Mercedes Benz A-ClassThe Mercedes Benz A-Class is one of the most popular cars at Mercedes Benz World for the teaching of the Junior Driving Programme. Well if it is good enough for the critical eyes of ten year olds, it must be doing something right.Proof of the pudding is that more that 500,000 units have been produced in the three and a half years since the second generation of A-Classes hit our UK roads. Now the third generation has arrived complete with a new design, better equipment and new technology developments to improve safety, comfort and economy. Both the five door and the three door hatch have been face lifted, and I opted to test the top trim Avantgarde SE five door mated to the extremely economical 180 CDI diesel engine that would cost me £18,419.46 to be precise. Winning the lottery is a pre-requisite as this A-Class comes with a host of optional extras. In fact my test car was fitted with over 6K’s worth of extras so be warned and decide what you really need before signing on the dotted line. So what is new for this third generation of A-Class? At the front, for starters, are redesigned headlamps, radiator grille and bumper; new larger door mirrors are colour co-ordinated, electrically adjustable and folding. Round to the rear are redesigned tail lights and bumper complete with warning lights in the tailgate. Inside, the Avantgarde SE sees new decorative trims of chrome that split up the dark interior nicely. Being a Mercedes means that there is a host of equipment to help the driver from height adjustable steering wheel with remote controls to the CD player and telephone along with electrically adjustable heated seats clad in leather. This is another extra that comes with the Luxury Pack which also includes automatic climate control. All the windows are electric as are the door mirrors, which are also heated. My test car had the Light and Sight package as another extra that’s comprised of rain sensing wipers, automatically dimming rear view mirror, automatic headlights, reading lights, footwell lights in the front and the very useful bulb failure indicator.I also had the Active Park Assist with its annoyingly loud distracting sounds informing me I was ten foot from the kerb. Thankfully this can be switched off.Perhaps I am just a simple old fashioned girl, but I couldn’t even fathom out how to rig up my phone on the Bluetooth, it was so complex.This updated A-Class is rather nice albeit a bit noisy on the motorways. The ride and handling are very comfortable but the steering, despite being electromechanical speed sensitive, is very loose and could have been heavier at higher speeds. However it is very accommodating for the parking bays.The car is certainly practical with numerous storage solutions, many with covers for those secret purchases. The large luggage area has built in side partitions and a very useful concealed tray under the luggage floor by the space saving spare tyre. With the seats in place there’s a total of 435 litres, so shopping can be fitted, extending to 1995 when the rear seats are folded down. This is amazing considering the small dimensions of the A-Class.The third generation sees more safely equipment on board such as adaptive flashing brake lights that will inform the driver behind if you have braked harshly. Lets just hope the driver behind has kept the safe two-second gap rule or there could be trouble.On top of this is ABS with Brake Assist, and ESP with Acceleration Skid Control. Protecting all passengers if these systems cannot cope are dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags plus head/thorax sidebags for both driver and passenger. The front and rear seatbelts have pretensioners with the front being height adjustable, and an automatic child seat recognition sensor is fitted to the front passenger seat. This works in conjunction with Mercedes Benz child seats that are fitted with a transponder. Isofix with top tether child seat fixing points are fitted in the two outer rear seats.Securing the A-Class is an alarm system with immobiliser and remote central locking, all of which helps place the car into insurance group 7-8.I have to admit I was not as blown away with this third generation A-Class as I normally am with Mercedes Benz cars. There were no real wow factors either inside or out, the drive was quite noisy, steering too wishy washy, and there’s a hefty price tag. However where Mercedes excel is in their safety department, and that’s priceless when it protects your precious cargo of family.Jackie Violet January 2009
Mercedes Benz A-Class
The Mercedes Benz A-Class is one of the most popular
cars at Mercedes Benz World for the teaching of the
Junior Driving Programme. Well if it is good enough for
the critical eyes of ten year olds, it must be doing
something right.
Proof of the pudding is that more that 500,000 units have
been produced in the three and a half years since the
second generation of A-Classes hit our UK roads. Now
the third generation has arrived complete with a new
design, better equipment and new technology
developments to improve safety, comfort and economy.
Both the five door and the three door hatch have been
face lifted, and I opted to
test the top trim Avantgarde
SE five door mated to the
extremely economical 180
CDI diesel engine that
would cost me £18,419.46
to be precise. Winning the
lottery is a pre-requisite as
this A-Class comes with a
host of optional extras. In
fact my test car was fitted
with over 6K’s worth of
extras so be warned and
decide what you really need
before signing on the dotted
line.
So what is new for this third
generation of A-Class? At
the front, for starters, are
redesigned headlamps, radiator grille and bumper; new
larger door mirrors are colour co-ordinated, electrically
adjustable and folding. Round to the rear are redesigned
tail lights and bumper complete with warning lights in the
tailgate.
Inside, the Avantgarde SE sees new decorative trims of
chrome that split up the dark interior nicely. Being a
Mercedes means that there is a host of equipment to
help the driver from height adjustable steering wheel
with remote controls to the CD player and telephone
along with electrically adjustable heated seats clad in
leather. This is another extra that comes with the Luxury
Pack which also includes automatic climate control. All
the windows are electric as are the door mirrors, which
are also heated. My test car had the Light and Sight
package as another extra that’s comprised of rain
sensing wipers, automatically dimming rear view mirror,
automatic headlights, reading lights, footwell lights in the
front and the very useful bulb failure indicator.
I also had the Active Park Assist with its annoyingly loud
distracting sounds informing me I was ten foot from the
kerb. Thankfully this can be switched off.
Perhaps I am just a simple old fashioned girl, but I
couldn’t even fathom out how to rig up my phone on the
Bluetooth, it was so complex.
This updated A-Class is rather nice albeit a bit noisy on
the motorways. The ride and handling are very
comfortable but the steering, despite being
electromechanical speed sensitive, is very loose and
could have been heavier at higher speeds. However it is
very accommodating for the parking bays.
The car is certainly practical with numerous storage
solutions, many with covers for those secret purchases.
The large luggage area has built in side partitions and a
very useful concealed tray under the luggage floor by the
space saving spare tyre. With the seats in place there’s a
total of 435 litres, so shopping can be fitted, extending to
1995 when the rear seats are folded down. This is
amazing considering the small dimensions of the A-
Class.
The third generation sees more safely equipment on
board such as adaptive flashing brake lights that will
inform the driver behind if you have braked harshly. Lets
just hope the driver behind has kept the safe two-second
gap rule or there could be trouble.
On top of this is ABS
with Brake Assist, and
ESP with Acceleration
Skid Control. Protecting
all passengers if these
systems cannot cope
are dual-stage driver
and front passenger
airbags plus
head/thorax sidebags
for both driver and
passenger. The front
and rear seatbelts have
pretensioners with the
front being height
adjustable, and an
automatic child seat
recognition sensor is
fitted to the front passenger seat. This works in
conjunction with Mercedes Benz child seats that are
fitted with a transponder. Isofix with top tether child seat
fixing points are fitted in the two outer rear seats.
Securing the A-Class is an alarm system with immobiliser
and remote central locking, all of which helps place the
car into insurance group 7-8.
I have to admit I was not as blown away with this third
generation A-Class as I normally am with Mercedes Benz
cars. There were no real wow factors either inside or out,
the drive was quite noisy, steering too wishy washy, and
there’s a hefty price tag. However where Mercedes excel
is in their safety department, and that’s priceless when it
protects your precious cargo of family.
Jackie Violet
January 2009
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