Mercedes-Benz took the covers off the fourth generation of its A-Class in Amsterdam today. While the smallest vehicle in the luxury manufacturer’s lineup isn’t subject to the same kind of fanfare as a new S-Class, it’s a big deal to us, as it will be the first one sold in North America.
Unfortunately, the unveiling was more of an extended teaser. While MB was happy to provide the press with a laundry list of features and options, technical specifications won’t be announced until March. We also won’t be getting the hatchback; that’s relegated for European duty. Instead, American customers will enjoy the sedan variant — which is in the final stages of development.
Thankfully, we do know what kind of hardware it will be working with, and can see from the five-door that it should closely resemble the Concept A Sedan everyone was buzzing about last year.
The overall shape is close to the prototype and holds onto a number of elements from the outgoing A-Class. The end result, at least for the hatchback, is a vehicle that looks to be the runty offspring of a Volkswagen Golf and Buick Enclave. As it turns out, that’s not a bad thing. The A-Class isn’t a bad looking car, but we’re expecting the sedan variant to adhere even more closely to the concept vehicle.
Engine offerings include a 1.4 or 2.0-liter gas-burning inline-four or a 1.5-liter diesel (which likely won’t hit American shores). The 1.4-liter should be good for at least 160 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque while the 2.0-liter should be in the neighborhood of 220 hp and 255 lb-ft. That should place the motors on par with the outgoing model’s specs once auxiliary parts knock off a few ponies.
Higher-trim and 4Matic models will use a multi-link rear suspension, while the base A-Class has a torsion beam setup. The standard tranny is a seven-speed dual clutch automatic. While the 2.0-liter is said to be available with a manual gearbox, there is no promise of that making its way westward.
What should stick around for when the car eventually comes to America, is the interior. Mercedes claims to have taken great care in terms of updating the cabin, and it does appears lavish for an entry-level premium model. Traditional instrumentation has been replaced by a pair of digital panels — 7 inches for the base trim and 10.25 inches for the more expensive models.
Options include an “augmented reality” navigational system that coincides with the front parking camera, intelligent voice control that lets you talk to you Benz like a smartphone, and a 64-color ambient lighting setup that extends all the way to the air vents. Active Lane Assist and Brake Assist are both fitted as standard on the A-Class. Mercedes also saw fit to add Pre-Safe Plus, which preps the car in the event of being rear-ended, and Active Emergency Stop Assist, which gradually slows the car in the event that a driver dozes off while using the vehicle’s other driving aids.
Riding on Mercedes-Benz’s new MFA2 front-wheel drive architecture, which will also underpin new editions of the GLA and CLA, the officially official debut of the A-Class will happen in Geneva on March 5th. By then, we should have some details on the sedan, its pricing, and some concrete specs.
[Images: Mercedes-Benz]
Wrong wheel drive.
A-class amg
i think that the only model people will care about
$199/month, $2599 Due at lease signing, 5,000 miles per year.
Yup- that’s what I’m seeing here.
5,000 miles per year? I guess i’ll have to lease 4 of em.
It seems to be suffering from the same melting face affliction of the current gen Malibu.
Shame we won’t be getting the 5 door, it’s otherwise proportioned nicely.
While I don’t mind the Malibu. The new Mercs front end just looks droopy to me.
This works better in Europe were Mercedes are not so premium in the sense that there are strippo E Classes that serve as taxis.
In the US Mercedes, like Audi, always shipped top of the line models w/ top of the line interiors. This hatchback doesn’t cut it if they want to maintain the old Mercedes image and premium.
I like that matt grey colour
Torsion beam setup..?
They must be working from the VW and Toyota playbook.
I swear I’m not an old man, but the all-digital gauges are such a bad look.
I’m happy to compromise- just give me an analog tach and a digital speedo.
Digital crap made me walk out from the Civic and Mazda3 like they never existed
My car’s superfuture digital dashboard is the perfect physical manifestation of the future I was promised whenever the guy that played Dr. Bashir was still using his ethnic name.
Digital crap is the bee’s knees.
Not the digital gauges, but the “slapped on as an afterthought” tablets for a dash…yeesh! Is this what we’re coming to for interior design?
I know in Europe, MB runs a range of vehicles in numerous classes (and I actually kind of liked the first gen A-Klasse). Sure, plenty of folks will likely lease one of these just for the sake of having the pointed star out front. But I’d have to pass. It just seems off as far as being a Mercedes. Thinking I’d probably rather pilot a Golf.
Agreed about the iPad dash and digital crap. The standard driver assistance technology is the nail in the coffin for me. A car for MB wanna-bes.
I hate the iPad dash and tacked on LCD look of the touch screen. And torsion beam, FWD and that front end. I’ll pass
That interior looks to be a massive step up from the current CLA, so good on MB.
I’m not sold on the new front end design language that debuted on the new CL, however.
There hasn’t been a CL since 2014…
This looks nothing like the picture of the car you have been showing on every single A class article…I prefer the other design over this one.
According to C&D, the hatch is coming to Canada, but I’ll believe it when I see it. It still makes me semi-excited, the first Mercedes I’ve ever been interested in.
Agree, not a fan of the new front end styling though.
With that hexagonal-shape to the grille and the stretched headlights placed at the side, this could pass for a Hyundai.
I don’t really see the point of this AND the CLA. I know the CLA supposedly has a more ‘coupe-like’ profile, but come on. How many bottom feeder Benz shoppers are there for a FWD $299 lease special? They have the sedan and crossover segments covered. Do we need an additional sedan?
So MB goes with 2 iPads instead of 1. Torsion beam, FWD, and skip hatch when sedan sales dying in US.
I mean, is this MB? If I want MB, I go with v6 RWD something. Last year saw E-class with sticker over $70,000. And 4 cyl engine – WTF?
If an entry level Mercedes is on your wish list.
The A-Class Mercedes, is in no way related to your fathers’ W201-190 series.
Surely -something- remains from the olden days! Look harder!
Chrysler is still using window cranks designed in 1993 (for the neon) on Wranglers–
Such a shame – In 2018 I’d MUCH rather own a minty W201 than this.
Reminds me of the Kia Rio hatchback. I think I like the Rio interior better.
But with a Hyundai-like face.
It looks better in the metallic white (and I suspect in other metallic colors) than with the rather emotionless matte gray.
FWD? Who cares? I bet most buyers want a premium compact and the practicality that comes with FWD over RWD in a small car.
I bet people want the badge.
The FWD CLA didn’t sell on practicality, because there was none.
The badge is part of the reason why luxury cars appeal to different people.
The CLA is fine aside from being cramped for adults at the rear. I don’t get the hate seeing that my partner drives one. It’s a decent car.
Agreed. The CLA costs a bit much for what it is once you ladle on the options, but it’s perfectly OK to drive and in some ways I prefer it to the C-class – have had several of each as rentals, most recently last week in Atlanta. It is certainly roomier in the front, if less roomy in the back. Presumably the sedan version will fix that vis–vis the coupe. FWD makes sense in this size car.
For perspective, if they price the hatch at $30K that is basically the same price as a well-equipped Golf GTI. Which is it’s natural competition on both side of the Atlantic.
It’s bound to be a lot more fun than a 240D. :-)
The hatchback basically looks like a KIA Niro with a different grill. I’m not getting it… or Mercedes’s strategy at all. 1) The compact segment isn’t hot in the US. Hell, it isn’t even warm. 2) Who, exactly, do they plan on selling/leasing this thing to?
Probably the same folks who bought that “Mercedes” CUV that Chrysler built.
The hatch isn’t coming to the US. Canadians will get it and buy it.
It’s not so much the digital gauges, as it is the “slapped on as an afterthought” tablets. Yeesh, is this what we’re coming to as far as interior design goes?
I know in Europe, MB runs a wide spectrum of vehicles across just about all classes, but this one somehow feels wrong for a MB. Realize that most buyers will likely lease it for the sake of having the three-pointed star out front, but I think I’d rather pilot a Golf if given the choice.
Serious question:
Other than the badge and a slightly funky interior, in real life why would I want to buy this over a Mazda3 or some such? Honest question.
PS – I try not to be picky, but I officially hate the flatscreen gauge cluster (and I love 80s digital dashes).
It’s nicer inside, faster, and you will get a much nicer dealership experience for sales and service. I think it is much better looking than the Mazda3.
I would not buy one over a GTI, but I can see why some would. It’s nice to have choices.
The 80’s digital dashes were usually in the dash. Not perched on top like an afterthought so I agree on that. I hate this set up and all the new cars that have the iPad looking infotainment.
Not getting the hatchback.
Translation: Anything Americans get from Mercedes-Benz has to pass for a C-class at ten feet to someone who doesn’t know cars (aka, the average car buyer). Gotta keep the badge whores happy.
Frankly, it looks a lot better than the CLA although a lot of that has to do with the hatchback body form that gives the impression of a premium Golf competitor. A sedan is probably going to look awkward.
I wonder who the first post-lease owner to pay for a failed dash display will be and how much that will cost. Two 10.25 inch displays on the same extended screen.
And why again is this being introduced when they already have a CLA?
Probably because Mercedes-Benz has caught BMW Disease: The conviction that they absolutely must have a potential car for every car buyer in the market. Since the CLA went above $30,000.00, they feel they have to have an offering under that price point.
And two years further down the road, when the A-class goes over the $30k price point, they’ll bring out something again, smaller and cheaper.
We’re slowly discovering what Europeans have always known about M-B. They aren’t just a manufacturer of luxury cars. But to the American public, they’re desperately trying to make (and price) every car they make as an entry-level luxury car. Even if it doesn’t come anywhere close to that description.
You’re just paying to be a blowhard with a Mercedes badge.