2018 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: First impression

We will be honest here. The entry point to the 3-star brigade has never been a successful model. But Mercedes-Benz isn’t giving up on it yet! The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has formally been launched in Malaysia. The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class is bigger than the outgoing model and looks appealing even without AMG packs thrown in. The launch happens on the heels of the global unveil shows the significance of the Malaysian market for Merc. There are two trims of the 2018 A-Class. These are the A 200 Progressive Line and A 250 AMG Line. They are priced at RM 227,888 and RM 263,888 respectively. The prices are on-road but without insurance factored in. So, here is what we think of the new A-Class.

Looks

This one is bigger from the outgoing car. It is very apparent even without having to refer the 2018 Mercedes-Benz A-Class specifications. However, for the sake of informing our readers, here are the numbers - length of 4,419 mm, width of 1,796 mm, and height of 1,440 mm. It is built on a new MFA 2 platform that enables the car to be bigger than before. The grille is trapezoidal and features a healthy dose of chrome. The bi-LED headlights taper towards the grille. As far as the air dam is concerned, it looks less aggressive than before but complements the new look very well. If you opt for the AMG line trim, then there are aggressive bumpers, inserts as well as chrome tipped exhausts. The 18-inch rims are standard but the AMG gets an option to black out the wheel as well. Overall, the A-Class now has strong character lines on its body.

Interior

An increase in wheelbase is usually given considering the length has also gone up. The new wheelbase is 2,729 mm which is 30 mm longer than before. The boot space is also almost 30 litres more at 370 litres now. Mercedes-Benz claims that the updated A-Class has got better head as well as shoulder room. Not only this, the ease of getting in and out of the car has also been taken care of. In terms of features, the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has its new MBUX feature. It is a new user interface that helps the driver or passenger to issue out voice commands. The vehicle will be happy to call someone on your behalf or even play your favourite music. There is a new 10.25-inch display screen that acts as the infotainment unit. The central unit is a touchscreen.

The front seats are powered electrically and have a memory function. Aircraft styled AC vents, leather upholstery and a sunroof are the other features. Android Auto, as well as Apple CarPlay, are part of the standard fare too.

Engine and transmission

As discussed before, there are two variants available. These differ not only on configuration but also with respect to the engines. Both offer petrol motors only. The Merc A-Class 200 uses a 1.3-litre M282 four-cylinder turbo engine. This engine has been developed in association with Renault. Mercedes has managed to massage 163 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. The claimed numbers for the 0-100 kmph dash is 8.0 seconds, fuel efficiency is 20.5 kmpl while the top whack is 225 kmph.

The other engine deployed in the A250 and is a 224 PS/350 Nm 2.0-litre turbo. It is mated to a 7-speed automatic that enables the car to race to 100 kmph from standstill in just 6.2 seconds while the top speed is 250 kmph. The claimed fuel efficiency is around 18 kmpl.

Suspension and safety

The new A-Class sits 15 mm lower than before. It helps with aerodynamics as well as projects a sporty image. The Mercedes-Benz A 250 and the A200 get different suspension set up though. A multilink rear suspension is available with the A250, whereas the A 200 gets a torsion beam setup. In terms of safety features, everything is standard. This includes seven airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system, Active Brake Assist as well as Active Parking Assist. There are parking sensors on the front and back and a camera at the rear.

Final words

The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class price in Malaysia has gone up than before. The A200 is priced at RM 227,888 while the A250 is for RM 263,888. If you are planning to gain an entry into the luxury world of automobiles, the A-Class is the best point to start with.