Test Drive Mercedes Benz A-Class W176 since 2012 Hatchback
Challenger
Mercedes-Benz A-Class Doros to the European segment C, turning into a greater problem for its prestigious representatives, at least in the Russian market.The first Mercedes-Benz A-Class was a truly revolutionary car. It is difficult to bring another serial example of such rational use of the body in length: even the power unit designers departed under the feet of the driver and the front passenger. But on the market, the smallest Mercedes did not even become a serious player in Europe. In a small class, the demand for prestigious brands is small, and for the first average with the salon is still a little. It did not strongly change the situation and the long-base version: the foot space was pretty was pretty, but the width did not become more spacious. And the interior design is original, stylish, toy-cheerful, but hard-plastic as a prestigious was not perceived.
The new A-Class has retained all the advantages of the predecessor layout, but has become noticeably larger and wide, and in length. And the increase falls on the salon and trunk. Now no one may doubt that Baby Benz finally moved to the golf class, naturally, in the most prestigious part of it. We are talking about the segment where the Audi A3 was recently carried out, to which Golf V and BMW 1-Series have recently added.
It can be assumed that BMW in this company will stand a bit aside thanks to a special driver imagine. The rest will have to think over the prices that the Russian importer installed for A-Class: they are practically the same as in the car's homeland. The cheapest three-door A 150 Classic costs 17,800 euros, five-door 18,600. At the same time, the stabilization system includes a stabilization system, as well as front and side airbags. It is clear that the price ceiling is determined by the price list, the buyer's fantasy and the size of the wallet. However, it is more profitable to acquire cars of a special series in a fixed, but very decent configuration. This option is noticeably cheaper than with a separate order of additional equipment. Judge for yourself. There is already air conditioning, and heated the front seats, and a decent audio system, and the protection of the crankcase, and the enlarged ground clearance.
It is such a five-door Mercedes-Benz a 150 we took for a dating. It would cost 20,400 euros to the buyer, and taking into account metallic painting at 20,900.
Baby Razroslel
The meaning of words is a recognition, a characteristic appearance and continuity in the style of the designs of Mercedes-Benz, can be understood on a simple example. Imagine, on the street, some person sees a new A-class and immediately understands what a car in front of him is, without giving himself a report that he met a car for the first time. But it is worth putting it next to the same ... we did not make difficulty finding an old version on the streets of Moscow and parked next door. Differences are obvious: a-class has become more and significantly changed the design.
Inside the changes even more. There is no continuity in the interior and speech. No frivolity. From now on, the salon gained strict features and solidity in the decoration. Not only panel, but even the cover of the glove box and armrests of the front doors are covered with soft plastic supplied under the fingers. Door panels are covered with a fabric with noble texture. Slightly rough buttons and keys from a pleasant to the touch of warm material are pressed with anterorated force and barely underwriting, and the regulators gently resist turn. The sound of opening and closing doors is muted and solid. In general, everything is expensive and prestigious so much that the buyer immediately understands that he paid blood euros.
New dimensions from the inside are felt immediately. This is especially true of those who sit behind: and in the width of three not closely, and there is enough space for the legs even when the two-meter basketball player is located in front. Yes, the range of longitudinal adjustment of the seat is enough for him, and maybe remains. The seats in the new car were quite comfortable with the decent for the Mercedes-Benz brand side support. And yet two adjustments are clearly not enough: departure of the steering wheel and the lumbar back.
Another advantage of new items is the convenience for long-legged people who will especially thank the creators of A-Class during landing and disembarkation. The tall driver and passengers have a seat always move back far. Sitting into the car, they pour their head closer to the middle rack in the highest location of the doorway. Those who move the seat closer to the steering wheel, first touched the head for a holing arc at the windshield.
A-Class can be considered compact mini-ven. However, you can sit behind the wheel here, as in Porsche or Ferrari, that is, lowering the seat until it stops down and putting the steering wheel vertically in front of you. Of course, there will be no hood at the same time, but it is not visible and when raised the seat is too short. Not confident in his eyereer is worth ordering Parktronic, and the rest we advise not too much to hope that there are almost no sinks at A-Class.
Review We are on the contrary praise for a successful solution to the problem of the front racks, so familiar to modern machines. However, the reason for the comments will be found here: the wipers do not reach the racks of the centimeter four, so in the dirty weather at the crossroads of the head they will have to twist. And a little lack of fields of exterior mirrors. This happens not so much because of their size, how much due to the spectacular slope of the lower boundary. By the way, pay attention: the traditional mini-shops are small lateral windows ahead did not do here, and the review from this only improved.
One and a half liters and a half meters
Once in the class with a normal one was considered a 1.3-liter engine, now we and 1,6-liter sometimes lacks. Alas, a modern car, even small, it is impossible. There are a lot of all kinds of equipment in it, and the passive safety of the mass adds. The baby A-Class weighs more than 1,100 kilograms even without passengers and baggage, and the 1.5-liter engine has to work out to ensure a decent dynamics.
We must admit it it turns out. Not to say the Spirit to capture, but the necessary minimum for the city is provided. The engine confidently pulls on small revolutions, and in urban areas, it is often possible to crawl on the first gear, without resorting to the clutch pedal. And we press the accelerator, and a-class, slowly, but confidently and smoothly, starts with the same small acceleration. And if you want to cut down, then a number of gear ratios are suitable successfully. Boldly unscrew for five thousand revolutions and switch to the fast pace. A fairly accurate and clear mechanism for choosing the gearbox to you in that helper, and the emptiness of the clutch pedal will not be: the move is small, and there is practically no mistakes, except for you to push the motor a couple of times when moving.
With brakes, it is worth practicing in advance because they are a-class to stay in a different sports car. The slowdown is very powerful, and at low speed the car can stop both inserted. At the same time, the effort on the pedals is quite small. It is impossible to say that the drive is non-informative. You feel it, but only it is better to wear shoes on a thin sole. Yes, and get used to sensations does not hurt. And then, not exactly an hour, in the urban thread of the backstage of your A-Class in generally eliminate.
Junior Mercedes-Benz is high more than one and a half meters. Seeing how he confidently, with small rolls, hesitates in turns, you realize that it was a lot of working with his suspension engineers. This time they did not become frivolously relying on primitive solutions, and the result is evident. Little Mercedes became a gambling car. Small dimensions for its class and small sows simplify maneuvering in urban tightness, and the steering and suspension allow you to go actively, with pleasure.
A-Class turn turns quickly, accurately and without nerves, responding to sound growth of effort. The arc of the turn prescribes without errors, only on uneven steep turn can slightly move from the course. True, sometimes there is not enough feedback, and in long turns, it happens, there is a slightly adjusting the trajectory. But it is rather quirks than complaints. And on straight lines and in gentle arcs, A-Class demonstrates excellent stability, practically without reacting to possible perturbations. A crue from it will also get good.
Recall, since the time of the former A-Class, the stabilization system is included in standard equipment. She leads itself quite correctly, sometimes allowing the gas to be frightened to the rear wheels in turn. But attempts to destabilize the car with jerks to the right and left emanate immediately and very rigidly.
True mercedes.
The most pleasant thing is that when successful in handling A-Class has achieved no smaller success in smoothness. From the stiffness of the ancestor upgraded after known events, there is no trace. Today it is assembled, but a comfortable car, for which a particular thanks to the suspension and shock absorbers of a special design. And, of course, at the corporate height of sound insulation. Motor is barely heard in the cabin. The main sound background on the road will be the rustle of air flow or tire noise. This is how lucky with the road surface.
In our country, the Mercedes-Benz brand enjoys a special authority, and some of the buyers will choose a-class, focusing exclusively on a guiding three-bearing star. I think he will not disappoint them. But there are those who will cost the dealerships of competitors and will make a decision by posting the prospectuses and price listings. Here the A-Class has its trumps. Special series of 1.5-liter A 150 in the presence of air conditioning, airbags and stabilization system stands in a 3-door version of 19,700 euros, in a 5-door 20,400. 1.7-liter A 170 will cost 20 900 and 22 900, respectively Euro, and the 5-door car will be equipped with alloy wheels. Automatic transmission adds to the price of 2000, and the painting of metallic 500 euros. Competitors definitely have something to think about!
Curb weight, kg 1150
Full weight, kg 1690
Dimensions (length / width / height), mm 3838/1764/1593
Base, mm 2568
Maximum speed, km / h 175
Overclocking time up to 100 km / h, from 12.6
Middle fuel consumption (NEDC), l / 100 km 6.2
Engine:
- Type of benz., rin., 4-cylinder.
- Working volume, cm3 1498
- Power, hp at min-1 95/5200
- torque, nm at min-1 140 / 3500-4000
- Power system distributed injection
Transmission fur., 5-stupas.
Tire size 185/65R15
Suspension wheels: from Stub. across. mouth.
- Front unquisition, springs, McPherson
- Back hung, springs, with breath, fur. Watt
Brakes:
- Front disc, ventilated
- Rear disk
Price, Euro 20 900
Text: Sergey Kosenchuk
A source: Journal 5 Wheel [12/2004]
