It’s just A-Class apart

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Limousine boasts of segment-first technology and class-leading cabin space, but is there is more to something than meets the eye? We find out more…

Mercedes-Benz is all set to make their return to the entry-level luxury segment with the all-new A-Class Limousine. This new vehicle will be launched on March 25 and will be available in three variants — petrol, diesel and the all-powerful AMG. We drove the A 200 petrol version. So, let’s find out if this new sedan can bring back the spark this segment desperately needs.

Design cues
The new A-Class sedan may not get the sloping roofline like the erstwhile CLA coupe it replaces, but it still makes quite a style statement. The star-studded front grille with a thick chrome running across it makes it stand out in the crowd. With the angular shaped LED headlights and L-shaped daytime running lamps (DRLs), the pronounced character lines on the bonnet and chunky lower front bumper with mock air dams, the A-Class sedan looks contemporary and muscular. From the rear, Mercedes-Benz has given the new sedan a clean simplistic design with edgy looking LED tail lamps and chrome finish twin-exhaust pipes.

Cabin
Step inside the A-Class Limousine and there’s absolutely nothing entry-level about it. The beautifully crafted three-layer dashboard uses premium leather, wooden and metal materials. The centre of attraction has to be the two 10.25-inch screens — one is the touchscreen infotainment system and the other is the all-digital instrument cluster. The multi-media system can also be controlled by the haptic pad on the central console. It is intuitive and responsive. There are also touch buttons on the steering wheel to browse through the screen and change the settings of the digital instrument cluster. Mercedes has crafted five air vents inspired from a jet turbine. They look exquisite, to say the least.

The A-Class Limousine is equipped with class-leading features like the smart artificial intelligence voice command or as the manufacturer calls it MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). It also comes with connected-car technology, which is integrated to Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home, and allows you to unlock the door or switch on the air conditioner from the comforts of your home.  Apart from this, it comes with the usual suspects like a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger and five USB Type-C ports.
Moving on to comfort, the front seats are very supportive and can be electrically adjusted. They also come with memory function allowing you to save your seating position. Come to the rear, the back seat offers plenty of knee room, but the legroom is limited if you’re over 5 feet 8 inches in height. The cabin as a whole is a great place to be in.

Engine
The A-Class Limousine gets a 1.3-litre turbo charged petrol motor under the hood. Before you pass judgement on the engine’s capacity, it churns out 161bhp and 250Nm of torque and does 0-100 km in 8.3 seconds, which is fast. Step on the gas and the car responds in a linear manner. It’s quick off the mark and the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission ensures that the gear shift is spot on so that there’s ample power available, may it be in bumper-to-bumper traffic or on the highway. It comes in four driving modes — Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual.
Eco, as the name suggests, is all about getting the best fuel economy, while Comfort balances power, comfort and mileage. Sport, on the other hand, is where the engine is more responsive, the rev needle holds on a bit longer and goes past the 6,000rpm mark, the steering wheel becomes a bit heavier for better stability at high speeds and even the suspension is firm for better handling. Individual mode is where you can customise it according to your preference. In a nutshell, the A-Class is a sedan for everyone’s requirements.

Verdict 
The A-Class Limousine could be the ace up Mercedes-Benz’s sleeve as it gets many things right like dynamic road presence, spacious and luxurious cabin, 405 litres of boot space, technically the most advanced sedan in the segment, handles decently well and it comes with the country’s first-ever 8 years warranty with unlimited kilometers. If you are looking to enter the luxury segment then it’s safe enough to say that the A-Class Limousine is the total package. The sedan will be priced in the region of ₹40-42 lakhs and will take on the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and the upcoming Audi A3.