Mercedes Benz A-Class

Editorial Test Drive Review of Mercedes Benz A-Class

  Mercedes will launch the A-Class in May this year and it will start the luxury hathcback segment in India.  This the Mercedes that has brought tons of sales all over the world and has been a roaring success. The new A-Class looks great and is a well balanced design with some excellent design details thrown in. The whole design is low and aggressive plus not to mention being a complete transformation over the previous generation. The long and sporty front with its pronounced V-shape and curvy headlamps (with LED's) look good. What will also catch your eye is the big grille complete with the dinner plate sized Mercedes logo and the additional air takes. The side gives a coupe like look and the tail lights again look muscular. It is pretty compact but it has immsense presence.The interior is just like the B-Class which means high quality bits all over the cabin with a youthful design theme. The instrument panel has the five round vents and you will like the details like the outer rings of them which according to Mercedes have a ''high-quality electroplated finish''. The 3-spoke steering wheel looks sporty and comes with 12 function buttons. It will also have a decent amount of space plus expect loads of interior options. Unlike the B-Class the A-Class will come in both petrol and diesel engines from the word go with a 1.6 litre turbocharged 122 ps engine and a 109 bhp diesel. The petrol engine is nice and offers excellent performance but also good economy while the diesel will also offer excellent economy. The A-Class will also have Merc's excellent 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission where both the clutches and gear shifting take place fully automatically and without any interruption in power. This allows for seamless shifting and a smooth driving experience. There are three modes in the A-Class, Eco, Sport and manual. The ride in the A-Class just as in the B-Class is very good and offers a soft ride with good amount of absorbtion of potholes. Though the A-Class is no E-Class so it is a bit more sportier and the ride is not that soft as the E-Class and has a sporty edge which we like. As said earlier the A-Class is being positioned as a sporty hatch and for those who like to drive instead of being driven around. Its relatively compact dimensions offers excellent agility and coupled with the brilliant gearbox makes for a spitited drive. The steering is Mercedes light but very direct and it gives you confidence.The A-Class is a Merc and that means you get plenty of safety kit. You get nine airbags. The A-Class just like the Mini Cooper will be marketed as a lifestyle choice and for people who like to drive. The Mini brand has been a success in India and just like that, the A-Class with its gorgeous looks and traditional Merc qualities will get buyers easily. We expect it to be priced from Rs 21 lakh onwards to around Rs 25 lakhs for the diesel.