Eight months on from the unveiling of the new W177 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Stuttgart’s smallest model has been officially launched in Malaysia. The premium hatchback is being offered in A 200 Progressive Line and A 250 AMG Line variants, priced at RM227,888 and RM263,888 respectively, on-the-road with the sales and services tax (SST) and without insurance.
This marks a significant step up in pricing, as the equivalent models in the previous W176 lineup were priced at RM208,888 and RM248,888 when the goods and services tax (GST) was still in effect, but the two cars now come with much higher levels of standard kit – which we’ll get to in a minute. A four-year, unlimited-mileage warranty is included in the purchase price.
Built on the uprated Modular Front Architecture 2 (MFA2) platform, the W177 is now 4,419 mm long, 1,796 mm wide and 1,440 mm tall, making it a whopping 127 mm longer, 16 mm wider and 7 mm taller than before; its wheelbase is also 30 mm longer, at 2,729 mm. Mercedes claims that the car now offers greater head-, shoulder- and elbow room, easier rear-seat access and a boot that is 29 litres larger at 370 litres.
On the outside, the new A-Class debuts a new version of Mercedes’ Sensual Purity design language. There’s a lower nose with tapered headlights flanking a trapezoidal grille, plus two-piece tail lights that make the car appear wider. The character lines along the side, which featured an upswept design on the outgoing model, have been smoothened to emphasise the car’s length.
Both models come with LED High Performance headlights (not the top-spec Multibeam units) with auto high beam, along with visible twin exhaust exits and 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels. The AMG Line package on the A 250 adds aggressive bumpers, side skirts, larger cross-drilled front brake discs and AMG-badged alloys. The A 200 comes with run-flat tyres, while the A 250 rides on standard tyres and adds a tyre repair kit.
Step inside and you’ll find an interior inspired by the W222 S-Class and W213 E-Class, with round turbine-inspired air vents and a large (and now completely freestanding) flatscreen display panel with twin 10.25-inch screens. The extended version of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system is fitted as standard, with a centre touchscreen and a new Linguatronic voice control system.
Using the activation phrase “Hey Mercedes,” users can now control various vehicle functions such as the climate control, radio and navigation. The system recognises natural language and indirect speech (saying “I am cold,” for instance, will instruct the climate control to raise the temperature), and will also use machine learning to adapt to accents and inflections over time.
In terms of interior accoutrements, the A 200 comes with black open pore linden wood trim and Artico faux leather upholstery, while the A 250 gains sports seats with integrated headrests, a Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel, brushed aluminium decor and Artico and Dinamica microfibre seat trim.
Long-awaited standard features, such as keyless entry and single-zone auto climate control (still no rear vents, mind), join an extensive equipment list that includes power-adjustable front seats with memory and lumbar adjustment, auto-dimming and auto-folding mirrors, cruise control, 64-colour ambient lighting, illuminated door sill plates, hard disk-based navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.
Under the bonnet, the A 200 now uses a smaller 1.33 litre M282 four-cylinder turbo engine, developed in conjunction with Renault. It makes 163 hp at 5,500 rpm and 250 Nm of torque from 1,620 to 4,000 rpm, and when paired to a new Getrag seven-speed wet dual clutch transmission, it results in a zero-to-100 km/h time of 8.0 seconds, a top speed of 225 km/h and a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.2 litres per 100 km.
The A 250 gets a revised M260 version of existing 2.0 litre mill, churning out 224 hp at 5,500 rpm and 350 Nm between 1,800 to 4,000 rpm. It hits 100 km/h in just 6.2 seconds, reaches a top speed of 250 km/h and delivers fuel consumption rated at 6.2 litres per 100 km. This one gets a revised version of Mercedes’ own DCT, which is also a wet clutch unit.
Both models ride on comfort suspension, with passive dampers and a 15 mm lower ride height than standard. The A 250 is the only one to come with multilink rear suspension, whereas the A 200 receives a new, simpler torsion beam setup. Safety-wise, all models get seven airbags, Active Brake Assist (autonomous emergency braking), a tyre pressure monitoring system and Active Parking Assist with a reverse camera.
Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia is adding a new Plan A financing option, which incorporates insurance and service packages. Various plans are offered, starting from RM1,988 with a three-year tenure and a 22% downpayment, and the company is also throwing in one-year tyre and wheel insurance until December 31. Also available is the A+ Package range of genuine accessories, including spoilers, side skirts and wheels.
Browse full specifications and equipment of the new A-Class on CarBase.my. Also stay tuned for the written and video reviews of the car – all the way from Croatia – which will be published tomorrow.
GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz A 200 Progressive Line
GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz A 250 AMG Line
