Mercedes-Benz A 200d Review
I find myself in the minority here but I have always liked the A-Class. I like the fact that here’s a small and practical hatchback for nipping around in the city, and one that has all the appointments befitting of the three-pointed star. Or maybe it’s the styling because the A-Class has always looked bloody good.
Nothing much has changed with this updated A-Class, apart from the fact that you can get it in this massively head-turning shade of green. No chance of you blending into the background here, in fact the attention it draws can be quite embarrassing (though I know many who would buy it for precisely this reason). The other blingy details like the diamond radiator grille with 302 crystals that sparkle around the three-pointed star (they are not diamonds!) remain while the tail lamps get new LED graphics. The biggest difference though is in the wheel size that has now been reduced to 16 -inchers with higher 55-profile rubber. And that brings about the most noticeable difference to the A-Class from behind the wheel.
One of the biggest criticisms of the A-Class was the stiff ride, more BMW than Merc. These new generation Mercs run on run-flat tyres with a space saver strapped into the boot due to the lack of a spare wheel well (like in a BMW) and even though newer run-flats have softer sidewalls they still have a negative impact on ride. Especially when the wheels are large 17-inchers. Taking note of our criticism (and I’m sure customer complaints) the A-Class now gets 205/55 R 16 rubber (still run-flats) and that delivers a noticeable improvement to the ride. And to disguise the smaller wheels the alloys are finished in black. Smart.
On the handling front you lose a bit of outright grip and initial turn-in is not as sharp but really you’ll only notice this when driving really hard. Otherwise the A-Class remains an enjoyable steer, diving into corners with considerable enthusiasm and delivering good feedback, courtesy the responsive steering. And now that the power has been upped to 134bhp (from 107bhp on the A180d) it doesn’t feel under powered. However, unlike the rear-wheel drive BMW 1 Series, you won’t be able to get the tail to slide.
On the interior front, you get body-coloured stripes on the one-piece seats to lift the ambience but it remains all-black and consequently quite sporty. There’s a three-spoke steering wheel, 8-inch infotainment display, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink to pair smartphones. Space for passengers remains at a premium but upfront it has a lovely ambience to indulge yourself in. After all, a Rs 26 lakh hatchback is nothing if not an indulgence.
