Mercedes-Benz A190 2002 Review

Getting an A plus on a high school exam was always a cause for celebration and so, in a way, is Mercedes-Benz' new A plus.

Strictly speaking the car is not called an A plus but simply the long wheelbase A-class reflecting the extra 170mm added to the wheelbase of the baby Benz.

But the benefits of the stretched chassis amount to more than just extra legroom for rear passengers and more space in the versatile interior, as it has also improved the ride and handling and turned what was an innovative but average and expensive small car into a much improved practical motor.

The biggest and most obvious advantages of the longer wheelbase is the rear legroom. Because of the car's safety-led "sandwich floor", which sits significantly higher than a standard mini-people mover, rear occupants in the shorter wheelbase version had to sit with knees fairly high. So now, with a great expanse of rear legroom, there is plenty of space to stretch out in comfort.

If more luggage rather than passengers is your preference, the extra length can be used to increase the boot space which, with the rear seat in its most forward position on the 111mm sliding track, offers a very respectable 470 litre capacity.

Remove the rear seat altogether and the A-class LWB will swallow 1530 litres - above average for a large station wagon.

With the longer wheelbase and slight retuning of the suspension, Mercedes has also made the A-class' ride and handling more comfortable and controlled.

There is none of the jiggly ride over rougher surfaces evident in the short wheelbase A-class, particularly in the rear, and the car handles with confidence and a minimum of body roll despite its high stance.

Two engines are on offer, a 75kiloWatt/150Nm 1.6-litre and the 92kW/180Nm 1.9-litre we tested. Despite the extra 30kg in kerb weight due to the longer chassis, the 1.9 remains a sprightly, smooth unit and is more than up to the task of urban commuting or freeway cruising.

The five-speed manual shift is a delight to use, with its automatic clutch alleviating the need for a pedal and allowing very fast changes. Mercedes has obviously worked hard to get this technology right as previous efforts from other car-makers have rarely been worth the effort - or extra cost.

The initial sensation of using a standard five speed manual shift without having to heave the left foot is a bit disconcerting but once you get used to it, it makes life a lot easier and more fun. To change gears you simply lift off the accelerator slightly and move the shift with most changes being as quick as you can flick the lever - although the electronics do tend to think a bit slower on high rev shifts.

Although the car is longer than the standard A-class, you would be hard pressed to notice as it retains its distinctive profile, which has undergone a slight cosmetic makeover. Both long and short wheelbase A-class cars have also had a significant upgrade inside, with the most noticeable change to the dash and instrumentation being a marked improvement in the quality of the plastics.

When the original car was launched here in 1998, it was a highly original small practical car that had the same safety credentials as Merc's bigger E-class sedan. But it did have its shortcomings which, price aside - our test car had a sticker of $43,000 but that's what you pay for the three-pointed star - the stretched wheelbase and interior upgrade appear to have fixed.

Possibly even enough to give the car an A+.