Road Test: 2019 Mercedes-Benz A250 Hatchback
Story by Jordan Allan, photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
Specifications:
Price(MSRP): $38,300
Engine: 2.0L 16V turbocharged I4
Trans: 7G-DCT Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission
Power: 221 hp@ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 258 lb-ft @ 1,800-4,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,208 lbs./ 1,455 kg
Fuel Consumption (L/100km – City/Hwy): 9.4/6.8
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, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Mini Cooper S, BMW 2-Series,
The Skinny: The Mercedes-Benz A250 hatchback is seemingly the companies attempt at get younger buyers into its showrooms. The A250 truly looks and feels like a Mercedes, enjoying all of the quality and technology normally associated with the brand, but is competitively priced at an MSRP of just around $38,000 which puts it right in line with some of the available hot-hatches it will go up against.
The interior feels quite roomy for a car that isn’t all the large and has a truly luxurious feel that will be hard for its main competitors to match. It borrows many of its materials and designs from more expensive models in the Mercedes portfolio, such as the dual instrument cluster/infotainment screen setup and ambient lighting. The back cargo area has plenty of room, as does the rear seat and the seating position for the driver is great with good sight lines and easy-to-access controls.
The A250 impressed me with a very refined and smooth ride that has definitely benefited from some technology again borrowed from some other Mercedes vehicles. The steering is very responsive, in performance or normal driving situations, while the suspension also excels in both. The torquey inline-4-cylinder engine and smooth shifting 7-speed dual-clutch transmission make the car very fun to drive and helps provide the same sort of feelings as a Volkswagen Golf GTI ,and I could not mean that as more of a complement. This peppiness however does not decrease its efficiency as we hovered fairly close to the reported numbers.
Pros: Although driving the A250 was a very good experience, the true highlight for me was the exterior look. It’s aggressive, sharp and bold while still maintaining a sense of class and refinement that Mercedes is known for.
Cons: Although the MSRP does represent true value for a vehicle like this, the price can skyrocket very quickly when you start selecting options and can land you north of $50,000.
The Verdict: The Mercedes-Benz A250 comes across the pond at a time when trucks, SUVs and CUVs are dominating the market however, there is still clearly room for cars of this ilk when you look at the number of VW GTI and Mini Coopers on the road today. This is Mercedes first foray into this market in North America and it will be interesting to see how much influence the brand’s reputation and quality will have as they hope to bring buyers their direction and away from some of their very established competition.
