Vehicle Layout Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan Engine/Transmission 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4/7-speed twin-clutch auto
Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 3,308 lb (61/39%) Wheelbase 107.4 in Length x Width x Height 179.1 x 70.7 x 56.9 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 140/96
kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.69 lb/mileSPECS 2019 Mercedes-Benz A 220
Base Price/As Tested $33,495/$45, 200
Power (SAE net) 188 hp @ 5,800 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 221 lb-ft @ 1,250 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 6.8 sec
Quarter Mile 15.2 sec @ 94.3 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 125 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.87 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 26.5 sec @ 0.68 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 24/35/28 mpgto carry flagship S-Class style
throughout its entire product line
and does an amazing job here.
There are dual-color screens for
the instrument cluster, and the
infotainment system is loaded
with crisp graphics and infor-
mative displays. Mood lighting,
laser-drilled speaker grilles, even
door-mounted seat controls, all
surrounded by metallic accents
and leather trim, feel very much
on brand.
From a performance perspec-
tive, our A 220 test vehicle
comported itself well at the test
track. Our editors liked its linear
power delivery, generally smooth
upshifts, and sporty, tail-happy
handling. “It’s a remarkably fun
little bugger on the handlingT
he Mercedes-Benz A-Class
made its debut in 1997, but it
only now comes to the U.S.,
as the lowest entry point into the
three-pointed star.
In prior iterations, Mercedes
got a little weird in the entry-level
space with the B-Class and CLA
hatchbacks. Not so in the A 220,
a handsome subcompact sedan
that seats five and hides its front-
drive proportions well. “More
mature, more defined, with much
less sag in the surfacing than the
previous car, the A-Class looks like
a much more expensive car than
its predecessor,” MacKenzie said.
The 2020 A-Class comes in
two main flavors: the A 220 and A
35 AMG. Front-drive A 220s start
at $33,495, with all-wheel-drive
models adding $2,000 to the
sticker. The $45,000 AMG variant
is expected in the spring of 2020,
with revised aerodynamic bits, a
tuned-up version of the 2.0-liter
turbo-four delivering 302 hp and
295 lb-ft of torque, and goodies
like a torque-splitting all-wheel-
drive system and launch control.
But before we get carried
away, let’s check out the base
model. Benz has tried very hardtrack,” Markus said, noting the
A 220’s good body control.
But on the ruts of real-world
roads, it fell apart. Every editor
noted its rough and noisy ride.
“Isolation from coarse pavement
is just OK, but—holy moly—broken/
choppy pavement is a real
problem,” Walton said. “There’s so
little isolation from the road, even
the floorpan was vibrating.”
The more time spent with the
car, the more weaknesses were
revealed. “Once you get past all
the Mercedes jewelry, you start
to notice where costs have been
cut, particularly below eye level,
where hard plastic is everywhere,”
Theodore said. “Lesser cars use
higher-quality materials—but I
doubt the target customer will
notice the corner-cutting.”
Rechtin was not impressed by
the thin sheetmetal and flimsy
interior door handle; he called the
A 220 an “ersatz Mercedes that
feels like it should have a Kirkland
label on it.” Massaging seats are
rare at this price point, but the A
220’s didn’t deliver much. Markus
said it “seems to just raise andlower the front of the seat, push
the lumbar in and out a little, and
do a slight back-and-forth with
the backrest.”
It’s worth noting, the A 220’s
target audience among our
judges was willing to look past
these foibles. “It’s not bad,”
millennial Cortina said. “There’s
a ton of tire noise and other NVH
problems, but other than that, this
is a pretty compelling product. It
has a youth appeal; the leather is
soft, there are few spots with hard
plastics, you’re getting a great
design inside and outside with air
vents that light up.”
Callum agreed: “Mercedes will
sell every one they can make.” But
at what cost? Edward LohPRO Slick interior • Next-gen voice control • Content rich, well priced CON Coarse, non-premium ride • Cut-rate sound system • Cheap materialsMercedes-Benz A 220
COTY I Finalists
JANUARY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 87