Even more punch in the A-Class
Thinking back to the design of the very first Mercedes-Benz A-class back in 1997, Mercedes certainly has come a long way. Even though at the time it received acclaim for its design, in retrospect especially with the latest iteration in my possession, the early design could be described as conservative at best.
Exterior
This past week at Autodealer we had our hands on the A250 Sport fitted with an AMG Line package, needless to say, it was a constant battle in between who got access to the keys.
The A250 Sport has an aggressive front bumper with two gaping air ducts in front of the wheels and a sharp front splitter with black accents. In between the two corner vents on the rear bumper, you will find two exhaust tips and a large diffuser. Another stand out feature on either end of the AMG Line side skirts is the 18-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels. All these additions will certainly attract all the attention on the way to work or on the quick trip to the shops but at the same time will have you wanting to park further away to avoid anyone scratching or denting any of the sculpted surfaces.
Interior
Once you turn on the heated sport seats, place your phone on the wireless charger and turn up the volume on the MBUX multimedia system and hear your favourite track on the Burmester surround sound system, it is then when all your worries seem to fade away. As soon as you start the car, the turbine-inspired air vents and a thin line surrounding the aluminium finish trim panels on the door and the facia lights up with an ambient colour of your choice.
On the derivative we drove we were presented with two screens on the facia, each measuring 7-inches. The instrument display screen performs the task of displaying the speedometer or tachometer while the other performs infotainment function. The touchpad on the left-hand side and the much larger touchpad found where you would traditionally a gear selector lever, will have you easily search for a destination or swop in between radio stations on the central screen. Both screens can be controlled by Blackberry-esque touchpads on either side of the multi-function steering wheel.
Engine and dynamics
The 2.0-litre turbocharged powertrain will have you reach 100 km/h on the optional head-up display in 6.2 seconds as it cycles through the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Besting the Golf 7 GTI by 1 kW, the A250 develops 165 kW while producing the same 350 N.m of torque. With the four-link rear suspension fitted to the rear of the A250 to assist with its sporty nature, and the larger wheels, you can expect a slightly stiffer ride quality than you would find in the entry level derivatives.
Verdict
While the original A-class appealed to an older demographic and to people that would like a small comfortable city runner, the latest model certainly has changed that. While still retaining its day to day usability and comfort, the A-class will get anyone excited; whether you have the need for speed or just enjoy a full house of gadgets packaged into a sporty and modern design.
At R593 300 you are getting a lot of car for your money, but is it that much more than the cheaper Golf 7 GTI?
