First Drive: 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class by Henny Hemmes +VIDEO
 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class |
By Henny Hemmes
Senior European Editor
• SEE ALSO: Mercedes-Benz Research and Buyers Guide
 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class |
DRESDEN - September 2015: The fact that Mercedes-Benz has already face lifted the A-Class does not mean the compact model has not been successful. Since its market introduction, just three years ago, the model has been quite successful. Expanding the presence in the compact segment has proven to be a clever decision, since sales have more than doubled to over 463,000 units in 2014 and Mercedes excepts to reach a new record this year. Those numbers are not exclusively for the A-Class, but for all other compact models built on the new platform: the B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake and GLE suv.
The first A-Class, introduced in 1997, was just as it looked: a practical compact 3-door hatchback. The car was actually well ahead of its time with a double floor that enabled safe storage of a battery pack for a possible electric version.
But back then, the higher seating position was not very much ‘en vogue’ by younger generations. Nevertheless, more than 1.1.million units have been sold in the seven years of its existence.
When Mercedes started developing the third generation, the designers and engineers were instructed to make it a dynamic car. Based on a new front-wheel/four-wheel drive platform and with a sportier set up of the suspension, the A-Class offered a lot of driving fun. A good strategy, because two out of every three A-Class buyers in Europe are new to the brand.
But competition in the increasingly popular segment is getting stronger and while preparing the car for its mid-life update, Mercedes saw an opportunity to improve the ‘A’s’ dynamic qualities and at the same time offer more comfort. Daimler’s Jörg Prigl, vice-president Product Group Compact Cars said during our first drive event: “We now offer the A-Class with adjustable dampers, and with Drive Select we kept it simple for the drivers with only two choices: Comfort and Sport. Furthermore customers can chose Dynamic Select, an option that offers four driving programs: Comfort, Sport, Eco and Individual.”
The 2016 model shows more family resemblance with its larger siblings than before, thanks to the standard diamond grille and the V-shaped front bumper. The rear is marked by new tail lights and by the dual exhaust pipes that are now integrated in the rear bumper. The styling may be somewhat more conventional, but it is a sleeker and more attractive design.
A 160, new base model
Earlier this month, the 2016 Mercedes A-Class was up for the first test
drives in south east Germany, in the state of Saxony. For the first drive,
our first leg would take us from the Dresden airport to the Lausitzring,
the track that annually hosts a race for the DTM, German Touring Car
Championship..
 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class |
I started the drive with the new base model, the A 160 with manual six-speed gearbox. Under the hood of this front-wheel drive version sits the 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 75 kW/102 hp and 180 Nm/133 pound-feet of torque, with an average consumption of 5.5l / 100 km, which converts into around 43 mpg (US or 51 mpg (UK) with 124 g CO2. The A 160 got along well with the winding mountain roads. It feels light and agile and in comfort-mode works away most of the bumps in the road. Because the engine reacts promptly to pressure of the right foot, it is easy to join faster traffic on the Autobahn, where the A 160 has no problems at all to reach its top speed of nearly 190 kmh/120 mph. Of course, this model is no sports car, but it offers a nice and uncomplicated drive and a nice and contemporary cockpit.
The interior has been updated with new trim. The nice dashboard layout has not changed, but there is a new design of the instrument dials. Taller people will like the new seats, with seat cushions that can be adjusted by a maximum of 60 mm/2.4 inches. The larger screen on the dashboard is available in a size up to 20.3 cm/ 8 inches.
 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class |
It speaks for itself that Mercedes has improved connectivity of the A-Class by equipping it with MirrorLink and Apple CarPlay for better integration of the smart phone. Mercedes has also refined the assistance systems and offers Attention Assist as part of the standard equipment. It warns the driver when he or she is getting wary and is active between 60-200 kmh/ 37-125 mph. If the car is optionally equipped with Comand Online, the system looks for the nearest parking space. Collision Prevention Assist reduces the risk of rear-end collisions further by autonomous partial braking.
Furthermore there are more engine choices: from the 160 and 180 gasoline engines, to the new A 250 and A 250 Sport models and the more powerful diesels versions.
Driving the A 220d 4Matic
On my way from the Lausitzring, I drove the A 220d 4Matic. Together
with the A 200 d this model will undoubtedly be popular among customers who
need their car for longer (business) drives. The A 200d is clearly a
heavier car and with 4Matic offers a different feel - firmer and somewhat
less agile. No surprise, if you realize that the 177 hp strong diesel
engine, the 7G DCT automatic transmission and the all-wheel drive system
put some 175 kg/385 pounds extra weight on the scales compared to the A
160. But the engine’s maximum torque of 350 Nm/258 pound-feet that is
available between 1400 and 3400 rpm wicks away the pounds without you even
noticing it and accelerates 4 seconds faster from 0-62 mph than the A 160
(6.4 seconds versus 10.6 seconds).
 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class 220d 4Matic |
What's more, the 220d is very quiet. You do not hear the typical diesel noise, nor is there much wind noise. The A 220d 4Matic also had Drive Select and Dynamic Select. I switched mainly between comfort and sport depending on the type of road for the best damping: ‘comfort’ on fast straight stretches and on the cobblestones in the small villages and ‘sport’ for a sharper response on the more inviting winding roads.
The A-Class will not make it to the North American market, but, apart from Europe, it is offered in the UK and South Africa, Australia, China and Japan.
Within the next few days I will report on my test of the A45 AMG, on road and track. Please stay tuned!
An overview of the data for the A-Class diesel models:| Diesel | A 180 d | A 180 d SE | A 200 d | A 220 d/ A 220 d 4MATIC |
|
Number of cylinders/ arrangement |
4 in-line | 4 in-line | 4 in-line | 4 in-line |
| Displacement (cc) | 1461 | 1461 | 2143 | 2143 |
|
Rated output (kW/hp at rpm) |
80/109 at 4000 | 80/109 at 4000 |
100/136 at 3200-4000 (at 3400-4400) |
130/177 at 3600-3800 |
|
Rated torque (Nm at rpm) |
260 at 1750-2500 |
260 at 1750-2500 |
300 at 1400-3000 | 350 at 1400-3400 |
| Combined fuel consumption from (l/100 km) | 4.1-3.7 (3.9-3.7) | 3.5 |
4.5-4.1 (4.1-3.8) |
(4.2-4.0) [4.9-4.6] |
| Combined CO2 emissions from (g/km) | 107-98 (104-98) | 89 |
116-106 (108-99) |
(109-104) [127-121] |
| Efficiency class | A+ (A+) | A+ | A (A+) | (A+) [A] |
|
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s) |
11,3 (11,3) | 11.3 |
9,3 (8,8) |
(7,5) [7,5] |
| Top speed (km/h) | 190 (190) | 190 | 210 (210) | (224) [220] |
Figures for version with 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission in round brackets; figures for version with 4MATIC and 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission in square brackets
An overview of the data for the A-Class petrol models:
| Petrol | A 180 | A 200 |
| Number of cylinders/ arrangement | 4 in-line | 4 in-line |
| Displacement (cc) | 1595 | 1595 |
| Rated output (kW/hp at rpm) | 90/122 at 5000 | 115/156 at 5300 |
| Rated torque (Nm at rpm) | 200 at 1250-4000 | 250 at 1250-4000 |
| Combined fuel consumption from (l/100 km) | 5.7-5.5 (5.4-5.1) | 5.7-5.5 (5.4-5.1) |
| Combined CO2 emissions from (g/km) | 133-127 (126-119) | 134-128 (126-119) |
| Efficiency class | B (B) | B (B) |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s) | 8.9 (8.6) | 8.1 (7.8) |
| Top speed (km/h) | 202 (202) | 224 (224) |
Figures for version with 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission in round brackets
| Petrol | A 250 AMG/ A250 AMG 4MATIC | A 45 4MATIC |
| Number of cylinders/ arrangement | 4 in-line | 4 in-line |
| Displacement (cc) | 1991 | 1991 |
| Rated output (kW/hp at rpm) | 160/218 at 5.500 | 280/381 at 6000 |
| Rated torque (Nm at rpm) | 350 at 1200-4000 | 475 at 2250-5000 |
| Combined fuel consumption from (l/100 km) | 6.8 (6.2) [6.6] | [6.9] |
| Combined CO2 emissions from (g/km) | 158 (143) [154] | [162] |
| Efficiency class | D (C) [C] | [D] |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s) | 6.3 (6.3) [6.3] | [4.2] |
| Top speed (km/h) | 240 (240) [240] | [250] |
Figures for version with 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission in round brackets; figures for version with 4MATIC and 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission in square brackets