Mercedes Benz A-Class Review
Mercedes Benz A-Class, is a compact car produced by German auto giant Daimler AG which is the thirteen largest car producer in the world by unit sales. The compact car was first introduced in the year 1997 and now in its third generation still holds prominent position in the hearts of car aficionados. InIndia, the recent edition was launched in May 2013 with the intention of enlarging company’s range of cars. The five door hatchback is a unique offering in the C- segment offering world class luxurious features.
It is available in both diesel and petrol trims in the Indian market. The petrol variant which is more powerful, consist of 1.6L 1595cc turbocharged engine that produces 122bhp and 200Nm of peak torque while the diesel one incorporates 2.2L turbocharged 2143cc engine churning out 109bhp and have maximum torque capacity of 250Nm. Both the engines are en-suited with standard 7-speed automatic transmission gearbox. The sprint time is excellent in both the cars with a fraction of difference where petrol one reaches 202kmph in just 9.2 seconds while the diesel one reaches 190kmph mark in 10.6 seconds of time. The ARAI mileage figures are quite impressive as petrol variant A180 Sport delivers 12kmpl/15kmpl while the A180 CDI Style diesel variant returns excellent mileage of 17kmpl/20kmpl in cities and major routes respectively.Mercedes A-Class currently competes with BMW1 series hatchback in the segment and will be joined by Audi A3 in near future.
A-Class is the smallest car offered by the company and since 1997, its styling has evolved manifolds. The exterior design leaves long lasting impression and stands apart in class. Front fascia of the car has been raised in stature while the roof is curvy in nature and tailgateconsists of a steep angle. Bi-xenon headlamps, grille and fenders are revamped completely. Overall the stance is decent and poses strong presence on road.
The interiors of the car guarantees comfort in motion with comfortable seating capacity for five occupants and lots of storage space at the back. The central console is fully loaded with state-of-the-art equipment of modern day.
As per user and expert reviews, the overall running cost is low while the features certainly makes it stand apart against its rivals Audi and BMW. The only concern is the price point which is on the higher side because of Mercedes importing it in India rather assembling it.