Consistently a top seller in the UK, the Mercedes A-Class has perhaps been feeling the heat from more recent premium class rivals and pressure on this segment as buyers move to SUVs.
To reinvigorate sales of the A-Class, the highlights of this subtle makeover for the baby Mercedes equal small tweaks to the exterior styling, and upgrades to the interior infotainment.
Outside, from the front, there’s a reprofiled lower and main grille, there are new LED headlights, and the bonnet gains two bulges in the centre – probably to give more visual aggression. At the side, there are new alloy wheels designs. To complete the look, there are also revised rear light clusters for the hatch and saloon versions.
Inside, there’s the same two 10.25in screens as before, but these seem higher definition and even slicker. Elsewhere, the central infotainment touchpad has gone, to be replaced by haptic controls on the top left and right spokes of the new-to-A-Class multi-function steering wheel, first seen on the current C-Class. Like that car the A-Class now can learn your preferences and features improved functionality from the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice-control feature.
The MBUX system, as we’ve already said, works well enough and looks great, but like with the C-Class we’re less convinced by the haptic controls on the steering wheel, which are fiddly and don’t always work well. We also feel Mercedes could have done more
with the centre console where the touchpad used to be. The blanking plate was a good place for storing the key during the drive, but it feels a bit of an afterthought and we wonder if the space couldn’t be better used for improved stowage. You do get a new lidded central cubby, with USB-C port already.
The rest of the A-Class’s interior remains as stylish, classy, and comfortable as it has always been. Our test car had the optional Sage Grey leather-effect trim, that’s apparently made from 90% recycled materials.
Every A-Class now features a seven- or eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. With its 8% BIK figure, 23g/km emissions, and the fact it can go up to 51 miles on electric-only power, the A250e must be the key fleet model in the revised range.
Only available now in the perhaps more staid saloon body style, the A250e’s drivetrain is made up of the 1,332cc turbocharged engine combined with a 16kWh battery and 11kW on-board charger. This has also been tweaked, adding 7hp, thought the overall system output remains 218hp.
Finally, when it comes to charging, the A250e can be charged from 10-100% at an AC charging station in 75 minutes, or over an hour and a half using a wall box.
On the road, despite the increase in electric power that is available, this A250e doesn’t feel any different to the outgoing pre-facelift version. Despite the fact that our test car was low on electric range, it starts off in total silence, in full EV mode, and stays in that mode longer than you expect before the engine joins in the action.
The A-Class is most at home in Comfort mode, where engine and EV power are best matched, Sport sharpens the throttle response and is where this A-Class feels most dynamic – but the engine is on all the time and gets noisy when worked hard.
The standard 19in wheels don’t help with refinement – and their iffy ride quality. We also tried an A180 hatch on 17in wheels that seemed more compliant. You feel the extra weight of the A250e’s battery in corners, too. Its lack of dynamism is almost at odds with the quick and precise steering.
The current A-Class was always a good car, but these changes certainly freshen
it up. It’s also disappointing that you can’t have the A250e as a hatch anymore and it’s more expensive than rivals – however many of those have no plug-in version.
Mercedes A250e AMG Line Premium Plus
P11D: £46,535
Residual value: 44.67%
Depreciation: £25,750
Fuel: £5,159
Service, maintenance and repair: £2,701
Cost per mile: 56.01p
Fuel consumption: 282.5 – 353.1mpg
CO2 (BIK %): 23g/km (8%)
BIK 20/40% a month: £62/£124
Luggage capacity: 332 litres
Engine size/power: 1,332cc/163hp with 109hp electric motor
