Road Test: 2019 Mercedes-Benz A220 4MATIC

Interior

Story by David Symons, photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Specifications:

Price: $36,990 (MSRP)

Price as tested: $46,455

Engine: 2.0- liter in-line four-cylinder turbocharged

Trans: 7G-DCT 7-speed dual-clutch automatic

Power: 188 hp @ 5,800 rpm

Torque: 221 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,389 lbs./ 1,537 kg

Fuel Consumption: (L/100km – City/Hwy) 8.7 – 8.9 Combined

New for 2019: The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is all-new to North America for 2019 and slots under the B-Class to become the new entry level model lineup for Mercedes. After being available only outside of North America for three full generations, beginning in 1997, the A-Class finally makes its way to our side of the pond just in time to debut its fourth generation.

Segment Competitors:  Audi A3, Acura ILX, BMW 2-Series, Cadillac ATS, Jaguar XE, Volvo S60

While A Class represents their entry point into the Luxury vehicle market, this A220 came equipped with every upgrade package Mercedes could throw at it. And that’s just fine by me. A very well appointed cockpit comes complete with a wide array of features, enough to please the driver with discerning tastes, with the panoramic sunroof further creating a feeling of increased cabin space. The Premium Package delivers much… from very chic retro-looking circular air vents that illuminate as part of an array of 64 colour LED ambient lighting options. The amazing Infotainment Centre is equipped with what has been dubbed MBUX which stands for Mercedes-Benz User Experience technology. Natural Voice-recognition with Artificial Intelligence are standard and allows for the driver to verbally request a variety of commands that are similar to Alexa and Siri. Very cool. All of this is driven through a very generously configured 10.25-inch touchscreen media display boasts a Burmeister premium sound system. The sound quality is good enough to keep any audiophile in their happy place… even when comfortably seated in the reasonably spacious rear.

The A220’s very sleek exterior design is both luxurious and aggressive in the same breath. Under its long and low curved hood is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which handles the gear shifts admirably well, while seventeen inch wheels keep the rubber equally well planted to the pavement as does the 4MATIC AWD system. Steering is excellent and the throttle response shows no sign of the dreaded turbo lag as it launches ahead when provoked. Steering and overall handling is great, which induced drives that ended up being longer in duration that necessary… on purpose.

If there is any kind of knock on this A Class offering, it would have to be the relative shortage of cargo space in the ‘boot’ relative to some of its competitors in the segment. That said, our overall impression of this entry level offering from Mercedes is that it represents the moniker very well indeed, and that it definitely warrants a look and testing before making any purchasing decision in the sub-compact sedan segment.