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Shortly before the turn of the millennium, the Sindelfingen-based car maker was developing and testing e-mobility and alternative drives. In 1997, the first A-Class came onto the market as a compact vehicle. With a higher focus, the underbody should serve as a storage compartment for the batteries or fuel cell tanks. 15 years later, when this concept had become obsolete, Daimler's engineers were allowed to develop a vehicle starting with a “blank sheet of paper”. According to CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the new A-Class should be one of a series of vehicles that Mercedes-Benz should transform into the most dynamic premium brand in the world. We have been finding out whether this succeeds since 2012 with the compact from the south of our republic. The ambitions of those in charge at Mercedes-Benz are self-confident and courageous, as you run into a multitude of petrol and diesel engines and transmission variants. The A-Class 200 d "Style" that we tested can only be ordered in combination with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission from car dealerships with a star at a base price of 35.545 euros.
Test report: Mercedes-Benz A-Class 220 d Style
Sprint-strong diesel in lifestyle guise
The A-Class, which differs completely from the exterior and interior from its predecessor, is available to its customers in a completely new vehicle. The short bonnet of the first two generations, the high focus, the conservative lines have disappeared. The compact from Sindelfingen is now 160 millimeters lower with a lot of dynamism and sporting potential. The new A-checkout follows the worldwide so-called two-box design language, which is to represent the new image of the brand. Typical of this is an elongated front with a radiator grille, which prominently surrounds the brand logo with double slats on the left and right and ends with independent headlights. The strikingly curved bead that connects the front structure and the rear plus less ground clearance compared to its predecessor also give the 220 d style its sporty touch. The rear lights also underline the wide and dynamic appearance of the A-Class. Overall, the vehicle is very wide and solid on the road, but it also has a clear chic and lifestyle.
Diesel with a lot of banging
The turbocharged 4,0 liter diesel with its 2.2 kW (130 hp) and the elastic, barely noticeable seven-stage dual clutch transmission and automatic start-stop system should consume a lean 177 liters of fuel, which results in a carbon dioxide emission of 104 grams per kilometer with optimized wind slip (Cd value of 0,31). He gets his convincing, almost arrogant smoothness from powerful 350 Newton meters, which he brings to the crankshaft at 1.400 to 3.400 revolutions. The A-Class also serves an overall stable and extremely comfortable driving behavior, in which our car easily potholes and bumps on our test tracks. Precisely because of its permanently revised diesel gensets in terms of efficiency, it always ranks among the first places on the list of fuel-saving vehicles with its specified values. In everyday traffic, the stated consumption value cannot be fully maintained, also due to the emphatically agile vehicle. We need around 14 liters in the entire test course (use of city, rural and motorway traffic) of 4,6 days.
Interior with great comfort for all guests
Despite its relatively long wheelbase of 2,7 meters and its stretched dimensions, the A-Class gets along well in heavy city traffic. In the interior design, the usual good workmanship of the seats is striking, offering pleasant lateral support. The rest of the interior not only looks high-quality, because the expected soft-foamed plastic and leather surfaces are worked with filigree seams that invite you to check the feel. The clearly designed cockpit invites you to use it intuitively. Unfortunately, the display sitting in the middle of the dashboard seems a bit on. It is used to display the navigation map, rear camera, telephone settings and mirror link for applications. When it comes to applications, Mercedes-Benz offers its “Mercedes me” app, which sends the driver useful data directly to his smartphone or, in the case of Apple, to the Apple Watch. This includes, for example, status queries (mileage, tire pressure, fuel level, charging status), locking and unlocking the vehicle via remote access, support in the event of accidents and car breakdowns (in the coordination of service and maintenance appointments) and informing of parking options at the destination , A proper all-round view is guaranteed with precise adjustment of the seating. Not only does the ambience look harmonious, there is also plenty of space for the arms, legs and head in the front seats and in the rear. Comfortable entry and exit is guaranteed thanks to the rather large door openings. Up to 342 liters can be stowed in his trunk without any modifications. The rear seats, which can be folded over in a 60:40 ratio, create additional space for larger loads and thus 1.157 liters of capacity. The wide tailgate opening promises to accommodate two large suitcases.
Equipment variants with a difference
In general, Mercedes-Benz also tries to respond completely to the customer when ordering a new vehicle. He can combine everything with everything. The "Urban" basis already includes air conditioning, Audio 5 USB, four electric window regulators, the driving light assistant, the mull-type steering wheel with 12 buttons, and the COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST safety package. The individualization of the A-Class continues with the next equipment lines "Style" and "AMG Sport", three design packages and other special equipment. For the latter, the Mercedes-Benz customer can use the list of higher vehicle classes. You can order the Intelligent Light System or the electrically adjustable front seats with memory function. The A-Class we tested lists the 35.545 liter diesel engine with the power level 2.2 kW (130 hp) combined with the seven-stage dual clutch transmission at an order price of 177 euros.
And finally ... With the new design language, the A-Class marks the beginning of a new era at Mercedes-Benz. The compact car manufacturer from Sindelfingen offers a high level of standard and customization options. The vehicle is not only a top dog in the compact class, it also shows us how “premium” works.
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Mercedes |
A-Class 220 d |
| Motor | R4, diesel |
| Capacity | 2.143 ccm³ |
| Performance | 177 hp @ 3.600 - 3.800 rpm |
| kraft | 350 Nm @ 1.400 - 3.400 rpm |
| Transmission | 7-stage dual-clutch transmission |
| drive axle | front-wheel drive |
| Length Width Height | 4.299, 1.780, 1.427 mm |
| wheelbase | 2.699 mm |
| Empty weight | 1.485 kg |
| turning circle | 10,95m |
| top speed | 224 km/h |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h | 7,5 sec |
| standard consumption | 4.0 l / 100 km |
| everyday driver | 4.6 l / 100 km |
| Eco-expert | 4.4 l / 100 km |
| Field service mode | 5.2 l / 100km |