothing new and that Mercedes-Benz has had the coupé-esque CLA-Class on the market for a while now and has enjoyed much success with this model. This is true, and this has also left us wondering if the introduction of a dedicated A-Class sedan won't end up cannibalising sales of the revamped CLA?
Related: Top 5 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan features that stand out from the competition.
Styling
While visually very similar to the CLA, the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan does have its own look and feel. For starters, the headlights are more triangular on the A-Class and the large grille a little narrower than you would find on the CLA. Both feature a large tri-star badge in the centre with chrome elements extending to either side. The A-Class is also without the two 'power bars' on the bonnet, creating a sleeker, more elegant look.
At the rear, the lower edge of the CLA sits considerably higher than that of the A-Class and while this creates the impression of a droop in the back of the A-Class, it's only noticeable when it's parked alongside a contemporary CLA; on its own, it holds up rather well. This low, accessible lower edge of the boot opening alludes to the more practical nature of the A-Class sedan over that of the CLA, where the emphasis has been placed on its sporting credentials and design.
Our A200 model was fitted with the optional AMG-Line package and a set of stylish, but sensible 18-inch wheels finished in black with polished spoke and rime details. As standard, you will get a set of 17-inch wheels and tyres which are ideal for comfort and durability on out pockmarked roads.
The Drive
With that said, the A200 didn't drive poor at all. Keeping in mind that this is the entry-point into the Mercedes-Benz brand, I was pleasantly surprised by the effortless ride that was only flummoxed on the most demanding road surfaces. I was expecting a more basic response akin to that felt in older A- and B-Class models but I was pleasantly surprised for the most part.
One cannot expect E-Class levels of refinement here but the A-Class sedan performs admirably and still manages to give you that Mercedes-Benz feel, provided you don't get too analytical. For the average Joe, this won't be of any concern.
NVH levels are more than acceptable and the only unwanted intrusion comes from the small-capacity engine that sounds somewhat strained when pressing on.
Performance
This unwanted clatter is largely due to the high-strung nature of the small-displacement engine. Unlike the years before, the 200 in the A200 model designation no longer refers to the displacement of the engine but rather the relative power output of the engine. Where an A200 would have indicated that the engine was indeed a 2.0-litre, thanks to turbocharger technology, the A200 uses a 1.3-litre engine that makes as much power as a 2.0-litre would without turbocharging - sort of. Naturally, there are exceptions to the rule, just be thankful that they didn't call it the A130 - that could be a little embarrassing and make it hard to sell.
This rather small engine produces an admirable 120 kW and 250 Nm torque and while this is unlikely to set your hair on fire, it fares just fine on the daily commute and highway adventure. It's paired to a 7-speed 7G-DCT automatic gearbox and sends power to the front wheels, typical of an A-Class offering. Mercedes-Benz claims that this is sufficient to get the car from a standstill to 100 km/h in only 8.1-seconds and that it will carry this through to a top speed of 230 km/h.
Space and Comfort
The interior space of the new A-Class sedan is nothing to get too excited about. It shares rather similar interior dimensions with the A-Class hatch and it's only in the rear overhang where you really benefit from the added length. Taller drivers will notice that the headroom in the A-class is a little more generous, this is thanks to the slightly taller profile of the sedan over the hatch.
Open up the boot and you're given 420-litres of storage space as opposed to the 370-litre you get in the hatchback, but the narrower opening of the sedan makes loading slightly more challenging. Oddly enough, and due to the higher decklid inherent of the design, the CLA has even more space in the boot with 460-litres on offer. The interior of the CLA feels rather cramped though, especially at the rear where the sloping roofline encroaches.
The interior of the A-Class sedan is well-trimmed and rather well-appointed at first glace and once again, one cannot expect E-Class levels of trim and luxury. That said, the A-Class does an admirable job of making things feel premium, even if there is more plastic used than in the higher-level models.
Safety
Much of the active safety controls fitted to our A200 AMG-line press model are optional extras but in standard, bare-bones format, the A-Class sedan still benefits from six airbags, ABS with EBD, stability control and LED Daytime Running Lights. It's in the options list though where you can benefit from the technology made available to the A-Class sedan, features that one would ordinarily only see in larger, more expensive models.
The standard MBUX infotainment system can be upgraded to the full-digital package which sees two 10.25-inch screens for the gauges and the infotainment system, blended seamlessly into one. You can also spring for the Driving Assistance package which sees the addition of Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC for radar-guided cruise control, PRE-SAFE for city braking and injury mitigation, and Exit Warning Assistant to help you back out of parking bays without hassle.
While this seems all good and well, we found the systems to be a rather hit and miss affair. The DISTRONIC was slow to respond and the lane-keep function intervened far too aggressively, making us think that the assistance systems were ordered off of Wish.com. The one area where the A-Class certainly impressed was with the configurable Heads-Up Display that has to be one of the best we've ever seen.
Fuel Consumption
The small engine doesn't pretend to be a performance item and the A-Class sedan is happy with fronting as a performance vehicle without having the bite to match the bark. We're fine with that too, especially with the running costs associated with a performance car. As such, we were driving the A-Class sedan in a respectable manner and managed to return fuel consumption figures of 6.9 l/100km, on the mark for their claim of 6.7 l/100km in the urban setting. Combined fuel consumption is said to be 5.2 l/100km.
Price
Where the A-Class is meant to be the entry-point into Mercedes-Benz ownership and the A200 the most affordable of the range, the A200 starts are an eye-watering R541 000 before you're even looked at the options list. The model we tested, with a generous selection of options runs a tab of R735 875.
The Verdict
The A200 AMG-Line is a rather agreeable compact sedan and one that I could comfortably park in my driveway - provided someone else is paying for it. I feel it is priced just too high to attract the sort of attention Mercedes-Benz needs in order to make a sedan work in this current market, no matter how pleasant it is to drive and live with. I'd choose it over the CLA and I'd spring for it over the hatchback as well. It's a more mature approach to the theme, idiosyncrasies and all.
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