Test drive Mercedes Benz A-class W176 since 2012 Hatchback
Stuttgart baby
The smallest Mercedes, a-class, this year is, by the way, ten years. Whatever skeptics say that Mercedes must be large, a compact little car liked many, primarily ladies. In 2004, the second generation of the model appeared a little grown, became more elegant, and at the same time lost all the previous shortcomings. The audience was still in taste, purchasing babies from Stuttgart, and the company was already working on the next alphabet with a larger B-class. At the same time, Mercedes did not think at all about the accepted classification, making a car of class C, but having appropriated Liter V. to him, all this class teaching has long and hopelessly outdated, which has been said more than once. Nobody except historians of the automotive industry pays attention to it. For the consumer, another product properties and its price are important. This was the snag with this: even for a very good, but not every potential owner agrees to pay that kind of money. Nevertheless, the B-class remains on the conveyor, and now, three years after the start of production, it went through restyling.
In general, these babies A170 and B200 by one visited the test in the editorial office of AI.
He grew up and buried
Despite the modest dimensions, a-class, in my opinion this is a real, so to speak, the authentic representative of the Stuttgart brand. Now he looks, perhaps, younger and more impressive. By the way, its length increased by 45 mm, the width and height remained almost the same. In a new way, the decorated headlights of the head light with their spectacular curved lines, as it were, combine the front and side parts of the body, as a result of which the car seems cast from a whole piece of metal. The new bumper enhances this impression, its lower air intake has increased markedly and now visually emphasizes the width of the body. The radiator grille has also changed in accordance with the new proprietary style. In general, the car looks modern, perhaps even with a margin of several years in advance.
This progressiveness of the appearance is emphasized by various lines of performance, as is customary in Mercedes. For example, Avantgarde has a special bumper that enhances the arrow of the front of the body, which, in turn, indicates the maneuverability and dynamism of the model. While the basic version is serially equipped with 15-inch discs and decorative caps with a design called 7 knitting needles, Elegance and Avantgarde execution lines mean the original 16-inch alloy wheels in diameter. New enlarged side mirrors and door handles in all model versions are now painted in the color of the body. In the rear, you pay attention to the modified bumper and a newly designed rear lights, entering the sidewalls of the body. These elements also make the car wider, more powerful. But the main thing, you must admit, is that the car is elegant, it has it, it seems to be the smell of expensive spirits from it. In the cabin, this sensation only intensifies.
More luxury
By modernizing the interior, the designers clearly decided to make it more luxurious. And, we can say, they began with the selection of materials of the decoration of impeccable quality. Yes, on the front panel and sidewalls of the doors are plastic, but it is clearly not cheap. The salon also looks noble thanks to decorative details of smoky aluminum with a texture in the form of transverse-directional grinding is in Avantgarde. The aristocratic atmosphere of the salon in Elegance is provided by a wooden decor. The two -tone interior looks especially pleasant: the front panel is black, its lower part is beige.
In addition, there were new compartments for small luggage, a cooled glove compartment, a spacious duffel box in the central console and a new decorated glass holders between the front seats. Well, 435 liters in the luggage compartment are designed for serious luggles. Few? Then fold the backs of the rear seats, entirely or in parts, and get 1485 liters in the 3-door version, and until 1995 liters in the 5-door modification of the car. In the back seat, two people can work comfortably. Even if we are talking about a 3-door modification, which visited our test, passengers will be convenient.
As for the convenience of the driver, then everything is in order. The seat profile is successful, there is lateral support, and there are all the necessary adjustments. The steering column moves only along the slope, but in A-class this is enough to sit as expected. I will say more: despite the compact dimensions of the car, the place above the head is also quite enough that the ladies accustomed to hats will surely like. They should like another system, which, however, is offered the truth for an additional fee.
I mean a system for facilitating parking with ten ultrasound sensors. When driving at a speed of not higher than 35 km/h, they constantly probe areas on the left and to the right of the car, while measuring the length and depth of free places for parking. The driver learns the fact that the electronic scanning process is launched by the appearance of symbol P on a combination of devices. When a suitable place is found, an arrow will appear on the display, which will indicate which side of the road it is located. Now it is required, holding the steering wheel, switch to reverse and press a special key on a multifunctional steering wheel, confirming, so that the system is accepted. Then the active parking system will take control and parks the car. The driver needs to only press the gas and brake pedal. Parktronic ultrasonic sensors will monitor the process and inform the driver about approaching the obstacle. At the same time, the smart A-class itself will determine the optimal trajectory of the race, and hardly be mistaken. As a result, without any effort, even an inexperienced person at the wheel will be able to use such a parking place that an experienced driver can ignore. The system works so accurately that for automatic parking is enough for the site to be only 1.3 m longer than the car.
Good behavior So, A170 with a 1.7-liter gasoline engine operating with an automatic 7-speed gearbox. Of course, the spirit, of course, does not capture from accelerated dynamics, but acceleration is confident. And the automatic transmission does not suffer from excessive thoughtfulness, although it is better to immediately transfer it to a sports mode for this you need to click on the button near the handle of the gearbox selector. But, in any case, a car is a car on which they do not drive, but calmly, in a cozy environment, get to the right place.
Suspensions are not only quite energy intensive, but also provide comfort. Therefore, pits, joints and other minor troubles do not annoy the sidelines. And the most pleasant thing is that the rolls of the body on the bends are not too large. In addition, on guard of stability, the ESP electronic stabilization system, which is installed on all versions of the A-class, and it cannot be turned off. It works quite early, you just have to outline demolition. But it also works clearly, selectively branding the wheels and reducing fuel supply. And in itself, the front -wheel drive machine does not show excessive tendency to drifts, with a rapid assault on the bends, it demonstrates insufficient rotation. And when driving in a straight line, A170 pleases with smoothness and stability. Despite the decent overall height and compact wheelbase, even sharp impulses of the lateral wind do not have a special influence on the straightforward movement. Yes, and quite transparent, although, for my taste, too light steering allows you to clearly monitor what is happening under the wheels.
Summing up, I will say that the A170 car is pleasant and convenient in all respects, with good and verified running qualities.
Senior brother Having received the keys to the updated B-class, I was in no hurry to the wheel, I wanted to better consider it. If you carry out parallels with other models by companies, then a comparison with Vaneo, Vito and Viano Vano comes to mind. After restyling, the model began to look, perhaps, even more solid. A significant role in this was played by a radiator grille with three transverse lamels painted in the color of gray metallic and chromium decorated on top, as well as the Mercedes-Benz star integrated into the center between them. The front end changed in general for the better: it became more expressive due to a change in the shape of the hood, the new bumper design and a large air intake.
When viewed from the side, you notice characteristic style elements: a series of strict shapes with an expressive side line. It demonstrates a gradual rise from the front wing to the rear light, as a result of which the boundary between the convex and concave surfaces on the sidewalls is formed. In addition, this line enhances the cleaning of the body, thereby emphasizing the athletic nature of this compact sports and tourist car, as the company itself characterizes it. The body of external lateral mirrors, door handles and cladding now will have all modifications in the color of the body.
The dynamic lines of the front and the profile of the car find their continuation in the design of the stern. A direct visual connection between them is created by the rear lights that enter the sidewalls. In addition, lighting technology in a new transparent optics is in perfect harmony with a large trunk door equipped with a chrome lining, with which it is now more convenient to open and close it. The rear bumper also looks like a new side of its upper side is seriously equipped with an insert of black rough plastic, which is designed to protect the lower edge of the compartment during baggage loading. This insert can be made in the so -called sporting packet made of polished stainless steel.
In general, all these external elements are designed to emphasize the image of the model and, accordingly, the status of the owner. Cosiness and space
Perhaps with these two words you can determine the main thing that characterizes the interior of the updated B-class. Inside, you pay attention to a successful combination of shapes, tones and pleasant to the touch of materials. Here, at the same time, it is light thanks to large glasses, and freely, and a feeling of security arises, since the side line passes quite high. This atmosphere is also facilitated by the soft upholstery of the seats. If the installation of a sport package is ordered, then the side elements of the seats’s back will be covered with artificial skin Artica, while their central areas will receive upholstery from matter. The internal door cladding is also made of new tissue material.
It’s easy to climb inside: opening the door, you find yourself at the same height with a seat in order to sit down, do not squat or jump into the seat. By the way, it is also very convenient and, of course, is also equipped with all the necessary adjustments. The steering wheel is placed strictly perpendicular to the floor (another proprietary feature of Mercedes) and lined with skin. It is regulated mechanically both in height and by departure. On the steering wheel of the control buttons of the audio system and the on -board computer. The instrument shield itself is pleasant to the gaze of the round windows of the indicators framed by chrome rims. The central console, as before, is emphasized on both sides by decorative stripes-layers, for which matte smoky gray aluminum is now used. It is an laconic audio system, the buttons of heating the front seats and the funny climate control unit. The left switch allows you to select the temperature of the supplied air. The air conditioner turns on automatically, and to deactivate it, there is a special button. However, the speed of blowing and its direction has to be installed by hand, I did not find any Auto buttons. As, however, I did not find either an ashtray or a cigarette lighter.
I wonder how much this harmful accessory from Mercedes-Benz costs? The central armrest is no less notable. He can move back and forth, but you can’t open it under it nothing! And only by moving it forward, you find a small compartment from behind, in which you can only put a disposable lighter. In general, the B-class has a lot of funny things. For example, front electric windows. The glass can sink down on your own, you just need to squeeze the key to the end, but it is not possible to automatically close the window to close the window.
It should also be noted in the rear seats, a high landing at the wheel, which is useful in dense city traffic, and a roomy luggage compartment, the volume of which, thanks to the rear seats folded in parts and the ability to remove the front, varies from 544 to 2245 liters. By the way, under the trunk floor, a full-size reserve on a cast disk was discovered, but there was no place for 12-volt outlets.
On the run
A gasoline version of B200 with a 2.0-liter power unit, which is aggregated with a 7-speed Autotronic variator, got to the test. This combination, it is worth noting, is very pleasant. B200 accelerates well. In addition, next to the automatic transmission lever is a button
selection of the regime of his work. C Comfort is suitable for the drivers measured. Electronics tries to maintain low motor speeds, striving for maximum fuel savings. S Sport is strikingly changing the principle of the variator. The engine is honestly twisted almost to the limiting revolutions, endowing the car with a very good dynamics. Personally, I, by a rampage of character, approached, of course, the second algorithm. And by the way, he is well consistent with other V-class settings. I will explain with an example. I enter the turn at a pretty decent speed. Somewhere in the middle of the turn, insufficient rotation begins to be traced, that is, the demolition of the front axle is about to begin. But at this very moment, the adjustment of the rear axle is changing, and you clearly feel the fifth point that the rear wheels have slightly changed the geometry and help to fill the body into the turn, changing insufficient rotation to neutral. In other words, it seems that the V-class has a system of passive steering in the back of the Ford Focus or Saab 9-5.
It turned out that this is not too far from the truth. I will not go into technical details, but simply say that the back suspension is a unique scheme for attaching levers to a semi -dependent beam, which, in turn, is connected to the body in the center using a special articulated support. The work of all these cunning elements endows the B-class with pleasant handling. Indeed, in turns, the car demonstrates amazing stability with a relatively high center of gravity. I will say more: B-class shock absorbers themselves adapt to driving style and the quality of the roadway, changing the characteristics of the end of the end and compression directly during the trip, and without the participation of the driver. Therefore, the pendants do not seem unnecessarily tough on our uneven asphalt, but they do not roll overly the body in vihi. In addition, the standard package includes a non -disconnected ESP stabilization system, which is paired with an electric steering electrical amplifier equipped with Steer Control. In fact, this is an analogue of Active Steering from BMW, however, in the case of Mercedes-Benz, the participation of electronics in the steering begins only in the case of the stabilization system. Of course, the electronics will not argue or straighten the steering wheel, but it can adjust the angle of rotation of the wheels within a small limits. Fortunately, even with dynamic driving, its participation does not feel the number of turns of the steering wheel from edge to edge remains unchanged.
Actually, the steering is funny. In the parking lot or low speeds, it seems that in front of you is the product of the American auto industry is so easy for the steering wheel. However, it is worth going a little faster, as the steering wheel will become difficult, and a kind of feedback will begin to be felt. In fairness, I note that the ideal settings are still far away, but the rational balance between comfort and sports engineers Mercedes-Benz managed to find. But the brakes are on top. Slowing is worthy, dose the effort on the pedals is easy and simple. By the way, when braking at the so -called mixture (when the left side of the car has the best clutch with the road than the right), Steer Control is again included in the case, which helps the driver cope with the situation.
Summing up the 4-day operation of the Mercedes-Benz B200, I note that the car was pleased with smoothness, stability and predictability. It is comfortable and convenient, although some things in it still surprise first of all, the price.
For fans of the brand
Perhaps only a devoted fan of the brand can allow yourself to buy compact Mercedes-Benz, of course a person is not poor. Prices for a new A-class begin with a mark of 673,700 rubles for a 3-door modification A150, and from 699 300 for a 5-door version with the same engine.
B-class is even more expensive from 899 100 rubles. For this amount, you can purchase many cars in a class, or even two, higher. However, I personally have no doubt that these cars, and especially A-class, will be in demand by Russian customers. The love of Mercedes-Benz in our country is very strong, for which, in truth, there are grounds.
Andrey Osipov
Photo Mercedes-Benz
