Road TestCar reviews - Mercedes-Benz - A-class - A170 5-dr hatchMercedes-Benz modelsOverviewIs the new A-class more Mercedes-like than the original? We test the A170 Classic29 Jul 2005 A NEW A-class provides Mercedes-Benz with a chance to make a real impact on the light/small car market. It replaces weird looks with trendy style, harsh road manners with a smooth, compliant ride and a surprisingly large cabin with an even larger one. And the quality of the interior, once condemned roundly, is now Benz-compatible. It’s cleanly presented, classy and simple, and is as comfortable to ride in as it is to move around in. And despite its apparently plodding nature, the 1.7-litre eight-valve four-cylinder engine is appropriately lively. Safety levels, of course, are benchmark-setting. Unfortunately the pricing reflects all this. Model release date: 1 May 2005 to 1 September 2008 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelMercedes-Benz entered the small car category with a bang in 1998, when the original W168 A-class created a storm of controversy after failing a European magazine's "elk test", in which it displayed a very un-Mercedes-like level of stability. Fitted as standard with stability control, Australia's first A-class range consisted of only the A160 five-door with a 75kW/150Nm 1.6-litre SOHC four-cylinder. The 92kW/180Nm A190 and 60kW/130Nm A140 joined the local range in September 1999 and February 2000 respectively, while July 2001's facelifted range comprised the A160 and A190 in both short and long-wheelbase guise. |
Road TestClick to share
|
Facebook Twitter Instagram