Mercedes-Benz Class A 2019 – WHEELS.ca

SEATTLE, WA – "Hey, Mercedes – can you tell me a joke?"

"Sorry, my engineers were German.

If there was one thing that I did not think to tell after a first release of the new Mercedes-Benz sedan, it's the sense of humor of the car.

The Mercedes-Benz Linguatronic voice control wizard works like Siri or Google Assistant, which means you can ask just about anything your favorite sports team does, what the weather is like, how high it is. Rainier is when you become curious as you pass by. (14,411 feet, by the way.)

The system is not perfect. It's a bit too sensitive to the sound of its own name, and some features do not work when it's outside of the data coverage (but that does not really tell you, again, which gets boring). But it's always a very useful and desirable thing.

In fact, not perfect but still very useful and desirable is a proper way to describe a lot about the new A-Class sedan.

Not crazy powerful, but enough

Unlike the A-Class sedan, which is entering its fourth generation while it's finally reaching our shores later this year, the new A-Class sedan is a first Mercedes. And with it comes a new engine that it shares with its hatchback, a turbocharged 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder whose power rating is 188 hp and a torque of 221 lb-ft.

This energy production is not exceptional, but it is certainly acceptable. The same engine is designed to deliver more power in the hatch – 221 hp and 258 lb-ft – and an A 35 heated hatch could appear as early as 2020. Buyers looking for more power have options at the same time. Inside the Mercedes. s & # 39; align. But the sedan is not malnourished – in fact, for what it is, it's probably just right. In addition, the torque distribution is impressive, available at 1600 rpm. Add to that the well-built seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a very smooth and refined throttle response, and maneuvers, such as going on the highway and moving between traffic lights, seem without effort.

Even though Canadians do not have access to the actively available damping suspension system available in other markets, the suspension in it leaves the class A sedan well balanced, flat and just right. It is not exhilarating, but it is very easy to drive without attracting much attention to itself, traits that buyers usually look for above all in a sedan.

Unlike most Mercedes products sold in our market, front-wheel drive is standard on A-class sedans and 4Matic AWD is optional.

Inside, a CLS Shrunken

The driving dynamics is not what will attract potential buyers on this car, and Mercedes knows it. That's why they looked at the priority factors for today's luxury buyers, most of the time, millennials concerned about their image.

One of these areas is the quality and content of the features in the cabin. Of course, there are some small differences, but overall, the interior of Class A seems to have taken the much more expensive CLS habit launched this year and brought it back to a small space. This means that buyers have the opportunity to bring home desirable features at an affordable price.

The list of standard features is astonishingly long – highlights include a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and taillights, heated front seats and mirrors, heated and rain-sensing wipers, 17-inch wheels, leather upholstery and steering wheel leather 20-40 split rear bench seat.

The addition to the premium package includes Blind Spot Assist with Cross Back Alert, a 7 to 10.25-inch dashboard upgrade, and infotainment touchscreens (the first being a Mercedes ), assistant, 64-color ambient lighting, wireless smartphone charging, fold-down exterior mirrors, exterior mirrors and auto-dimming mirrors, foot-activated trunk unlocking, keyless entry and Apple CarPlay integration and Android Auto.

Although official prices have not yet been released, Mercedes is aiming for the model to be equipped with this premium package and all-wheel drive costs less than $ 40,000. If they do it, no matter what this car has to do, the value proposition is really impressive.

One thing to note, though, is that the car photographed for this story is a pre-production unit built to US specifications and therefore has some features that will not be readily available in our market. For example, the ventilated front seats can only be equipped with leather upholstery, which is not the case for Canada at all, because Mercedes does not think it will. (That said, it is possible to get both via a special order if you really need it.)

A heated steering wheel is available as a stand-alone option for $ 250. There is also a head-up display available, but it can only be equipped with an on-board navigation, which is at a higher price level.

Mercedes expects Class A sales to be roughly 50 to 50 between the hatchback and the hatch, although buying patterns with other manufacturers suggest that Canadians tend to rely more on this last. That said, the sedan offers a little more cargo space with the rear seats up: its trunk can accommodate 420 L compared to 370 L located behind the rear seats. Of course, the second row of the hatch can be folded to create a more flexible loading area. It depends on your use and your personal preferences.

And this second row is not as radical as one might think. A glance from the first row has left me thinking that it would be incredibly tight, but the deep contours at the rear of the front seats create an astonishing amount of space for the legs. This is probably not a car in which four adults would be happy for a very long time, but two adults and two children would get along very well.

Packed with technology

The on-board navigation selection allows access to an augmented reality feature, one of the many technologically interesting developments of the new class A. While following the detailed route guidance, the car uses the front camera to project an image of the upcoming turning points on the infotainment screen and superimposes the graphics with details such as street names and address numbers.

This is a very interesting feature that allows you to visualize a future where such graphics could be displayed on the windshield in the driver's view, which would change the game. In its current format, it's unquestionably cool and many of my colleagues are very enthusiastic about it, but I'm not sure it's such a good idea at the moment. The processing of the information requires completely diverting your attention from the road and reducing it to the screen, probably for several seconds at a time. In urban environments where this feature becomes active, many things can change during this time. It's distracting, and it can end up creating more problems than it is worth, at least in its current version.

I also find that the latest navigation system does not solve the steering sync problem that Mercedes has had for a while. Voice prompts do not give as much detail as they used to when filming, and they seem to be delayed just long enough to make it too easy to make mistakes when you can quickly choose multiple turns. With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity available at an affordable price, I would not want to launch navigation or augmented reality yet.

Aside from technology, the amount of technology contained in the A-Class sedan is unmatched among its peers. The infotainment system now has three very sensible input methods: a first Mercedes touch screen, two paddles on the steering wheel first introduced in the E-Class a few years ago and a touchpad of new generation installed on the center console only more functional than the previous version but it is really very beautiful).

In addition to this, Class A has an integrated artificial intelligence system that observes your habits and begins to make suggestions without asking over time. For example, if you tend to go to your grandmother's house every Sunday, the car will start giving you instructions every week without you asking. If you usually call when you leave, over time it will suggest dialing the number at about the same point of the reader. Some people, especially those from an older demographic group, may find this invasive. But in general, the youngest and most connected shoppers that Mercedes looks for here consider things like this as a convenience.

There is also the Mercedes Me suite, which offers the Linguatronic assistant Internet connectivity and also allows communication between users. Owners can use an app to control features such as remote engine start and door lock / unlock, sending a computer or phone address to the onboard navigation system, checking the tire pressure, the location of the vehicle, etc. Mercedes Me will be a standard equipment on the A-Class and all other Mercedes-Benz model 2019 vehicles in Canada, with the exception of the B-Class, and will remain free for all first three years at count of activation. (How much will it cost to maintain after this point has yet to be announced.)

You can still have a CLA, if you have to

Mercedes keeps the CLA in its lineup, which is the entry-level model with four doors, in case anyone would prefer its coupe-shaped style. In truth, it's hard to imagine why anyone would choose CLA. The new A-Class sedan will start at a lower price and offer a much more stylish design as well as features and robust technology offerings. The CLA will also have more features to market it, but once the fit, finish and fashion are taken into account, there is no dispute – the CLA has always been a compromised to get a badge, legitimately wears the Mercedes logo and makes it available to a new generation of buyers.

The A-Class sedan does not have much competition anyway – there's the Audi A3, which has a new generation at any moment now, and the Acura ILX , which could match this on the features and would still struggle to meet him in the stamp.

One of the potential problems is that Canadians are currently at a crossroads and can therefore ignore it in favor of something that they perceive as more functional.

But there's a good chance that between the sedan and the sedan, the urban and tech-savvy crowd will devour class A. Expect to see them often in Canadian cities once they're on sale – the sedan will land at dealerships early next year.

2019 Mercedes-Benz Class A Sedan

BODY STYLE: Subcompact sedan

CONFIGURATION: Front engine, front wheel drive or AWD option

ENGINE: 2.0 L turbo I4; Power: 188 hp at 5,800 rpm; Torque: 221 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm

TRANSMISSION: Automatic 7-speed dual clutch

THE FUEL ECONOMY: (Premium petrol in L / 100 km) to be determined

PRICE: To be determined

WEBSITE: Mercedes Class A Sedan