Mercedes-Benz A-Class W177

The most accessible and least expensive Mercedes-Benz ever made, the A-Class, is now on its fourth-generation, and this latest regeneration caters the new generation of drivers with its new take on its design, interior, performance, and tech, all in one brand new package designed and developed for city folks in mind. So, let's get to know more about the brand new A-Class in a different angle.

2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Starting from the design, the new A-Class can be either refreshing or revolting, whatever it maybe because while this is basically an improvement over the previous model, the new front face can be sometimes a bit disappointing because of the shape of the headlamps reminded us of the facelifted Ford Mustang a while back. On the back, it looks auspiciously similar to the old Kia K3 Euro hatchback so by the bottomline, the new design is somewhat too decent, compared to the old one it replaces.

2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class interior

2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class interior

Disappointing the new exterior it maybe, the interior is a complete contrast of it and surprisingly, the dashboard has a clear reminiscent of the Mercedes-AMG Project One concept, just to give what is like to be in such futuristic interior that will be the backdrop for future Mercedes cars and that's just the beginning because starting with the new A-Class, the MBUX (Mercedes Benz User Experience) is introduced, giving added productivity to your driving pleasure such as internet connectivity, navigation, communication, even taking charge of its safety tech as well. Sounds innovative but flattering if you're in a mood for fiddling with the fancy toys before setting off. You'd really wish you want to toy around with its MBUX for a long shot but once driven, you don't got the time to do that.

Anyway, while the dashboard is something to toy around, creature comforts are not bad in this car, especially when it has decent space at the back for everyone around you as well as the boot space big enough to fit your groceries. Also, the ambient lighting's more colorful than ever because it now features 64 colors and while ambient lighting is pretty cool, it can be too showy for luxury car standards.

2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Moving to performance, the new A-Class starts with a choice of a two turbocharged petrol engines (1.4L and 2.0L) and a 1.5L diesel engine. All of these engines are new but since Germany is not happy about diesel-powered cars because of you-know-what, focus directs to the petrol and since the 2.0L is the top dog of the range, let's talk this one first because in this engine, it produces 224PS of power, 350Nm of torque, and mated to a 7G-DCT that resulted to a 0-100kph time of 6.2 seconds and an electronically limited to 250kph. That's hot hatch territory in a not-so-hot car and feels like it's all right.

In terms of dynamics, the new A-Class promises to be a more improved ride compared to the previous ride and it was, sort of. The front axle boasts MacPherson struts and forged wishbones while the rear axle can be either come with a torsion beam axle for cheaper variants or a four-link rear suspension for more expensive models. More underneath, the handlebars and cast wheels are made of aluminum, an electric rack and pinion steering, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, aluminum spring links, and so on, resulting for a more agile, yet comfortable ride that works rather well when you simmer it down a little so don't rush it off.

Decent its driving feel it can be, the new A-Class promises to be the safest A-Class ever made and that is bad news for speedo boys everywhere because it inherits the high safety standard driving assistance systems from the S-Class, capable of doing semi-autonomous driving in different situations and if that wasn't enough, the available Driving Assistance package adds more such as Active Speed Limit Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Active Brake Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blond Spot Assist, Traffic Sign Assist, and much more. With a plethora of safety tech in store, speedo boys won't be happy with the tech provided by this new model but a Regular Joe can enjoy a peace of mind driving this car with confidence.

Should you buy one? The new A-Class starts at 30,232 Euros (1,900,000Php plus tax) and while more pricey than the previous model, it's still the least expensive Mercedes-Benz to start with. So, with the pricing, the decent performance, and the high-tech interior are the upsides of the new car, the exterior design and too much tech can be a real downer for the new model. As a city car made for urban lifestyles, the new A-Class is the kind of compact that keeps on smiling even in the world dominated by softroaders or fake-uvs and with everything in store for this little hatchback, it's definitely up for a new kind of challenge.

Photo: Daimler AG