New car sales price Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The prestige segment of the small car market is tiny, accounting for only about eight per cent of small-car sales in Australia.

The MD of Mercedes Cars in Australia, Horst von Sanden, has spotted this lucrative niche in the market and is about to launch the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class right into the heart of that sales arena. Mercedes-Benz Australia has used the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney to give the public their first look at the new A-Class – and to dangle low prices in front of them.

Priced from just $35,600, the Mercedes A180 Blue Efficiency doesn’t cost a lot more than top-line models such as the Mazda3, which is Australia’s top selling car; the all-new Toyota Corolla; the soon-to-be launched Nissan Pulsar; and fellow German Volkswagen Golf 7, another car that’s headed downunder shortly, and many others in a very crowded market segment.

None of the aforementioned have the prestige of the three-pointed star and Horst von Sanden feels many buyers will stretch their budgets an extra few thousand dollars to gain the image that Mercedes provides. Mercedes hasn’t made the mistake of leaving out equipment to reach this low starting price, the A180 comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, a quality audio system, active parking assist and a reversing camera. Safety is looked after by active collision assist and there are now fewer than nine airbags.

This Mercedes will sell on style as well as price. Its bold front has more than a passing resemblance to the high-performance SLS Gullwing and the raised lines on the doors swoop up boldly to create a styling statement. The A-Class is almost an iPhone on wheels in the way it lets you communicate and/or entertain its occupants.

Power for the new A-Class comes from a 1.6-litre petrol engine in two stages of tune, a sporty 2.0-litre petrol, and 1.8-litre diesel. All are thoroughly modern units with the latest in emission and fuel consumption minimisation features. 

We have yet to drive the new A-Class in Australia, but in July this year we did test it in Slovenia during the international launch program. It has a nicely balanced feel and almost has the dynamics of a rear-wheel-drive car. Throttle control is easy and the steering feedback through the electro-mechanical system is excellent. Comfort and interior ambiance are good and give the feel of a car a size larger than it is.

Though the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has been launched in a blaze of publicity at the Sydney motor show it won’t go onto Australian roads until March 2013 when the first shipment arrives. However, you can order yours at your local dealer now. May we suggest you move quickly if you’re even slightly interested because global demand for this small Mercedes is high, which could result in ever expanding waiting lists.

The complete 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class range is:

A 180 BE 1.6-litre petrol five-door hatch: $35,600 (automatic)
A 200 BE 1.6-litre petrol five-door hatch: $40,900 (automatic)
A 200 CDI BE 1.8-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch: $40,900 (automatic)
A 250 Sport 2.0-litre petrol five-door hatch: $49,900 (automatic)