Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long-term review

It's demonstration of the effect Mercedes-Benz has made with the A-Class in the UK that the landing of this all-new fourth-age show has been viewed as a standout amongst the most acutely foreseen dispatches of the year.

We say fourth era, however you could contend it's just extremely the second given the A-Class' extreme change in its past age from cutting edge, extensive, comparatively radical MPV-supermini blend to, measurements savvy, a meat and two veg family hatchback pitched comfortable heart of the European family hatchback showcase.

The last A-Class was a staple of the UK's main 10 smash hit vehicles list every month, purchasers pulled in to it in their droves by the appealing £199 every month PCP bargains that were frequently being publicized as the most reasonable route into Mercedes proprietorship. It worked: the A-Class was a key purpose for Mercedes' walk to the highest point of the exceptional brand deals outlines in the UK and the fourth-top-offering brand by and large.

Discover an Autocar vehicle survey

Driven for the current week

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long haul survey - legend front

25 NOVEMBER 2018

FIRST DRIVE

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2018 long haul survey

The wide cluster of specced alternatives to attempt makes the most recent age A-Class...

Seat Tarraco 2018 first drive audit - saint front

23 NOVEMBER 2018

FIRST DRIVE

Seat Tarraco 1.5 TSI Evo SE Technology 2018 audit

Seat's third and biggest SUV brings only a trace of young abundance...

Passage Fiesta ST-Line 2018 long haul survey legend front

23 NOVEMBER 2018

FIRST DRIVE

Passage Fiesta ST-Line long haul survey

Does this variant of Britain's best offering vehicle have the substance to coordinate...

While we're here, that is a significant momentous measurement. Mercedes sold a greater number of vehicles in the UK a year ago than Renault, Peugeot and Toyota to name only three, and the A-Class is one of the greatest players in the family fragment in the way the Mégane, 308 and Corolla were 10 years or two back. Premium truly is the new standard.

There are three unique motors at first accessible from merchants who are entrusted with proceeding with that achievement. However there are such a large number of subplots inside the range that this will be a long haul test with a contort.

First of all, KT18 RZA you see here is a vehicle we'll be stating farewell to a lot sooner than we regularly would, for when the year is out another sparkly new A will be along supplant it.

Why so? To endeavor to get as wide an affair as conceivable in the new A-Class. Early drives have proposed it is a vehicle that can be specced in various approaches to adjust its character so significantly; we truly need to attempt in excess of one vehicle in one lone spec to make our suggestions.

Up first, at that point, is an A180d Sport. This current vehicle's 1.5-liter four-chamber unit with 114bhp and 192lb ft is the main diesel choice until the more intense 2.0-liter A200d and A220d arrive soon. Drive is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed double grip gearbox, the main transmission accessible. Try not to stress: manuals are accessible in some petroleum variations.

The petrols for the present are a 161bhp 1.3-liter turbo in the A200 and a 221bhp 2.0-liter turbo in the A250, while a 187bhp 2.0-liter in the A220 with discretionary four-wheel drive is because of part them. There's likewise a 134bhp 1.3-liter in the passage level A180. A feature getting, Volkswagen Golf R-equaling A35 AMG has additionally as of late been reported, in front of a dispatch one year from now – our current arrangement being to crown this test with a more extended spell in that vehicle with what may be the A-Class' most noteworthy hits collection.

Be that as it may, there's a lot to find before we reach any inferences like that. For example, discovering more around one of the key stories in this A-Class: the suspension of its back wheels. The A250 is the main A-Class accessible now with the multi-interface raise suspension, the A180d and A200 getting an eyebrow-raising torsion shaft. Except if you spec your A200 with the 18in combinations in AMG Line trim, which is expected to pursue our underlying torsion-pillar prepared A180d to get that examination.

Trim insightful, our vehicle is a Sport, which sits amidst the A-Class go. For the £27,340 asked by Mercedes, you get a dimension of pack that hasn't abandoned us needing for much in these early days. The wheels are the standard Sport 17in edges, and the main alternative is metallic paint. That leaves the standard pack rundown to incorporate double zone air-con, some amazing LED headlights and the new MBUX infotainment framework controlled through either the standard 7.0in touchscreen, the trackpad on the inside passage or the guiding wheel controls.

Every one of those controls appeared a bit baffling when I initially sat in the vehicle, maybe because of such ongoing individual nature with BMW/Mini and Volkswagen Group frameworks, yet as of now I'm thinking that its instinctive to utilize.

The dynamic quality of the designs is a feature, similar to my experience of the Hey Mercedes voice control. Express those two words and you get Siri-style seek capacity of the vehicle's controls, and in addition some online pursuit as well. I've gotten notification from partners that the framework was very surrey on its underlying global press dispatch, yet it got up the quantity of a taxi firm in Norwich I required (is that you, Mr Partridge?) the first occasion when I utilized it.

One other initial introduction: the A180d has a motor of easy proficiency. Economy is nearer to 70mpg than 60mpg (guaranteed: 68.9mpg). That is very amazing with just 1000 or so miles on the odometer. The vehicle secured another 1000 miles or so in its first couple of weeks with us, and that sort of economy over those sorts of motorway separations is the most recent case for the barrier of diesel. In vehicles like this utilized as such, the dark siphon bodes well.

What's more, did I notice that inside? Indeed, it's not simply dazzling to take a gander at, it's likewise exquisite to sit in and explore your way around its controls. That is only the passage level framework: we'll be trying the discretionary 10.25in screens for the full widescreen film involvement throughout these updates for another component to this creating story.

Is it accurate to say that you are sitting easily? We have an occupied and energizing couple of months ahead becoming more acquainted with this most critical of new autos, thus we would do well to start.