A quick look at the 2018 Mercedes Benz A Class
The Mercedes Benz model you see in our picture is the all-new 2018 A Class which is the entry level model in the manufacturer’s range. This car is now in its fourth generation and is a far cry from the original model that was launched back in 1997. You can see that there’s a huge difference between the original and what you see here especially in the styling. As well as not looking like it’s going to topple over in a corner this new model is longer and wider than the previous generation car. However, looks aren’t everything so we really need to know what this car is like underneath. In this short article our aim is to find out and let you know.
The first thing we’re going to look at is the interior. So, what’s it like? Well, much of the excitement surrounding the new A Class has been censored on its impressive looking interior and the good news is that it certainly doesn’t disappoint in the flesh. The driver’s view is dominated by two 10.5 inch touchscreens the central one of which houses Merc’s new infotainment system. It’s controlled via a touchpad by the armrest or the touchscreen itself. However, neither are as easy to use as the rotary dial you find on rivals such as the Audi A3. Other highlights in the cabin include what we can only describe as turbine styled air-vents and a sort of twin-level dashboard design which is finished with some very nice feeling materials. Space in the front and the rear of the A Class is a big improvement over the previous generation car giving you 14mm more width and 30mm more length than the old car. You won’t just be comfortable sitting in the front of the A Class either. Average height adults will find that they have plenty of legroom and headroom too. Unfortunately, the middle seat is really only good for small children on short journeys as there’s very little room to place your feet due to a rather chunky transmission tunnel.
Boot space is up 29 litres on the old car making it 370 litres in total with the five seats in place. The loading aperture is also 20 centimetres wider which should make it easier to load in heavy items. There’s also three individually folding rear seats too which will increase flexibility when you’ve got long items in there as well.
Truth be told that the old A Class was solid if slightly unspectacular to drive but this car really does improve on this. It’s got a better ride comfort, better refinement and the handling has also been tweaked. Every A Class comes with a 7-speed automatic gearbox as standard and is controlled by a stalk on the steering column. A six speed manual gearbox will be available later in 2018. No matter which engine you opt for the gearbox is a very good match though the petrol units do seem to bring out the best in it. You’ve got some override paddles on the steering wheel which you can use to change up or down a gear and are actually very responsive. In fact, you can quickly change down two gears and it will do it effortlessly. However, you have to be aware that if you rev the engine really hard then it won’t hold on to the gear.
The model we’re looking at for this article is the A180d and is the cheapest engine you can buy. It’s a 1.5 litre turbo diesel with 116 break horse power (bhp) and although it feels quite perky at low speed it does struggle somewhat when you put your foot down on let’s say a motorway slip-road for example. Also, when you rev it quite hard then you may find it a bit on the noisy side too. Having said all that it’s still a massive improvement over the previous generation A Class A180d. Aside from all this the A Class is comfortable and refined at higher speeds and should make a decent motorway companion once you get up to the correct speed.
So what do we think of the 2018 A Class? Well, Mercedes has certainly done what it needed to do with this new version. It’s a better car to drive and much more practical than the previous generation car. There’s also enough tech in this hatchback to wet customer’s appetites for more expensive Mercedes cars later down the line. As of typing, it has to be the best premium hatchback that you can buy. However, with the all new Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series just around the corner it remains to be seen just how competitive the A Class will be when its main rivals show their hands. If you can’t quite afford the new A Class then feel free to take a look at the used Mercedes Benz A Class cars for sale we have on DesperateSeller.co.uk.
