Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2015 Review

Mercedes-Benz A 250 Sport 4MATIC & Mercedes-AMG A 45

International Launch
Dresden, Germany

The A-Class and its 'Compact' siblings have changed the face of Mercedes-Benz delivering more, younger buyers – many new to the brand. Now, the mid-life A-Class upgrade delivers a mild facelift but some useful equipment and performance boosts – especially so in the case of the AMG-fettled A 45. Other key changes include the addition of all-wheel drive to the A 250 Sport and standard sat-nav and Apple CarPlay across the line-up. Safety equipment is also boosted with low-speed autonomous braking also now standard on all A-Class models.

Serious new-car trainspotters will pick the latest version of Mercedes' A-Class... There's a touch more aggression to the front end. At the rear, the bodywork has changed to include exhaust cut-outs and a deeper valance.

To the rest of us, short of lining up old and new together, it seems not much has changed. But why should it? Although others (especially Audi) might like to contest the point, the A-Class is arguably already the most successful luxury small car ever.

Locally, in conjunction with its B, GLA and CLA-Class siblings, the 'modern' A-Class has dominated the top end of the small car market since it was introduced in 2012. And more widely it has more than doubled Benz's small car sales, in the process delivering a 13-year reduction in average buyers' age (in Europe, where fully two-thirds of all buyers are new to Mercedes-Benz).

The stats wouldn't be all that different Down Under.

This midlife update of the A-Class range arrives in Australia in January 2016, and if we're any judges, the new car should ensure the Silver Star's compact car momentum continues to build.

Despite equipment additions across the line-up, Mercedes-Benz Australia (MBAu) says pricing will stay very much in line with the current line-up. The addition of all-wheel drive to the A 250 Sport model will occasion the biggest change in sticker price, but says the company, even that hike will be less than five per cent.

The basic all-turbo line-up stays the same: entry-level front-drive petrol A 180, choice of petrol or diesel 200s (also front-drive) and the now all-wheel-drive A 250 Sport. At the top of the line-up is the A 45 AMG, now with extra goodness.

Exterior changes are in reality minimal; the diamond grille previously limited to the A 250 Sport is now used across the range and the nose itself is a touch more V-shaped. There are larger under-bumper intakes and re-profiled headlights. At the rear, new tail lights combine with a deeper rear bumper featuring exhaust cut-outs to give even the base model a tougher appearance. New wheel designs are offered for some models.

Further differentiating the updated A is a not-so-limited Motorsport Edition. Celebrating the German marque's F1 team and its success, and available on 200 and 250 grades, the dress up kit incorporates "Petronas green highlights" inside and out. This car also gets a 'fast fours' style roof top rear wing. Boy (or girl) racers only need apply.

Inside, navigation is standard across the A-Class range for the first time Down Under. Although you'll still need to pay more for the full COMAND system on some models, Garmin MAP PILOT navigation has been added to the A 180, 200 and 200d's standard equipment list.

Mirrorlink and Apple CarPlay updates are also included in the makeover. That said, the first new A-Class batch to arrive Down Under will be sans the software. The system will be standard on all A-Class variants from December production only.

It's not yet clear what extent of the connectivity offered in Europe and other markets will be carried over to our Aussie-market models.

The A-Class options list is expected to be bolstered – Euro buyers will be able to select a Seating Comfort package that is aimed at those of errr... more ample proportions. Of more consequence to the rest of us, adjustable adaptive suspension will be offered in conjunction with an AMG package on the petrol and turbo-diesel A 200 variants. It will be standard on the A 250 Sport, while the A 45 gets its own AMG version called Ride Control. This is an especially effective aspect of the update, as you'll read below.

In this midlife upgrade for A-Class MBAu has also added blind spot assistance across the local line-up as well low-speed autonomous braking. Keyless start and, as is the case with the larger C-Class range, multi drive-mode Dynamic Select are also now standard.

Dynamic Select allows the driver to choose from pre-configured Comfort, Sport, Eco modes, each of which modifies engine, transmission, suspension (when adaptive damping is fitted), steering and aircon operation. An additional Individual mode allows further personalisation.

In general terms, Dynamic Select is a worthwhile addition – and does allow some degree of differentiation between modes – however, there is one downside. That's the loss of a 'proper' manual mode for the seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox on all non-AMG A-Class models.

Drivers have the option of choosing the Individual mode in Dynamic Select and using the 'Adapt' function to select manual mode for the transmission but even when you do so the car will still behaves essentially as an auto. Keen punters will have to be satisfied with using the steering-wheel mounted paddles more often in an effort to prevent it defaulting back to 'drive'.

Underbonnet changes are limited in the standard As.

The now all-wheel drive 250 gets a useful 5kW top-up to 160kW via some tuning changes. Torque is unchanged at 350Nm. Mercedes-Benz claims a 0-100km/h time of 6.3sec. Fuel consumption is 6.6L/100km on the combined cycle. The front-drive out-going A 250 Sports stats were 6.6sec and 6.6L/100km.

In the case of the AMG range-topper, the already muscular 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder has been boosted 15kW to 280, torque is up 25Nm to 475. The changes are not boost related but rather linked to a change in ignition timing and new exhaust cam.

AMG insiders say this is as far as the current generation engine can go. That puts paid to suggestions the engine would top 300kW before it is replaced.

The AMG 45 will now also offer the option of RACE mode via its Dynamic Select drive-mode system as well as the ability to specify at extra cost a mechanical front limited-slip differential.

We sampled the now-AWD A 250 Sport on roads to the north of Dresden in the east of Germany and the A 45 on the track and a much more engaging route to the south of the city on day two of the international launch program.

The 4MATIC all-wheel-drive equipped A 250 Sport presents as a very cultured and settled hot hatch. That said, the extra grip and stability the 4MATIC system gifts the car makes it a little anodyne.

This author was a fan of the slightly 'taily' nature of the previous model. That car had great front-end grip but you could use weight transfer to help get the car turned when pushing on. In its latest iteration, there's oodles of traction into, through and out of the corner.

Day-to-day drivers will appreciate that the car now rides better when Comfort mode is selected.

It's a great sounding engine with a little crackle and burble in Sport mode but the 5kW engine boost is essentially impossible to pick. In reality the car needs 185-185kW to hold its place in the AWD hot hatch hit parade.

But there's always the A 45 – perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the technological upgrades that are layered across this facelift.

The 45's driveline has come in for the most attention. The AMG's seven-speed gearbox has bespoke (shorter) gear ratios third through to seventh gear (in part for an increase in load carrying capability) and the all-wheel-drive system has been beefed up. The maximum torque capacity of the rear drive components is now 1200Nm – a 20 per cent increase.

The combination of the above is a key factor in the new A45's trimmed 0-100km/h time. The new car is 0.4sec faster than the old model at 4.2sec and in the real world tops an indicated 250km/h with ease.

Gazetted Combined fuel economy is unchanged at 6.9L/100km.

It is also significantly more capable away from the straight and narrow. On the track the littlest AMG is a confidence-inspiring tool with huge levels of grip and impressive levels of grunt – it's fast and idiot proof to 9/10s.

Getting the best from the car needs some technique or the whole plot disappears into an understeering mess. The secret here is the optional limited slip differential. Get the A 45 slowed and pointed anywhere near the apex and the throttle becomes like another steering wheel. Feed in the torque and the front wheels drag the nose wherever you want it to go – like a 'proper' front-drive racer.

The suggestion the LSD was in-part developed during a stillborn AMG Customer Sports program to build front-drive CLA 45 racecars to compete in the Germany VLN Endurance racing series rings true after just a couple of laps of the tight Eurospeedway Lausitz infield layout.

It's a shame the updated A 250 didn't get this front diff instead of its AWD system. That would have really put a capital S on Sport!

But the real benefits of the new A 45 are felt on the road thanks to the AMG Ride Control suspension. Even half a world away it's clear the two-mode adaptive system will be better suited to our roads than the rock hard suspension on the outgoing model.

Although the roads in and around the 'Saxony Switzerland' to the south of Dresden could never be described as other than kempt, I found enough bumps and lumps to convince me that there are real benefits to the new set-up for Aussie buyers.

Couple that with unimpeachable traction and serious in-gear stomp, and many 'fancied' sports and supercars would have trouble matching the updated A 45 on the winding backroads. And in the sound stakes too – the A 45 is proof positive you don't have to have a V8 to lay claim to a 'proper' race-car soundtrack!

A full opinion on the upgraded Mercedes-Benz A-Class range will need to wait until full specification and pricing details are released closer to the cars' arrival. We'd anticipate full details should be released around November.

In the absence of any 'deal breakers', however there's much to recommend a closer look... Especially so if you're the sort of driver that has an AMG 45 sized wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket!

2016 Mercedes-AMG A 45 4MATIC pricing and specifications:
Price: $TBA (currently $75,800 plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 280kW/465Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (NEDC Combined)
CO2: 161g/km (NEDC Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star NCAP (2012)