Review: Mercedes-Benz A-class Limousine review, road test

With the launch of the all-new A-Class Limousine, Mercedes-Benz has opened up a new entry point into the brand in India. Not only does this car replace the CLA sedan in India, but with the new-gen CLA, and A- and B-Class hatchbacks ruled out for our market, the A-Class Limousine will be the most affordable offering wearing the three-pointed star.

Mercedes has introduced the A-Class Limousine in A 200 guise with a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine, an A 200d guise with a 2.0-litre diesel engine, and what makes matters more interesting is a third performance-oriented A 35 AMG version that’s powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. The entire range will be available in a single variant, packing in all the bells and whistles. It comes in as a completely knocked down (CKD) unit and is assembled in India to keep a check on costs. Prices for this baby Mercedes start at Rs 39.90 lakh for the petrol, Rs 40.90 lakh for the diesel and Rs 56.24 lakh for the A 35 AMG, but does it deliver your money’s worth? We find out.

Offered in just one fully-loaded variant for the petrol and diesel, the A-Class Limousine features auto-LED headlamps, 17-inch alloys, sunroof, cruise control, rear-view camera, dual-zone climate control, wireless charging, rear AC vents and more. It gets a crisp and clear 10.25-inch full-digital instrument cluster with multiple display options, a 10.25-inch screen for the infotainment, which is very easy to use and is touch operable, has dedicated shortcut controls on the centre console, and many functions can be operated via advanced voice commands. It includes wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus Mercedes’ e-SIM-based connectivity features via the ME connect app.

Twin 10.25-inch screens seamlessly integrated into a single binnacle look great.

There’s ambient lighting on offer, too, but what’s really nice is that these can be configured to suit the preference of the users. A small but significant feature is the seat kinetics function for the front seats, which makes minor adjustments to the seats at regular intervals, to prevent fatigue during long drives. Uniquely, both front seats are not only electrically adjustable, but also get a memory function. Amongst the safety features is the active brake assist, which first emits a warning, then applies the brakes automatically in case it detects an impending collision, at speeds of up to 55kph. At speeds beyond that, the system only warns the driver, but doesn’t apply the brakes automatically.

Alters seat position periodically to reduce fatigue over long drives.

In addition to the above, the AMG version features 18-inch alloys, launch control, a 590W Burmester sound system, sporty screen options for the instrument cluster, and adaptive dampers as the key additions.

Crisp, highly customisable cluster; AMG’s has even more display options.

 

10.25-inch infotainment is very easy to use; it is touch-operable, has a controller pad, and also supports advanced voice commands for certain functions. Taking connectivity a step further is the Mercedes ME Connect application, which allows users to check the vehicle status, lock-unlock the car remotely, locate the car, among several other features. Sound quality is rather good, but the A 35 takes things to a different level with its 590W Burmester sound system.

Thanks to the new, lighter and tauter MFA2 architecture, the A-Class Limousine feels agile and body control is impressive. It turns into corners nicely and feels predictable at all times. The suspension is on the stiffer side, but the diesel drives with a sense of maturity and poise over less than perfect roads. There is no unnecessary rocking or bobbing movement, even at higher speeds. The petrol’s ride on the other hand feels a bit brittle, and you are aware of the uneven road surface a lot more than in the diesel. Even tyre noise in the petrol, which came with Pirelli rubber, is a bit excessive, compared to the Michelin-equipped diesel. The steering on both versions is light but feels inert.

Although the steering is inert, handling is predictable and confidence-inspiring.

The India-spec A-Class gets a higher ground clearance than most markets, however, with more than two passengers onboard you will still need to crawl over speed-breakers carefully, to prevent its underbelly from scraping. An even lower clearance in the A 35 will encourage you to master the art of crab-walking over medium and larger speed breakers.

Low ride height makes the AMG prone to scraping its underbelly.

Speaking of which, the AMG feels a lot sharper, more direct and much more involving. The variable ratio steering offers plenty of feel, the body control is tighter and roll is virtually inexistent. Credit goes not only to the AMG suspension, its lowered ride height and adaptive dampers, but also to the clever 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, which can transfer up to 50 percent of power to the rear wheels. As a result, you can chuck this car into corners at silly speeds, and the handling is so good and it grips so well, it feels almost go-kart-like in character. A downside to its sporty handling is its ride quality, which is very stiff, and you’ll hear the suspension a lot more often while dealing with potholes. The ride improves in its Comfort setting (compared to Sport and Sport+), so you will be happy to leave the dampers in this setting for the most part. And with large 350mm discs in the front and rear, the A 35 sheds speeds just as impressively as it accelerates.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class Limousine is a big leap ahead of the retired CLA sedan. Though it’s still very much a compact sedan, it looks and feels like a bigger car and drives like one too. The interiors are superbly built and richly appointed. The top-notch quality and level of luxury is what you would expect from a modern Merc. However, the rear seat experience, due to the low-seating, could have been better. Even though the A 200 petrol is smooth, it isn’t very efficient, and tends to feel strained when pushed. For those who enjoy driving, the diesel makes a more compelling case, with its well-rounded character, strong performance and impressive fuel efficiency. The heavier diesel also has the better ride. Handling, too, is rather predictable and inspires confidence while driving fast. Yes, the A-Class’ pricing seems out of sync for a car of this size, but factor in the technology, performance features and the allure of the three-pointed car and it makes a more convincing case for itself.

For someone looking to get a taste of what AMGs are all about, the A 35 AMG strikes a good balance between sportscar levels of performance and everyday usability, without breaking the bank.