Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2014 Review

That it took more than six months to land a test drive of the new four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback is telling of the car's immense popularity.

Buyers want it. Badly.

So popular is the stylish baby Benz -- here in Australia and overseas -- it's been a sell-out success, to the point that demand was so intense Mercedes-Benz Australia hadn't been able appoint cars to its media fleet for several months.

But now I've driven the new car on my usual test routes, on familiar roads and in habitual situations it is clear that Benz has done a lot of things right. The A-Class has head-turning looks, a modern interior decor, sporty dynamics and a strong feature list.

It doesn't hurt that it's priced a couple of grand below its rivals, either.

Perhaps the first thing that surprised me about the A-Class was its freakish parking technology. It's a small car with a decent turning circle (11.0 metres) and an upright rear window, so it's easy to guide into most car parks. But even drivers with parking-phobia should be untroubled in the A-Class, as it comes with front and rear parking sensors (which get brownie points for not being the annoyingly beepy type), a reversing camera, and an electric park brake.

And if you're still worried, the car can park itself via the PARKTRONIC system. The future is now.

All of that is standard issue, as is cruise control, remote central locking, 18-inch alloy wheels, ARTICO faux leather sports seats, a colour infotainment screen, USB and auxiliary audio ports, plus Bluetooth phone and audio streaming.

The six-speaker stereo is excellent -- clear but bassy -- and other interior touches like the 360-degree air vents, three-spoke multifunction steering wheel and simple HVAC controls contribute to the cabin's contemporary ambiance.

However, compared with other Mercedes, the dashboard looks and feels as though budget cuts were enforced in places, and the infotainment screen looks stuck on as an afterthought. Sure, this is a cheap car -- in prestige German car terms -- but I expected better quality materials and finishes.

Redeeming features include comfy front seats complete with hidden drawers, a detailed trip computer with loads of useful info, and good incidental storage including two lidded storage cubbies to the driver's left. But the glovebox is shallow, as is the boot. The latter offers 341 litres (1157 with rear seats folded) which doesn't quite match the Volkswagen Golf's 350 and 1305 litres.

Like all A-Class models, the A 200 CDI turbo-diesel gets a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with steering-wheel paddle shifters, and it's the most fuel-efficient A-Class in the range, using fuel at a claimed rate of 4.6L/100km.

After seven days with the car I managed 7.1L/100km, which is decent considering I drove it primarily on 60km/h inner city streets. The idle stop-start system certainly helped, and remains active with the electric park brake which is a nice touch. That said, the (switchable) system also highlighted the 1.8-litre turbo-diesel engine's clattery acoustics.

Although the A 200 CDI may be the most frugal model in the range, it's also the least inspiring to drive. The 1.8-litre turbo-diesel engine is not the one I would choose if I liked to zip around at a spirited pace; the turbo-petrol engines are better choices, with more pep, and almost as economical.

The 100kW/300Nm diesel engine is efficient but not responsive. It felt like the car was the mayor of Lag Town at times. Its 9.2 second “dash” to 100km/h is the result of a tubby kerb weight (1475kg) and lethargic reaction to throttle input. It's also rough during start-up.

Driven gingerly the car feels fine but if you're in a hurry be prepared for butt-clenching moments in traffic as the car plays catch-up to your commands.

Compared to the smooth, refined diesels in the Audi A3 or BMW 1 Series, the A-Class comes off third-best.

The powertrain is certainly one of the car's least endearing aspects, and though the seven-speed transmission is generally a methodical cog-swapper, there were a few times during the test when it was reluctant to change gears, particularly in ECO and normal modes.

Thankfully the car's dynamics are sound, the car eagerly eating up roundabouts and happily scything through corners at speeds that will have the local constabulary looking to club the driver unconscious with their truncheons.

It steers well, is fun to coax through turns under throttle and doesn't wallow through corners, sitting nice and flat and offering plenty of grip push on. It delivers decent ride quality, though again it can't match the silky ride refinement of the Volkswagen Golf, crashing over deeper pot holes and cracks in the road.

One could argue that unlike the Golf, the A-Class doesn't have seven generations of fine-tuning to its name, and that's a fair point. It's only three-generations old. But having just stepped out of our long-term Golf and into the A-Class, it shows where the Benz can improve.

Nevertheless, the proof is in the pudding. Even now, more than a year after its launch, there is still a waiting list of at least a couple of months for most Mercedes-Benz A-Class models, with variants such as the A 250 Sport accounting for 40 per cent of total A-Class sales in 2013! These attract a six month wait.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is not the best vehicle in its segment and upon closer inspection has some rough edges. But even if this car was a bucket of bolts, a sad excuse for automotive engineering, a rusty clunker, you'd almost put up with it because it looks so good.

Yep, the A-Class is a head-turner, to the point where I occasionally drove slower to bask in the admiring/envious glances.

The exterior design really hits a sweet spot; it's well proportioned with an attention to detail rarely seen in this class, and ultimately it's these things that make many motorists feel good when driving.

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $40,990
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Metallic Paint $1190
Crash rating: Five-star (ANCAP)
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 4.6
CO2 emissions (g/km): 121
Also consider: Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI (from $42,500 plus on-road costs); BMW 118d (from $42,500 plus ORCs); Lexus CT200h (from $39,990 plus ORCs); Volkswagen Golf 110TDI (from $34,490 plus ORCs)

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