Review: 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Design
The sedan has a simple and clean design aesthetic, following the brand’s Sensual Purity philosophy that dictates surface areas have reduced lines and minimal gaps. The short front and rear overhangs, low sloped hood, chiselled wheel arches and 2,729-millimetre wheelbase give off an athletic appearance. So do the slim headlamp housings — boasting 18 individually-actuated LED bulbs each — mesh grille, two-piece taillights and twin exhaust tips.
Interior
Despite the vehicle’s fairly low-key exterior, the cabin has an unconventional and rather forward-thinking setup. There’s no traditional dashboard cowl or set of instrument cluster gauges. Instead, two floating widescreen digital panels (seven-inch units are standard, upgradeable to 10.25 inch) extend all the way to the centre stack. Below, the air vents resemble turbines, which, along with other sections of the interior, can be backlit in different hues if the optional 64-colour ambient lighting package is equipped.
The A-Class is the first to feature the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, capable of learning and adapting to users’ speech patterns and individual preferences via built-in artificial intelligence. MBUX accepts voice commands similar to Apple’s Siri, activated by saying the keyword “Hey Mercedes,” and a high-resolution navigation display utilizes augmented reality technology to relay directions.
Experience
To propel the car, a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder is used. Generating 188 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, the engine is mated to seven-speed automatic transmission. Consumers can choose between front or 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
The sedan is built in Rastatt, Germany, while the hatch at the company’s new plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Ready to experience the A-Class for yourself? Schedule a test drive of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class at Mercedes-Benz Surrey or browse our inventory.
