Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 105

M

ercedes-Benz’s most
affordable car is, in some
ways, its most advanced. The
new A-Class is the brand’s fi rst
model with MBUX: Mercedes-
Benz User Experience. What
this means is that the small,
front-drive hatch has a Siri-
smart assistant to go with its
iPhone-luscious screen display.
The range starts with the 100kW
1.3-litre turbo A180, priced at
$42,300. The 120kW A200, tested
here, is $47,200.
Moving up to 2.0-litre
turbopower, the 165kW A250 is
$48,800 with front-wheel drive and
$49,500 with all-wheel drive.
The A250 AMG is $54,800.
Once roused by saying “Hey
Mercedes”, MBUX can deduce that
if the driver says something such
as “I’m feeling cold”, then they
would like the cabin temperature
increased by a couple of degrees.
So that’s what it does.
Mercedes-Benz’s hope is
that the Artifi cial Intelligence-
powered prowess of MBUX
will foster a closer “emotional

connection” between car and

driver. The technology has

obvious appeal for types who

fi nd themselves identifying with

the character played by Joaquin

Phoenix in Her. But those with no

idea what that last senten ce was

about may fail to see the point.

The A-Class already appeals to

younger, and presumably more

tech-savvy, types than the average

Mercedes-Benz buyer. So it

makes sense to introduce MBUX

in this model.

Though it sometimes fails

to make sense of what’s said,

MBUX more often makes good

on Mercedes-Benz’s promise

of being able to respond to

natural language. It’s much

better than any other automotive

voice-activation system and

even before it utters a single

synthetic syllable, the car’s

interior makes an impression.

The fl at, widescreen display is

the focus point, with two 10.25-

inch screens behind a single

slim sheet of glass. Elegant,

hi-res graphics work with a

logical, intuitive menu structure

to make the A-Class very user-

friendly. Slim and symmetrical,

the bi-level dash is adorned with

lustrous turbine-look face-level

air vents and a minimalist array

of physical buttons.

This all new body has

grown in every direction while

shedding a little weight.

The new shape’s larger

windows and slimmer pillars

bring a welcome improvement

in all-round vision. Enlarged

rear doors make getting in and

out easier, but rear seat space

is still tight.

The new A-Class is quieter

and the ride is smoother. The

electric-assist steering is

remote, so the overall fl avour

isn’t especially sporty.

The A200’s 120kW/250Nm

1.3-litre turbopetrol four was co-

developed with Renault, teamed

with a well-behaved seven-speed

double-clutch auto. It’s a willing

little gadget, smooth and strong

at low and medium rpm, and

exceptionally frugal.

Dynamics are agile and tidy,

but nothing special. Torsion

beam rear suspension is

standard -- an astonishingly

cheap engineering compromise

on a Mercedes Benz. Adaptive

damper/multi-link rear

suspension is a $3190 option.

If it’s a premium German hatch

you want, I’d suggest test driving

the A200 back to back with a

VW Golf Highline. You may well

decide, for good reason, that the

Golf is a better car. You’ll also

save almost $13,000.

The A200’s biggest problem is

its price, which isn’t matched by

its ability. VW’s Golf, Ford’s Focus

and the new Toyota Corolla might

lack the high tech vaudeville on

the dash, but on the road they are

just as good to drive, if not better.

The AMG A35 all-wheel drive

with the 2.0-litre turbo turned

up to 225kW, is due by the end of

this year as a sedan and hatch.

By John Carey

MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS FROM $42,300

Safety

Not yet tested

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money



Overall



STARS

THINGS WE LIKE

 Sweet, frugal 1.3 turbo works well

with seven speed transmission

 New MBUX car tech

 High-tech instrument panel design

 Better driver vision

 More interior space

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Lack of steering feel

Handles no better than a $25,000

hatchback

It’s too pricey

SPEX (A200)

Made in Germany, Hungary and

Finland

1.3-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

seven-speed twin-clutch/front-

wheel drive

120kW of power at 5500rpm/250Nm

of torque at 1620-4000rpm

0-100km/h in 8.0 seconds (claimed)

4.9L/100km highway; 7.2L/100km

city; 95 premium; CO2 emissions

are 130gkm

Warranty: Three years/unlimited km

Standard: Nine airbags, stability

control, automated emergency

braking, 10.25-inch touchscreen,

MBUX, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay,

Android Auto, navigation, LED

headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels

Redbook future values: 3yr: 54%;

5yr: 43%

compare with ...

BMW 1 Series, Ford Focus, Mazda3,

Mini, Toyota Corolla, VW Golf