Topic: First Drive: 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan

[Fobroader]

well, i guess i'll be the outlier here...i like it...i think it looks decent, modern (in terms of tech features), and from the sounds of it, actually provides a premium feel (which it should, since it's an MB product)...factor in a nicely equipped AWD version should be around $40k, i'd imagine they'll move these quite well...the only knock may be reliability as they haven't been the best lately, but perhaps some of the new stuff will be better...we'll see.

Yeah, I'm with you.

Also, some of you don't seem to get that some people actually want a premium small car and that is what Mercedes is delivering here. We can argue that the CLA was a poor attempt at doing that but they seem to have made some substantial improvements for the new A-series cars (hatch, sedan, "coupe").

And not everyone (actually, the vast majority of people) is a car enthusiast. They just want something that drives nicely, has decent power, gets good fuel economy, and has the latest safety and tech features. I'm not so sure what's wrong with that.

Oh, I completely understand that and agree that you can have a small premium sedan & have to pay for it accordingly... and that there is a market for that. It's more the screens & technology that scares me from a reliability perspective, I mean what can go wrong with German electronics?     

I dunno though, how often do screens and such fail?

I dunno either? New interface though, so some software glitches can be expected... and then the other hardware needed to support those screens? Done by German's?    Don't know if I'd be brave enough to buy one outta warranty 

That wont matter to this class of buyers as most are hit it and quit it leases.

[OliverD]

This thread has all the things that this forum loves to hate:

- "tacked on" screens
- inexpensive car from a premium car company
- FWD platform from a premium car company
- car that appeals to Millennials

Did I miss anything? 

[Hannibalsmith]

This thread has all the things that this forum loves to hate:

- "tacked on" screens
- inexpensive car from a premium car company
- FWD platform from a premium car company
- car that appeals to Millennials

Did I miss anything? 

Yes...boring old men

[OliverD]

Real Mercedes or fake Mercedes? 

[Fobroader]

RWD, quality, durability....yup, checks out.

[OliverD]

RWD, quality, durability....yup, checks out.

So you think those "real" Benzes you posted have quality and durability? Got it. 

[Dante]

This thread has all the things that this forum loves to hate:

- "tacked on" screens
- inexpensive car from a premium car company
- FWD platform from a premium car company
- car that appeals to Millennials

Did I miss anything? 

I'd qualify by saying "basic, cheap feeling car yet expensive, from a premium car company"

These are not cheap for what you get standard and by the time you trim it up at a decent level, it becomes quite expensive and more so, it usually does not address the cheap trim bits anyway.

[Fobroader]

RWD, quality, durability....yup, checks out.

So you think those "real" Benzes you posted have quality and durability? Got it. 

No, but they have the interiors and engines to make them worth the risk....something that can't fight with a Corollas interior, reliability for 2.5X the price, nope, that will be shat on, profusely.

[dirtyjeffer]

Yeah, I'm with you.

Also, some of you don't seem to get that some people actually want a premium small car and that is what Mercedes is delivering here. We can argue that the CLA was a poor attempt at doing that but they seem to have made some substantial improvements for the new A-series cars (hatch, sedan, "coupe").

And not everyone (actually, the vast majority of people) is a car enthusiast. They just want something that drives nicely, has decent power, gets good fuel economy, and has the latest safety and tech features. I'm not so sure what's wrong with that.

agreed...there's no doubt the CLA was a joke, but from what i see here, this looks nothing like it...it actually looks like a decent car...and if the article is correct about pricing (nicely equipped AWD model being about $40k), it's actually not a bad deal (again, depending on the actual price/features)...there's not many compact AWD sedans out there, aside from perhaps the Impreza, but that thing has the interior of their 1984 cars and there's some risk with the H4 engines (although, perhaps the newer 2.0L models are better)...nicely equipped (top trim) Forte, Civic and Corollas are all about $30-$32k, so a few extra thousand for AWD and the MB badge doesn't seem out of place.

[Gurgie]

This is the Merc for my driveway 

[lebowski]

This is the Merc for my driveway 

Oh, hell yes. How many rolled-up dollar bills does the seller want for it? 

[tooscoops]

I think it's a sharp little car from the outside... I think the tech inside is actually quite cool.

would I buy it? nope. would I suggest a friend buy it? unlikely... but a lease? yeah, give er a shot!

I like that it is thinking outside the box. a company like MB has to do that. it can't just bring the usual stuff forward because all the "lower" level brands are putting out some great products. MB et al really have to offer something special to make people still see them as a top level premium product...

[OliverD]

I have to laugh at most of the hate. I think in a vacuum this is a cool car.

For me the lack of a vacuum is a problem - and maybe I'm just old.

Rather than $70K for this I'd be content in a fast enough and more comfy very well optioned C43 (wagon!) or S5 sportback. If I really wanted a sports car I'd buy a sportscar - GT350, 1LE, Stingray, M2, M3, Grandsport, ZL1, etc,. Those are all around the $70K point.

To me this thing is a little in no man's land but I must admit that I don't get the really expensive small car market either as I'm not really a fan of the RS3 or S3 for similar reasoning.

$70k? This isn't the CLA45 thread, we're talking about the $40k A220 here. 

[dirtyjeffer]

Rather than $70K for this I'd be content in a fast enough and more comfy very well optioned C43 (wagon!) or S5 sportback. If I really wanted a sports car I'd buy a sportscar - GT350, 1LE, Stingray, M2, M3, Grandsport, ZL1, etc,. Those are all around the $70K point.

where did $70k come from?

Mercedes-Benz has not announced Canadian pricing for the 2019 A-Class sedan as yet, but they tell us an A 220 4Matic with Premium Package should slide in under $40,000.

[OliverD]

This thread has all the things that this forum loves to hate:

- "tacked on" screens
- inexpensive car from a premium car company
- FWD platform from a premium car company
- car that appeals to Millennials

Did I miss anything? 

I'd qualify by saying "basic, cheap feeling car yet expensive, from a premium car company"

These are not cheap for what you get standard and by the time you trim it up at a decent level, it becomes quite expensive and more so, it usually does not address the cheap trim bits anyway.

But that doesn't seem to be the case here. From the article:

But hey, if you actually want to drive the Mercedes-Benz A 220, it turns out to be a pretty fine little car – starting with a snazzy, high-quality cabin that in no way betrays its price point. Inside, it’s fresh and premium with tight tolerances, fine metal finishes, and comfortable front seats.

And the base model is quite reasonably equipped:

The Canadian A 220 and A 220 4Matic will come standard with 17-inch alloys, panoramic sunroof, back-up camera, LED headlights and taillights, Artico faux leather, heated front seats with lumbar (power and memory for driver), keyless start, 40/20/40-split folding rear bench, rain-sensing wipers, heated windshield washers, MBUX with seven-inch displays, attention assist, active brake assist, and more.

[dirtyjeffer]

This thread has all the things that this forum loves to hate:

- "tacked on" screens
- inexpensive car from a premium car company
- FWD platform from a premium car company
- car that appeals to Millennials

Did I miss anything? 

I'd qualify by saying "basic, cheap feeling car yet expensive, from a premium car company"

These are not cheap for what you get standard and by the time you trim it up at a decent level, it becomes quite expensive and more so, it usually does not address the cheap trim bits anyway.

But that doesn't seem to be the case here. From the article:

But hey, if you actually want to drive the Mercedes-Benz A 220, it turns out to be a pretty fine little car – starting with a snazzy, high-quality cabin that in no way betrays its price point. Inside, it’s fresh and premium with tight tolerances, fine metal finishes, and comfortable front seats.

exactly...i think they've actually done a pretty good job here.

[dkaz]

Man the comments about this car on the Facebook trader are brutal, comparing this to a Kia (Rio?) and Mazda 3.

[Fobroader]

Man the comments about this car on the Facebook trader are brutal, comparing this to a Kia (Rio?) and Mazda 3.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The fact that during this media presentation Mercedes-Benz mentioned not one whit about how the A 220 drove, and referred to their new sedan as the “Ultimate Mobile Device” speaks volumes. Interestingly, this is M-B’s first use of a touchscreen.

Wonder how horrible this is to drive at night with all that light inside the cabin.

Be interesting to see if extra lighting can be turned off.

The A hatch looks better to me, but at least the dash looks better integrated than the CLA. 

[OliverD]

I'm pretty sure that the ambient lighting can be turned off. It may also be more subdued in real life.

Both my Clubman and my GTI's ambient lighting is fairly subtle and isn't annoying at night.