Mercedes scores an A for ride comfort

Top-seller made longer and more refined

HERE’S the all-new A-Class, a hugely important car for Mercedes-Benz because it’s the German firm’s top-selling model in the UK.

Visually there’s nothing radically different, although the new car is a substantial 120mm longer thanks to a brand new bodyshell.

It’s slippery shape will be fuel efficient thanks to an extreme attention to detail, which included stipulating tyre suppliers mustn’t allow the lettering on their sidewalls protrude more than 0.2mm!

Merc had three different engines for us to try at the car’s launch. There was a revised version of the current A-Class A180 diesel, a completely new 1.4-litre petrol (actually 1,330cc) developed with Renault and which features cylinder de-activation and turbocharging for an output of 163bhp, and another new 2.0-litre, the 224bhp petrol engine.

All UK A-Classes get Merc’s seven-speed dual clutch transmission as standard. A good thing as it’s slicker than the old car’s transmission, and manual Mercs have never been brilliant or very much in demand.

All of our test cars were fitted with multi-link rear suspension and only the lowest spec cars have the simpler, lighter and cheaper torsion beam axle. So why bother making the latter version if few cars use it? Because later there’ll be a hybrid version of the car and

The dash looks as if it’s taken from an Airbus A380

that will need space for its batteries that a multi-link system won’t allow.

But it’s inside where this car really excels. There are no conventional dials on the dashboard and the whole thing looks as though it’s been lifted from the cockpit of an Airbus A380 airliner.

You can change virtually everything via a couple of controllers on the steering wheel or via a touch pad on the centre console.

It’s very impressive and smacks of quality. Pity then that the indicator and wiper stalks, which you spend a lot of time touching, feel spindly and cheap.

The whole infotainment and technology pack is so complicated that Mercedes has developed an app that will help you learn your way around it. Still, you can have fun with the voice command. Simply say “Hello Mercedes” and it will respond to your request.

We tried all three engines. The diesel felt underpowered but is refined and quiet. If you’re leasing the car and therefore not too seriously exposed to continuing anti-diesel moves by government and councils, it’s a good option.

The bigger of the two petrol engines turns the 1,455kg A-Class into a impressively brisk crosscountry car. Finally, the smaller petrol has a few flat spots and feels like it’s working rather hard.

The previous A-Class didn’t ride well enough for a family car but this latest generation is much improved. Apart from the stunning dashboard and its technology, comfort is the area in which the smallest Merc has moved forward the most. A lot of extra noise deadening material has been fitted and the car feels extremely refined.

Although it’s longer than before and has more headroom in the back, legroom still isn’t generous. There are other cars that offer the same space and even technology as the Mercedes – the upcoming new Ford Focus, for example.

What the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class gives you is a solid, wellbuilt car that puts comfort above sportiness. If you like your current version you will love the new one.