Test drive Mercedes Benz A-class W169 since 2008 hatchback

All photos Mercedes Benz A-class W169 since 2008

Test drive Mercedes Benz A- and B-Class: the first letters of the alphabet

As a result of restyling, premium compact hatchbacks received new headlight headlights, radiator grilles and front bumpers.
At the end of July 2008, Mercedes-Benz made a presentation of updated hatchbacks A- and B-Class, which took place almost two months earlier. To get acquainted with the cars, a route was chosen along the nearest suburbs, where an excellent roadway is adjacent to broken trucks and time in routes. Journalists were presented to the court of two modifications of each of the classes A 170, and 200, in 170 and 200. In addition, two turbodiesels with a capacity of 109 and 140 hp are offered for A- and B-Class. Accordingly, as well as gasoline modifications and a capacity of 95 and 193 hp. In addition to this, Mercedes A-Class has an 80-horsepower turbodiesel in the range of power units 160 CDI.

Mercedes B-Class has a more solid appearance

But the A-Class is 390 mm shorter, which gives it a prosing in close city parking lots
In turn, for B-Class, there is a b-170 NGT execution deciphered as Natural Gas Technology (natural gas-based technology). The gasified version of the B-class car is built on the basis of the model B 170, but is equipped with an engine with a working volume of two liters, whose power reaches 116 liters. With. Both when burning gas, and in burning gasoline. By pressing the button located on the steering wheel, the driver can change the type of fuel.

As a result of restyling, premium compact hatchbacks received new headlight headlights, radiator grilles and front bumpers. In addition, the larger B-Class has also acquired a new hood design. Changes in the profile affected the design of external mirrors and wheels. A modified lanterns and a new bumper appeared from behind. Changes in the interior are even less significant in both models, new seats upholstery appeared.
Of the technical innovations regarding safety, the adaptive lanterns of stop-signals should be distinguished, which begin to intensively blink with emergency braking, and the emergency lighting system of the cabin, which automatically includes light during an accident.

inside the car.
In addition, since 2008, Mercedes-Benz A- and B-Class included the body of the side mirrors and door handles painted in the color of the body, the automatic power starter system, the electronic traffic stabilization system (ESP) with anti-stitching function, as well as steering The column with height adjustment.

To sit in one of these hatchbacks, it is necessary to lift the leg high enough, since the floor in A- and B-Class is quite high at the level of the lower edge of the doors. Such a layout is due to a rather short engine compartment, due to which it was possible to achieve a spacious salon with relatively compact dimensions. The fact is that when designing A-Class and subsequently his older brother with Litera B, the Mercedes engineers developed the so-called sandwich panel. Due to a small and short hood, with a frontal clash, there is a high probability of serious injuries of front passengers, since when impact, the engine risks being in the cabin. The developers from Stuttgart placed the power unit and the transmission partially in front and partially under the body, thereby securing the riders from the threat of trauma to the engine. In the case of an accident with such a layout, the engine and gearbox are shifted under the feet of passengers. This causes a high floor and, as a result, a gear landing of hatchbacks with a three -beam star on the hood.

After restyling A- and B-Class received new optics ...

... other radiator grilles and modified bumers
The first car to be tested was the Mercedes-Benz B170. The 1.7-liter 116-horsepower gasoline engine paired with a variator with the ability to manually switch 7 virtual transmissions does not differ in hurricane acceleration, but has a rather flat thrust in all revolutions. The advantages of a stranded variator are precisely in the smooth traction and lower fuel consumption, although the dynamics of acceleration is inferior to a traditional automatic transmission. Even the younger Mercedes models do not change traditions and have excellent smoothness.
On good coverage, the car floats like waves. Together with excellent sound insulation and impressive space for the legs of the rear passengers, a long trip with the whole family should give pleasure to both the driver and passengers. Small cracks and irregularities swallow with a bang. However, when the roadway worsens, Sedokov begins to shock quite hard. Poor coating is clearly not a b-class trump card. The shaking suspension on a bad road is compensated by the excellent behavior of the car in corners. The trajectory is written clearly, the rolls are minimal. And this is despite the height of the body of 1,603 mm.

B-Class offers more legs for rear passengers

After updating, B-Class received a modified hood

The muzzle of Ashki has become more expressive
The claims remained only to the steering. At an average speed when turning the steering wheel by 45-90 degrees, the steering wheel is too empty, the feedback seems to disappear by itself. With the speed of speed, the situation changes and the force increases, the steering wheel is difficult to make positive motives to the driver’s relationship and Mercedes B-Class.

As for ergonomics, according to the already prevailing tradition, Mercedes is done at a high level. The finishing materials, of course, are inferior in quality to senior models from Stuttgart, but clearly exceed direct competitors. The front seats have sufficient adjustments in order to find a convenient position at the wheel without any problems. In the basic configuration, the steering column has an adjustment only for the angle of inclination, you will have to pay extra for the adjustment by departure.
The next car was a five -door A200 with a capacity of 136 hp. Subjectively, the spaces for front passengers are actually the same. Sitting on the front chairs, to determine that you are in A-Class, you can only on a 3-spoke steering wheel. Smaller mass and high power allow the 200th to make a rampage on a winding highway, calmly overtaking passport. Switching to the manual transmission control mode helps to better control acceleration, as well as use more efficient braking by the engine in front of a steep turn. Frankly, subjectively A-Class liked more. Possessing a smaller mass, Ashka is better screwed into the turn. The reactive effect on the steering wheel is higher than in B-Class, due to which the void of steering is smaller. In addition, he is more comfortable! Shaking on a bad coating as it never happened. Only on a flat highway A-Class loses in the smoothness of a heavier collection.

The Eco Start/Stop system can save up to 6.5 liters of fuel when moving in a mixed cycle

The active assistant system during parking takes the steering of the car for itself

The variator wins the machine in the passage of the stroke and fuel consumption, but loses in the dynamics of acceleration
The last in line was the three -door Mercedes A170. From this trinity, he seemed to us not only the most honest, but also the most comfortable. The potholes of the 170th passed almost imperceptibly, and the smoothness of the course seemed better than on Mercedes A200. The first thing that came to mind is a different radius of the wheels and, as a result, the profile of rubber. But, having examined both models, we stated that their dimension of the wheels is exactly the same. Subsequently, it turned out that, regardless of the engine volume, there are three suspension options for A- and B-Class models- with increased road clearance, comfortable and sports. The Mercedes A170 was equipped with an enlarged clearance pendant (20/30 mm front/back axis), modified springs and shock absorbers. In turn, on the A200 there was a more rigid sports suspension.

It is impossible not to note some technical innovations that began to be equipped with updated hatchbacks from Stuttgart.
Since October of this year, as an option for models A150, A170, B150, B170 and B170 NGT equipped with mechanical gearbox, the ECO Start/Stop system will be available. The main goal in creating this system was the savings of fuel in idle in urban mode, when it is often necessary to idle on traffic lights and in protracted traffic jams. The Eco Start/Stop function automatically turns off the engine while working at idle. When all the conditions for turning off the engine appeared, the driver needs to transfer the gear lever into the idle mode when moving at low speed and press the brake pedal. After that, the engine will stop and an ECO inscription will appear on the combination of devices. When the driver presses the clutch pedal again or releases the brake, the engine starts again. The speed of starting the engine is due to the use of a new starter-generator, which is integrated into the belt transmission of the motor and thus sets the crankshaft faster and quieter than the traditional starter.

Simple and manual control of the climate of the prerogative of a simple version

The instrument panel has excellent information

Behind the 3-door A-Class is quite close

For an additional payment of 1,000 euros as an additional option, an active assistance system for parallel parking is available. When driving at a speed of not more than 35 km/h, parking sensors will scan the region to the left and to the right of the car, while measuring the length and depth of free parking spaces. When there is a suitable place, the symbol P will light up on the combinations of the devices and the arrow will appear indicating the side where the free space is located. After that, the driver needs to turn on the rear gear, and the car will go on its own to the found place. The driver remains gas and brake control. The car will automatically produce steering.
A and B-Class the first letters of the Mercedes alphabet, it is with them that the modern model range of brand from Stuttgart begins. In favor of A-Class, we can cite more comfortable behavior on a bad road surface, better maneuverability and compactness, which is important in urban conditions. In turn, Mercedes B-Class is an increased space for the legs of the rear passengers, the trunk volume is 544 liters (with folded rear row seats 2,245 liters), as well as the best smoothness on the track.
The premium segment, the player of which is the Mercedes brand, also determines the corresponding price of these cars. The basic cost of the Mercedes-Benz A150 is 673,400 rubles. A five -door in a similar configuration will cost 25,900 rubles. expensive. Top A 200 Turbo costs 962,000 rubles. The cost of Mercedes B-Class varies from 899 100 to 1,128,500 rubles.
Ruslan Galimov