Test drive Mercedes Benz A-class w168 2001-2004 hatchback

There should be a lot of good cars

The smallest Mercedes
Four years ago, for the first time seeing Mercedes a-class, the author of these lines behaved exactly like a wolf that collided in the course of the action of one of the issues, wait a minute! With a hare in a wolf mask. Mercedes! I repeated, pointing a finger at the three -beam star on the radiator grille and with difficulty restraining bouts of homeric laughter. Turning away from laughter when looking at a chubby, false car, strikingly different from his stiff older brothers, was really not easy. The avant-garde A-class resembled the usual Stuttgart models no more than the black square of Malevich of the three heroes of Vasnetsov. However, having met the smallest Mercedes closer, you understand that all the bells -ups that are characteristic of adult machines are hidden behind the extravagant appearance of this car, and the branded star does not adorn it in vain. And the long-standing version of the A-Class that appeared this summer at the dealers of the Stuttgart concern is quite capable of arguing with the comporming and spaciousness of the salon with other models of the representative class.
The body extended by 17 cm is the main, but not the only distinctive feature of the updated A-class. Planned restyling has somewhat changed the appearance of the car itself. The 2001 model received new -fangled transparent front headlight distressers and fine diamond faces of the rear light glasses. The modified bumpers with integrated protective overlays visually expand the lower part of the body, giving a compact car a more solid look. The same goal is pursued by elegant fifteen -inch alloy wheels of new design. However, compensating for the increased length of the car, the designers had to raise the already high roof, so the wheels still look touchingly small. There were no significant changes in the design of the power unit. The updated A-class is still offered with three gasoline and pair of turbodiesel engines with a volume of 1.4 1.9 liters and a capacity of 75,125 hp. However, fans of diesel versions made a small gift: both engines became more powerful. Moreover, a modest 1.6-liter turbodiesel added as compared to prerestyling as many as 25% (60 hp and 75 hp, respectively). True, this motor is available only in combination with a short body. Any of the engines can be aggregated with five -speed mechanical or automatic transmissions (the latter with the possibility of manual switching). As an additional option, automatic adhesion is provided for an alternative to an alternative to a traditional machine. The driver manipulates the lever of a conventional mechanical checkpoint, and the moment of turning on-shutdown is controlled by electronics. However, a car with a normal automatic box and a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 102 hp came to our test. On the black insert at the base of the front rack, an Elegance nameplate showed, indicating a high level of performance and rich configuration. A detailed inspection of the cabin, trimmed with skin and natural wood, confirmed: despite the extravagant exterior, everything is indeed an adult way inside the A-class. The updated front panel differs from the still familiar car not only by design, but also with the finish: now the same soft foamed plastic is used here as in the prestigious S-class. The central console has changed radically. In the new A-class, it became wider and sloping, but the most importantly the location of the governing bodies has changed. Thus, the switches and radio moves most frequently used in the driving process moved up, and the lower part of the console is given to the control unit. By the way, deflectors of the heating and ventilation system have acquired a new form, and the air recirculation system is now turned on not by a slider switch, but by a button. Among other salon innovations, it should be noted a three -spoke steering wheel with an upholstered rim, velor door upholstery and a tough luggage regiment, which replaced Elegance and Avantharde the former curtain. By the way, the size of the trunk remained the same (390 l), however, the additional 17 cm of the base allow the owner of the elongated A-class to count on 1530 liters of utility with dismantled rear seats. And having removed the place of the front passenger, the luggage compartment volume can be increased to impressive 1930 liters, which corresponds to the capacity of large station wagons. However, without even setting the goal of turning the baby into a commercial van, it is quite possible to find a compromise between carrying capacity and comfort for passengers. Opening unusually wide rear doors, involuntarily, you are amazed at the space between the rear pillows and the backs of the front seats. By the way, along the length of the cabin (the distance from the driver’s legs to the passenger’s hips in the back seat), the long-bunken baby surpasses even the majestic S-class: 2005 mm versus 1978 mm. However, a wide (11 cm) range of longitudinal adjustment of the rear seats, multiplied by the ability to change their backs, will always allow, without prejudice to passengers, to shove an extra suitcase into the A-class trunk. Speaking about the sled characteristics of the updated A-class, it should be noted that the elongated version of the car clearly added to comfort. This, by the way, was completely predictable: the longer the base, the less shakes. However, in fairness it is worth noting that in terms of smoothness, the A-class is significantly inferior to senior models and shakes it on road irregularities much stronger. From the point of view of acoustic comfort, a small Mercedes does not cause any special complaints. However, in our opinion, the creators of the car would not hurt to think about improving the sound insulation of the wheel arches. Yes, and the sound of the engine at high speeds becomes too annoying: the heart-rending howl of the motor passengers A 160 with a machine gun are forced to listen to any more or less dynamic acceleration. At the same time, a sharp press of gas pedal contrary to expectations causes not an increase in speed, but only an instant take -off of the tachometer arrows to the border of the red zone, accompanied by the above acoustic phenomena. To some extent, the position saves the manual control regimen. Choosing the programs on their own, the driver can achieve well -known agility from the baby. It is noteworthy that it was possible to bring to the maximum passports 180 km/h the A-class only in manual mode: trying to disperse the car on the machine, I eventually just lost my patience. The controllability and operation of the brake system in the standard modes did not cause complaints. True, despite the presence of electronic security systems (ESP, Brake Assist) and disk brakes on all wheels, urgently tearing off at a speed of 170 km/h, I could hardly align the screening machine. And having flew out, when forced to overtake the right -wing wheels on the side of one of the highway near Moscow, the car almost lost control. In general, the small Mercedes is clearly not disposed of to high -speed dynamic driving. His element is a calm, measured movement along the city streets with a good coating. By the way, a modest road clearance and the absence of any protection of the motor compartment are unequivocally hinted at this. Without belittling the advantages of Mercedes-Benz A-class, by the way, significantly increasing in the 2001 model, we dare to say that the updated car (in any case, in Russia) will share the unenviable market fate of its predecessor. I remember that it was possible to purchase Mercedes A-class only by prior order, and not at all because of the unsatisfied demand: the dealers simply did not want to invest in a deliberately non-way product. Unlike motorists in Europe and Asia, where since 1997, the A-class dispersed over 550 thousand copies, Russian car owners will pay tribute to this model soon. Our compatriots respect the Mercedes, but the trouble is not like that. The A-class is approximately as Mercedes themselves to Smart: a curious machine, but not Mercedes. And to purchase a golf-class car, albeit an economical, comfortable, with the most spacious salon in the class, overpaying for a prestigious three-beam star in the absence of this very prestige in appearance, only a few originals agree in the garages who already have more solid representatives of the Stuttgart family. A cursory glance at the statistics of Russian sales Daimlerchrysler, where business and representative classes argue for leadership, is enough to understand: we do not need such Mercedes yet. By the way, this is understood by the Germans themselves, expecting to make A-class by 45 Russian customers by the end of the year.

Andrey Tsybulsky
 

Source: Wheel (company)