THE SIXTH MEMBER of the Mercedes-Benz compact car family has arrived in Australia with the introduction of the first variants of the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan range.
The roll-out of the A-Class sedan begins with the A 200 model and will be quickly followed by the range-opening A 180. Both are 130mm longer and sit 6mm higher than the new-generation A-Class hatch, which launched in Australia in 2018.
The sedan models feature boot space of 430 litres, an increase of 60 litres over the corresponding hatchback models (with the rear seats in place), including a 950mm-wide boot opening for easy loading and unloading of larger items. The exterior design and overall proportions of the new A-Class sedan also break new ground in aerodynamic efficiency – a drag coefficient of 0.22 is the lowest ever measured for a passenger vehicle, setting a new world benchmark.
Technology-laden
Following in the footsteps of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback, all variants of the A-Class sedan are fitted with the intuitive and interactive vehicle control system, MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) – is there no end to these acronyms? This system allows vehicle occupants to say ‘Hey Mercedes’ (we wonder if it will respond to the fairly common Australian pronunciation “Mer-seedies” or choose to not recognise it at all) followed by any of dozens of common requests from radio and multimedia settings, to navigation and telephony functions, and changes to in-cabin climate or lighting settings (optional on some models).
MBUX also has the ability to ‘learn’ the preferences of vehicle occupants – over a period of weeks and months, the system notices patterns and can prompt occupants with timely suggestions for common habits or settings, so it’s going to be another car that knows what you want better, apparently, than you do. Different drivers can also set up their own profile containing their own individual preferences – an extremely handy function when multiple drivers share the same vehicle.
Connect me
All MBUX-equipped models including the A-Class sedan delivered from June 2019 can now join ‘Mercedes me Connect’, the advanced connectivity network that allows the owner to remotely interact with their vehicle, as well as enabling numerous other convenient functions.
This places key vehicle information at the owner’s fingertips via the Mercedes me Connect smartphone app − from tyre pressures, fuel and fluid levels, brake pad condition and mileage, to the vehicle’s exact location, whether parked or in motion.
A raft of other functions include remote door locking and unlocking, plus climate control setting, via the app; being able to identify and navigate the vehicle to nearby parking spaces; remotely pre-programming a destination into navigation ahead of a journey; an alert if a collision has been detected, the anti-theft warning system is triggered, or the vehicle has been towed; and geofencing, which allows the owner to set a boundary for the vehicle and to be informed if the vehicle leaves the area. The app can also be linked to in-home devices such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home, enabling control of key vehicle functions via home-based spoken commands.
The Mercedes me Connect app also links directly to the vehicle’s service needs and can receive alerts and updates, and also connect directly to a Mercedes-Benz service centre to book a service appointment.
Mercedes-Benz A 180 Sedan
The new A 180 Sedan is fitted with a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 100kW of power and 200Nm of torque, paired with a 7G DCT seven-speed automatic transmission. Combined fuel consumption is just 5.7L/100km.
The specification includes the full MBUX multimedia system, featuring the same style of widescreen cockpit used in the A-Class hatch, utilising side-by-side 10.25-inch digital screens. NTG6 MB navigation is standard and can be programmed via the central touchscreen, the new-generation touchpad between the front seats, using ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control, or via the Mercedes me Connect app.
Safety and convenience technologies include Active Parking Assist (with Parktronic), Active Lane Keep Assist, Active Brake Assist, Traffic Sign Assist, Blind Spot Assist with exit warning, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, electronically folding exterior mirrors, and the Pre-safe accident anticipatory system.
Other key features include DAB+ digital radio, a nine-speaker audio system with 225-watt output, 17-inch 5 twin-spoke alloy wheels, ‘Comfort’ seats in ARTICO (it really does mean “artificial cow”, apparently) upholstery, climate control, smartphone integration, a new-generation three-spoke sports steering wheel with touch controllers and shift paddles, Keyless Start, the ‘Style’ equipment line featuring the distinctive ‘diamond’ radiator grille, and Dynamic Select, which provides a choice of driving modes.
The price for the Mercedes-Benz A 180 Sedan is $44,900 (plus ORC).
Mercedes-Benz A 200 Sedan
The A 200 Sedan also utilises a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with increased outputs of 120kW and 250Nm. It is paired with the same 7G DCT transmission as the A 180. Combined fuel consumption remains the same at 5.7L/100km.
The A 200 builds on the generous specification of the A 180 by adding 18-inch 5 twin-spoke alloy wheels, ‘Progressive’ exterior design cues and interior styling, a two-pipe chrome-tipped exhaust system, four-way electro-pneumatic lumbar support for the driver’s seat, a folding rear armrest, adaptive highbeam assist, and wireless charging for eligible smartphones.
The price for the Mercedes-Benz A 200 Sedan is $49,400 (plus ORC).
The A 200 Sedan is on sale in Australia now and the A 180 is due to arrive in August. Later this year the A 250 Sedan and Mercedes-AMG A 35 Sedan will join the line-up.
Once we have tested and assessed the A-Series, seniordriveraus will bring you a comprehensive review, including everything the over-50 driver needs to know.