Let’s test the new Mercedes A-Class
The fourth generation of popular compact sedans and A-Class hatchbacks was introduced back in 2018. However its success was clouded by the coronavirus crisis. And the car was waiting for us, inviting us to go on a comfortable, stylish and safe trip. Literally created for a big metropolis, the new Mercedes A-Class has everything you need to feel confident on city streets. I was so eager to drive it and personally test all these advertising slogans about ‘unlimited freedom of movement’ and ‘a reliable companion in any situation’. And now the moment has come. So let’s sit behind the wheel of the new A-Class hatchback and travel along the narrow city streets.
Exterior
First, let’s discuss its stylish exterior. Mercedes claims that every line of the new A-Class hatchback fully complies with the corporate design philosophy of “sensual clarity”, and we will agree with them. The surfaces are extremely laconic, the details are expressive. The lines are clear and clean. Some, on the contrary, consider it inexpressive, but not us. Stylishly redesigned optics with LED daytime running lights, a redesigned radiator grille, changed bumpers and muffler covers… The hatchback looks expressive, attractive and easily recognizable even in heavy traffic. And we love it. Sensuality is obvious.
Interior
The interior of the 2018/2019 Mercedes A-Class makes you feel immersed in the embrace of comfort. The smooth transitions between the dashboard, center console and door trim create a pleasing wrap-around effect. This is unique for a car of this class, as well as a wide range of decorative elements and effective, comfortable interior lighting. The interior, created by soft and flowing lines, helps to relax during the trip. Even after a couple of hours of standing in dense city traffic, we did not feel tired. But the sensuality literally went off scale.
The interior of the new generation hatchback is trimmed with expensive leather with wood-like inserts. There are many lighting systems. Aluminum door handles are extremely beautiful, the front panel is leather, and there are convenient USB connectors. The front seats are soft, comfortable and functional, unlike the rear ones, which, in our opinion, are somewhat rigid. Plus, there is not enough headroom for rear-seat passengers. And the trunk is small, but it has niches for tools and a small brush.
The dashboard is very informative and kind of overloaded with different indicators. There are also a lot of different options on the multimedia screen, but it is very inconvenient to switch them, since the system ‘slows down’ a little. But there is a voice assistant that allows you to control many systems of the car, for example, to turn on climate control or seat heating. And our car also had a head-up display, which is a pretty handy thing.
The new Mercedes A-Class boasts is very technologically sophisticated. The car is equipped with advanced safety and driver assistance systems. In an emergency, they turn on automatically and significantly facilitate the driver’s task. The hatchback perfectly controls the distance even at high speeds, has an active emergency braking system, recognizes traffic signs, helps to maintain the selected lane and will provide invaluable assistance when parking in tight spaces. You can really rely on this car!
Driving characteristics
The 2021 Mercedes A-Class Hatchback is equipped with several different engines. All of them are powered by a 7-speed robotic gearbox developed by Renault-Nissan engineers. We were lucky to have the car with the most powerful 2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with 224 hp. Such a front-wheel drive hatchback is capable of accelerating to the first 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds, while the maximum speed is limited at around 250 km/h. But we did not dare to drive so fast in order not to lose our driving licenses. The average fuel consumption is around 6.4 liters per 100 km. However our consumption has exceeded 8 liters/100 km, as we drove in the urban cycle. There are several flaws. Firstly, we could clearly hear the engine sound inside due to the lack of sound insulation in the engine compartment. Secondly, the stability control system works quite roughly, which makes the car lose traction.
The new Mercedes A-Class is supplied to Israel with a 1.3-liter engine with 136 or 163 hp and with a 2-liter engine with 224 hp. The first one is the most fuel-efficient, with an average fuel consumption of 5.7-5.8 liters per 100 km. The second engine is dynamic, capable of accelerating to a maximum of 250 km/h, while it takes the car 6.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. There is also a rechargeable hybrid based on a 1.3-liter engine and a 15.6 kWh battery, capable of traveling up to 75 km on a single charge. There are diesel engines in Europe, but they are not available in Israel.
