It's shorter than a Ford Fiesta, has the interior room of a C-class and wears a Mercedes-Benz badge. This particular recipe saw the first generation A-class, at first regarded as an oddball curiosity, sell nearly 1.2-million units in its seven-year lifespan.
That's a respectable figure, although it could have been even higher had the car not been flawed by a cheap-looking cabin.
The new Mk.II A-class has addressed this problem. The interior has been spruced up with a classier choice of materials and a greater sense of quality. Further raising the elegance were the optional leather seats (cloth is standard) fitted to our test car, the A180 CDI Classic.
Having said that, things don't feel any more expensive than those of a VW Golf.
Apart from cabin quality, there are many other changes to the new A-class, now available in three and five-door versions with a choice of 1.7-litre and two-litre petrol, and the 1.8 turbodiesel tested here.
Benz's new baby is longer and wider than the old A-class, with a spacious cabin and a high roof and can take four tall adults without involuntary intimacy.
Don't be fooled by the diminutive exterior: the ingenious design offers a real family-sized cabin. The trick, if you will, is the car's monobox shape that uses most of the floor for passenger and luggage space, the wheels pushed to the furthest corners and the engine taking up minimum room up front.
The engine's positioned partly beneath the cabin. Aside from the space advantage this offers, there's a safety aspect; should a head-on occur, the engine and transmission will be pushed beneath the vehicle, under the people.
the raised floor means a slightly higher ride than that of a normal car, which is what many people seem to want these days for their better outlook and the giant windows ensure a particularly panoramic view.
Why would one wish to buy an A-class over, say, an Astra or a Golf - besides the cachet of the Benz badge? Its versatility, that's why, as the cabin can be expanded for more luggage volumne than that of an average hatchback.
The A-class's 435-litre boot, though larger than that of the previous model, still has a height-adjustable luggage floor that can be set to two heights. If more room's needed the split rear seats will fold flat in a quick and easy operation to expand the load volume to 1370 litres.
If you really need a panel van, then choose the optional Easy-Vario-Plus system that allows the removal of both rear seats and the front passenger seat: cargo volume now 1995 litres.
Most people will remember the notorious incident in which the old model's handling was uprated after a Scandinavian journalist rolled an early version during an emergency lane change manoeuvre known as the "Elk test" (known as the drunk pedestrian test locally).
The new A-class has been further improved in the handling department and its most significant chassis innovation is a parabolic rear axle that, Mercedes says, ensures precision wheel location and better roll support through bends.
Nothing is felt
Another ingenious feature is a selective damping system that adjusts the shock-absorber forces as the driving situation changes. The suspension's soft under normal conditions for comfort but the full damping force come in when cornering at speed to give the new A-Class sharper handling when needed.
None of these transitions is felt by the driver; you're simply aware that the car has a smooth ride on the straights and feels quite steady through the corners.
The speed-sensitive steering feels light when going slowly but loads up as the pace quickens for better high-speed stability and feel on twisty roads. With the help of its standard ESP traction control, the new A-class feels very self-assured through fast bends and quick lane changes, so that should finally lay the elk to rest.
This little turbodiesel engine is terrific with its finesse, economy and easy performance. The single diesel engine available in the A-class range is a multivalved, direct-injection unit with a turbocharger boosting output to 80 kW and torque to 250Nm from 1600 through to 2600 rpm.
That's good for 100km/h in 10.8 seconds (at sea level)and a top speed of 186km/h, according to DaimlerChrysler's.
It pulls strongly and there's little turbo lag, though launch needs a tad more revs than normal to avoid a stall.
800km - impressive range
There's a good spread of torque for easy cruising and overtaking and the six-speed manual gearshift is slick. Overall, it's a very easy car to drive.
Fuel consumption is another selling point:we achieved 6.8 litres/100km, which gives the 54-litre tank an impressive 800km range.
Benz claims 5.2 litres/100km is possible - perhaps when the driver's on valium.
It's notably quiet for a diesel, which make wind noise around the front windows more noticeable.
The A-class is available in Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde specifications and offers a reasonable abundance of comforts, even in baseline Classic trim. Air-con, a CD/radio and power windows are all standard and operating them is no more a chore thanks to a clear and logical layout of switches.
The steering wheel is adjustable for height and reach and carries buttons to operate audio, trip data computer, (optional) phone and (also optional)navigation system. Cornering lights with bi-xenon globes are two more options on offer.
- We had a puncture - a torn sidewall - which showed up the car as ill-suited to a roadside wheelchange. The slot into which the jack fits is way under the car so requires the fixer to almost lie on the ground to reach it.
It also makes jacking the vehicle difficult; on top of that the tyre sealant that comes with the car was useless because of the size of the tear.
SUMMARY:
The A-class is the cheapest way to get your hands on a Merc but, aside from badge prestige, the car offers versatility, space, decent handling and safety in a trendy shape.
For a combination of pace and economy, the 180 CDi is the pick of the bunch. - Star Motoring
- For JOHN SIMISTER'S take on the A-class, click here.