Entry-level luxurious is a difficult enterprise. You must ship not only a luxurious badge, however the trappings which might be related to it, plus a robustly engineered package deal with powertrains to match, the most recent tech that trendy prospects anticipate, and all of the whereas ensuring the value doesn’t creep up too excessive. It’s no marvel that for many luxurious automotive manufacturers, it’s the segments above that find yourself producing the bigger volumes, as consumers typically bypass the entry stage and stretch for the larger, higher automotive. With the brand new A-class Limousine, Mercedes is concentrating on not solely new aspirants to the model, but additionally present prospects who’d like a second, smaller automobile of their fleet. And whereas the primary technology of the model’s MFA (Modular Entrance Structure) fashions – A-class and B-class hatchbacks, CLA and GLA – have been an affordable success, Mercedes feels it has perfected the components with the second technology. So, have they achieved it?
Mercedes A category Limousine: exterior design
There’s typically a acutely aware resolution to make an entry-level luxurious automotive look completely different from the remainder of the vary; maybe an element of price, or extra more likely to attraction to youthful prospects that is perhaps coming into the fold. It’s vital to notice, at this juncture, that the CLA, the A-Limousine’s predecessor in India, did go down this path to an extent. It was a four-door coupe with frameless home windows, a swooping roofline and really aggressive traces, in comparison with the softer, easier look of larger Mercs. Whereas there’s a new CLA in Merc’s world vary, they’ve chosen the A Limo for India this time round for its added rear-seat area, which was a shortcoming of the outdated CLA.
Styling is according to the remainder of the Mercedes household with the nostril bearing a resemblance to the CLS.
And although it’s nonetheless comparatively compact and technically entry-level, you’ll agree this new A-class seems to be way more grown up and according to the remainder of the household. Actually, from the entrance, it’s a lifeless ringer for the attractive CLS, with its triangular headlamps, sharp LED DRLs and upturned grille. It could not have the curved roof of the CLA, however its profile remains to be very enticing, with a single, assured shoulder line, and there are additionally a smart-looking set of aero-efficient 17-inch alloy wheels that little doubt contribute to its class-leading gas economic system. By the way, the A’s arrow-like form units a world file for the bottom drag coefficient of any manufacturing automotive, at 0.22cd. The rear is much less dramatic, with an easier iteration of the CLS’ angular LED tail-lamps and unusually sited reflector strips within the bumper, however it all ties collectively effectively as a cohesive design.
No CLA-like curved roof although the A-class Limousine nonetheless seems to be enticing.
Mercedes A category Limousine: inside and options
Contained in the cabin is the place the brand new A-class actually brings the wow issue. The old-generation automobiles by no means felt fairly as much as the excessive normal of the Three-pointed Star, be that in design, high quality or stage of kit for India, however this adjustments all that. There’s no skimping right here, with high-quality plastics, brightwork in all the best locations and soft-touch supplies in all places. They’ve chosen an excellent spec for India, too, with cream-coloured upholstery (it does soiled simply although), a black sprint prime and open-pore wooden, imparting a correctly luxurious really feel. The rotary AC vents, an evolution of those within the outdated CLA, are significantly spectacular and even function ambient lighting.
Sprint design is typical new age Mercedes with twin 10.25-inch high-res screens for the instrumentation and infotainment.
Then there’s the design of the dashboard, which is de facto recent. The lower-half is organized like a shelf onto which a slim panel of two adjoined 10.25-inch high-def screens sits. Primarily a smaller model of the MBUX infotainment unit you’ll discover in a GLE or GLS, it actually isn’t small on options, with nearly all the things from the larger automobiles current right here, together with 64-colour ambient lighting, an AI-based digital assistant and connected-car tech with Alexa integration. You even get all of the customisable digital instrument cluster layouts. Different feel-good options are wi-fi telephone charging, dual-zone local weather management, a big (although not panoramic) sunroof, and powered seats with reminiscence for the motive force and entrance passenger.
Touchscreen packs in newest MBUX software program with AI voice assistant and related tech. Digital dials supply a alternative of customisation choices.
Talking of the entrance seats, they’re a contact smaller than what you’d discover in, say, a C-class and so don’t supply fairly as cossetting an expertise, however they’re nonetheless a lot comfy. That is vital as a result of the A Limousine is extra seemingly than another Mercedes sedan to be owner-driven.
5 USB ports within the cabin, however all are Kind-C.
The again seat is simply as vital in our market, nonetheless, and that is the place the shift from four-door-coupe to sedan has actually paid off. Area again right here is de facto beneficiant for the automotive’s measurement, significantly kneeroom, due to the lengthy 2,729mm wheelbase, and the headroom, due to the taller roof. This offers it a definite benefit over its solely actual rival, the BMW 2 Sequence Gran Coupe, whose sloping roof actually compromises rear-seat area and luxury. The comparatively slim cabin makes it higher suited to only two, and the larger challenge is that you simply’re sat very low down, so it forces your knees up. You may get round this to an extent by tucking your toes underneath the entrance seats; there’s loads of place for them.
Taller roof and longer wheelbase means more room than the outdated CLA, and new rivals.
Although you see a spare tyre sitting within the boot of those imported pre-production automobiles, the domestically assembled (from day one, not like the CLA) buyer automobiles may have a particular recess for the spare underneath the boot flooring. The volumes, by the way, are 405 litres for the petrol and 395 litres for the diesel, and you may even fold down the again seats to pack in additional stuff.
Mercedes A category Limousine: engines and efficiency
There might be three flavours of the A-class limousine at launch – the A 200 petrol, A 200d diesel and the AMG A 35, which would be the second domestically assembled AMG mannequin in India, and we’ll overview that quickly. For now, let’s stick with the bread-and-butter fashions, beginning with the petrol.
Whereas ‘200’ as soon as denoted a 1.5 turbo-petrol hybrid within the C-class and has since been changed by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, within the A 200, it’s a 1.3-litre turbo petrol. Complicated, maybe, however don’t be delay by the modest swept quantity, as a result of it makes a fairly wholesome 163hp and 250Nm of torque. Different stats worthy of word are a claimed 8.3sec 0-100kph time and a class-leading ARAI gas effectivity ranking of 17.5kpl. As with the outdated MFA fashions, the A-class is front-wheel drive, and the A 200 places its energy down through a 7-speed dual-clutch computerized.
It is fairly refined whenever you begin it up and in gentle cruising at low revs, however because the tacho needle crosses about 3,500rpm, issues begin to get a bit too audible. The factor is, you’ll typically end up extending this engine past that, as a result of it does should be labored a bit to get going. Furthermore, in Consolation mode particularly, the easy-going gearbox does expose fairly a little bit of turbo lag, which you’ll wish to extinguish by kicking down onerous on the accelerator, or dropping a gear with the paddle shifter.
The A200’s 163hp, 1.3-litre turbo petrol in all fairness refined at low revs however will get audible previous 3,500rpm. A 200d’s 150hp, 2.0-litre diesel presents easy torque from low revs.
Sport mode rectifies this an incredible deal, however then you definately’re always conscious of the engine working tougher. Nonetheless, as soon as it’s on the boil, responses are good and, although it’s not outright sporty, you possibly can derive fairly a little bit of enjoyment from this powertrain. The DCT, although fast to shift, can really feel slightly clunky underneath duress although, say when downshifting out of the blue on an incline.
The A 200d has an engine to match its badge – the OM654 2.0-litre diesel you’ll discover within the C, E, CLS, GLC and GLE. It’s a decrease state of tune, in fact, however its outputs of 150hp and 320Nm are removed from shabby on this smaller automobile. It too will get a class-leading ARAI determine – 21.35kpl – and a claimed 0-100 time of 8.2sec. It additionally makes use of a brand new 8-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox.
First impressions are moderately good, and it really feels the extra refined of the 2 in on a regular basis use. That’s largely as a result of it’s way more easy at transferring the A-class alongside, making all its torque from actually low down, that means you hardly ever need to flex your proper foot all the way in which. Should you do enterprise in the direction of the redline, you’ll in fact be met with fairly a little bit of diesel clatter. Punching down onerous within the decrease gears offers you a strong burst of acceleration, but additionally fairly a little bit of torque steer. This actually feels the stronger of the 2 engines, and offered there isn’t too massive a worth hole between the 2, it could be our decide.
Mercedes A category Limousine: journey consolation and dealing with
That is an space the A-class Limousine is a big step up from its predecessor. The suspension is raised for India, which supplies it nice floor clearance, however that hasn’t come on the expense of journey consolation, as we’ve seen in another domestically assembled Mercs prior to now. Actually, we’d even say it rides higher than a few of its bigger sedan siblings.
Suspension has been raised for India however it would not come on the expense of journey consolation.
The petrol model particularly has an excellent suspension tune, with a tender setup that takes the sting off sharp bumps beautifully. It even stays secure because the speeds construct and can hold dangerous roads out of thoughts of your passengers. The one shortcoming is refinement, and you may hear quite a lot of highway noise within the cabin, which is maybe the one un-Mercedes-like aspect of the driving expertise.
The diesel is barely firmer set as much as bear the added weight of its engine, and also you’ll really feel extra of the highway within the cabin as you go alongside. That’s to not say it’s uncomfortable. The A 200d additionally has a barely heavier steering, and whereas I personally desire that, many will like the simpler helm of the petrol model.
The petrol’s softer set-up takes edges off sharp bumps beautifully. You may really feel extra of the highway contained in the cabin with the diesel’s stiffer set-up.
Not like the 2 Sequence Gran Coupe, the A sedan isn’t a prodigious corner-carver. There’s fairly a little bit of physique roll, the ESC cuts in even when turned off, and the steering is kind of gentle. However then consolation is the secret with this sedan, and at that, it excels.
Mercedes A category Limousine: estimated worth and verdict
It’s clear that Mercedes has learnt from its first technology of MFA automobiles and switched issues up for the brand new A-class. It now not feels ‘entry stage’ in any method, and it amplifies the traits consumers search for of their Benz, like area, consolation, high quality, restrained type and excessive tech. It doesn’t attempt to do sporty and that’s simply as effectively (there’s the AMG for that); we solely want they’d labored on refinement a bit extra. That knockout worth, nonetheless, might not be on the playing cards, as there might be just one absolutely loaded variant of every, the A 200 and A 200d, and we anticipate them to price about Rs 40-42 lakh (ex-showroom), much like the BMW 2 Sequence Gran Coupe. So, is it a worthy place to begin to the Mercedes-Benz household? This time round, it positive feels prefer it.
