2005 Mercedes-Benz A200 Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the used 1997 – 2013 Mercedes A-Class.

After someone asks me what car I'm driving, the next thing they ask is invariably, “What's it like?'' When the answer to the first question is, “a Mercedes'', then the answer to the second one is invariable too: “The older I get, the more I like them.''There are two thoughts at work here. First, that the finely calibrated discrimination of maturity is required to appreciate their qualities; like stilton or single malt, perhaps. But also, and more ambiguously for the brand, that Mercedes are old people's cars.The image of Mercedes as a venerable maker of ponderous limousines is something it has been trying to shrug off for decades. It has no choice because the prestige car market has been changing. Luxury buyers increasingly demand smaller cars and non-luxury buyers increasingly demand, well, luxury.Then there's the issue of tighter and tighter emissions regulations, which are impossible to meet without small cars in your line-up.In some ways Mercedes was an early mover here. Its first crack at the small market was the A-Class from 15 years ago. However, it was not a happy birth. The tall tiddler famously failed a swerve-to-avoid manoeuvre known as the “elk test'', undertaken by a specialist magazine, and needed a PR rearguard action to avoid disaster.“The prospects for premium compact cars have never been better,'' Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche said when revealing the car last year. “We expect global demand to grow by more than four million units over the next 10 years.''Capturing some of those extra buyers is essential to Mercedes' goal of regaining No 1 spot in luxury sales by the end of the decade. “A stands for attack,'' Zetsche said, with 50 per cent of buyers expected to be new to the brand.At the Melbourne launch local chief Horst von Sanden was confident of selling 200 a month, many more than the previous A and B-Class put together. It will be a challenge for the dealer network, as Merc novitiates would demand the full three-pointed star treatment.“It's very important that we treat these newcomers to the brand like every loyal Mercedes customer would be treated,'' he said. “Although we have some aggressive and attractive pricing, they still accept a premium price, and for that they want something special.''VALUEThat price starts at $35,600, which is lower than the original 15 years ago. It sent a shiver through its rivals. Additional cost reassurance comes in the shape of a $1383 service contract to cover the first 50,000km or more than three years for an average driver. Who says Europeans are expensive to run?Equipment levels, however, would make a Merc buyer of only a decade ago recoil with envy. All cars are fitted with a seven-speed double-clutch automatic, so that's standard, so is useful stuff such as auto headlights and for the spatially challenged, a semi-automatic parking system. There are classy features such as ambient lighting and illuminated door sills.One feature much touted at last year's reveal was a high level of integration with Apple's iPhone. However, this requires a special kit that has yet to be confirmed for Australia. There's Bluetooth, but a $2990 option pack is needed for internet, digital radio and 10 gigabyte music storage.It's clear where costs have been cut. The leather is artificial unless you pay extra -- bundled with other bits it's $2490. Many levels have cheap racket seat adjustment and when the soft textures run out the plastics are any-level hatchback.DESIGNAn accessible price is just the start. Other A-Class lures are a combination of traditional Merc virtues and something new. The design is in-your-face, with large lights and grille the most conspicuous elements of a bulbous front end. There are pronounced style creases along the flanks, very much design du jour, while the rear is anonymous enough to be almost any small hatch. It's bold but not beautiful.The cabin is more successful. The surfaces are clean and uncluttered; there are soft textures at dash level and some below. The wands feel quality; so do the gearshift paddles and satin metallic highlights around door handles and vents. The button-gear and steering wheel are standard-issue Merc, a plus. A crisp control screen looks expensive. The boot looks big enough but the finish is not at mainstream Merc standards.TECHNOLOGYFor 2013, kit debuted only a few years ago on Merc's tech spearhead, the S-Class, has trickled down to the A. Of four engines on offer the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol is quickest by far but requires buying into the Sport trim and comes with some drawbacks. Its bass soundtrack has a thrumminess at constant revs and the quicker Sport steering is too quick, if anything.SAFETYFor many, Mercedes' reputation for safety will be a wallet winner and the A-Class has form here, having introduced electronic stability control to the segment in 1997. It also has a collision prevention system that alerts the driver and primes the brakes if it senses imminent impact with a car in front at speeds above 30km/h.DRIVINGIts Sport suspension struggles to control body movements on Australian country roads and the ride quality is brittle. The high-output version of the 1.6-litre in the A200 is quieter and slower but easier to live with. It has enough get up and go, and actually sounds terrific when you push it. I preferred the steering and suspension set-up.The 1.8-litre diesel in the A200 CDI won't kid you into mistaking it for a petrol engine, as some do, but it does pull strongly and for long hauls would be worth considering. One problem for all the cars was a bit more tyre noise than expected, a common problem among European imports. It was one reason the A-Class doesn't deliver the serenity you expect in a Merc.VERDICTThere's enough brand feel-good to make this a convincing junior Merc. And as the young brand adopters get older, they'll have acquired a taste for full-strength versions.NEED TO KNOWPrice: From $35,600 (A180) to $49,900 (A250) plus on-road costsEngines: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol (A180, A200); 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel (A200 CDI); 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol (A250)Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, front-wheel driveThirst: 4.6l/100km combined (A200 CDI); 5.8-6.6l/100km combined (petrol), CO2 135g/km

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 1997, 1998, 2005, 2007 and 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class as a used buy.

To say this motor vehicle has all the bells and whistles would be severely underplaying the situation.Its rather suburban exterior hides more gadgets than your average kitchen knick-knack shop.There are things that fold up, down and over.There are toys which talk to the driver and others which beep.There's a six-stacker CD player and all sorts of mobile phone attachments. There are things to stop you going fast and things to help you cruise along on the open road at a sensible, legal speed.There are buttons and compartments and cup holders and magazine racks, multiple temperature controls and parking assist.It doesn't quite make the coffee for you ... but there may just be a percolator attachment I overlooked in a week of driving.My favourite toy was the automatic headlight switch which meant the car chose when it was dark enough for the lights to be on.However, I would recommend against playing with the switch at night, because a turn in the wrong direction can result in a motorist heading down an unfamiliar country road in total darkness. A brief motoring glitch, which was not enjoyed by my passengers.This car also has a snazzy auto-navigation system which tells you how to get places, parking sensors to stop you hitting things, a speed limiter and cruise control.Button controls on the steering wheel are just part of a clear and easily understood dashboard display package.A flat hatchback boot provides easy access to ample storage room, but if extra luggage space is required, the rear seats fold forward to produce a completely flat surface. Need even more space? Then take the rear seats out.A quick browse of the brochure also reveals a raft of safety features which I didn't feel obliged to check, including a "sandwich design" (maybe to go with the coffee percolator) to enhance safety in a head-on collision.Additional options with this motoring whiz can also include metallic paint, a sunroof and leather upholstery.Overall, it's a car that packs a lot of punch, along with a luxury brand name.Eat your heart out, Herbie.LOVE IT LEAVE ITMercedes Benz A200 Elegance AutoPrice: $47,380LOVE ITEnough gadgets to keep the driver, passengers and enthusiasts busy for hours.Spacious, comfortable and easy to drive.LEAVE ITToo many toys to come to grips with – and use properly – in a week of driving.A quiet, low-key exterior which won't suit those who want to say "look at me, I own a Merc".

It still has a sandwiched chassis which allows the motor and transmission to slip slightly back and under the cabin front. Other bits such as the battery and fuel tank are under the cabin.The Benz engineers reckon this allows 67 per cent of the body length free for people.This second generation A-Class is a little longer and wider than before — it now sits at 3838mm long and 1764mm wide, casting a road shadow that's 6.7 metres square. Shoulder room is better, rear knee room is up and there's more luggage space. It looks good outside, there is a little more muscle to the style these days, a little more street fighter, particularly for the three-door version which scores a different profile treatment. And it feels good inside, feels like a Benz should.The three-door A-Class starts at $29,900 for an A150 Classic, pretty cheap for a Mercedes-Benz and that three-pointed star and all the gear from airbags galore to airconditioning and Electronic Stability Program.The three-door A150 arrives with 1.5-litre engine and 70kW. Move along to the 85kW A170 and the price moves to $34,400.Then there's the A200 Avantgarde, the 2-litre, 100kW machine at $40,400.Along with the extra power, plus 185Nm of torque, the A200 three-door arrives with 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights and cruise control, fancy (with speed limiter), climate control airconditioning and upgraded stereo system. All very swish.This particular A200 was sitting on optional 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 rubber. Very smart.But there was a little body pitching and a little bit of suspension noise around the suburbs.Not one thing wrong with the handling though, sharp as a tack; the grip is good and there's no body roll.It turns in quick and, in normal driving, with little trace of any front-wheel-drive idiosyncrasies. Plus there all those Benz bits of motor magic such as traction control, ABS, brake assist and electronic stability program to keep the Mercedes A-Class on the right and proper track.This is a very handy machine for getting around town, all class.There is that business of giving the 100kW a chance to build up a little steam off from the lights, a lazy start can lead to a stutter or a stall. Once up and running through the five-speed gearbox and no dramas, the A200 is pretty flexible; fuel consumption should come in under 9 litres per 100km.The only thing here is the big tachometer on the right attracts the eye easier than the big speedometer on the left. So the 40 is probably 4000rpm rather than 40km/h and can be closing on speed limits.As with bigger Mercedes-Benz, the dashboard and controls are all neat, tidy, logical and legible.Driving with a little bit of seat height (but not a deal of headroom for taller types with the optional sunroof installed) and that big, panoramic windscreen plus compact body is an easy business around town.Back seat access is pretty good, long doors and an easy tip-and-slide function. Head and legroom back here is OK for most adults.So this three-door A200 is some $10,000 extra over the A150 but with a few extra cosmetics, a couple of extra kilowatts and alloy wheels over the smaller-engined machine it stacks up well as a smart-looking, comfortable and handy compact car.The badge out the front, the technology and that tailored fit, finish and design to the cabin makes the A-Class Mercedes-Benz that much more special. (Another $2500 will buy the other two doors.)

And in a move sure to make the baby Benz even more attractive, the starting price is around $30,000 for the entry-level A150.When the A-Class was launched eight years ago as a city getabout, it never quite lived up to its pre-release hype. Even a midlife suspension upgrade along with electronic stability control did little to drive sales.At the height of the first generation's popularity with Australian buyers, it was selling about 1000 units annually.Now the second generation promises to deliver the German car maker a bigger slice of the singles and small family car market.The A-Class is now available in two bigger body styles (three or five doors), three engine options (A150, A170 or A200) and three trim levels (Classic, Avantgarde and Elegance), and, later this year, Mercedes-Benz will unveil a new turbocharged version of the two-litre motor. Safety plays a big part in the Benz master plan for the A-Class and the car maker has been rewarded with a European NCAP five-star crash-test rating.With the engine and transmission tucked away under the floor, the mechanicals slide down and away from the interior in the event of a front-on crash.The vehicle's "sandwich" construction delivers the A-Class a bigger front-end crash crumple zone when compared with other vehicles in its class – and because the driver and passenger seating positions are elevated, there's more protection in the event of a side impact, according to the car maker.The safety package goes further, with seat-belt tensioners and adaptive belt force limiters, two-stage adaptive front airbags and side and window airbags to provide added protection for heads and upper bodies.The electronic and mechanical safety package includes ABS brakes with brake assist and stability control.The A-Class is a bigger car now – longer by 323mm and 45mm wider. This translates into more interior room and there is ample space to accommodate four or five people. Mercedes-Benz says the boot capacity is up by 15 per cent to 435 litres. With the seats in place, cargo room is adequate, but lay the rear seats flat, or remove them along with the front passenger seat, and the interior takes on a new dimension.Mercedes-Benz says the rear luggage area then expands to accommodate cargo measuring up to 2.75m (it will easily fit a bicycle) and can carry up to 1995 litres.On test was the A200 Elegance fitted with a range of high-end options, including the new continuously variable automatic transmission (Autotronic), satellite navigation and sun roof. Mercedes-Benz says the upgraded four-cylinder engine generates up to 13 per cent more power than the previous motor. The baby Benz scoots up to 100km from zero in a tick under 10 seconds and has a claimed top speed of about 200km/h.The new auto transmission is a first for Mercedes-Benz and delivers seamless acceleration. Unlike a traditional automatic, there is no discernible up or down shifting, but if there is a need to dictate terms, a manual mode is available.From the elevated driving position, there's good all-round vision and all controls, including the optional Thermotronic climate control system, are within easy reach.It was difficult to judge the effectiveness of the automatic windscreen wipers because it was rain-free during the test, but the come-on-as-needed headlights are worthwhile, particularly when driving into a dimly lit parking station. While you'd expect to easily slot a car of the A-Class's size into a parking space, the sharp wedge-shaped front makes it difficult to judge the whereabouts of the front bumper. Optional park assist on the test car overcomes the possibility of scratching the paintwork.Mercedes-Benz says its new engines are more fuel-efficient, using up to 10 per cent less fuel than the previous range.With a fuel-tank capacity of 54 litres, Mercedes-Benz says the A200 has a combined city/country consumption rate of 7.2 litres/100km, giving it a cruising range of more than 700km between fillups.SMALL TORQUEMercedes-Benz A200 ElegancePrice: From $42,900Engine: Two-litre, four cylindersPower: 100kW at 5750rpmTorque: 185Nm between 3500rpm and 4000rpmTransmission: Continuously variable automatic. Front-wheel driveWheels: 16in alloysSuspension: Front: Coil springs, twin-tube gas-pressure shock absorbers, anti-roll bar. Rear: Parabolic axleBrakes: Discs front and rear, ABS and brake assistanceWeight: 1270kgFuel consumption: 7.2 litres/100km.

Has the Baby Merc knocked off the Jazz? asks Mark Hinchliffe Benz still managed to sell more than 1 million of their baby entry-class cars in the past seven years, despite criticism of its driving characteristics. But now the second generation A-Class has hit the market.It still costs substantially more than a Jazz, but its driveability, sophistication, creature comforts, safety features and shape are a marked improvement. And now there are more variants to choose from. There are three engines, instead of two, with a turbo due later this year. And for the first time it is available in a three-door.From the outside, the bigger, wider, more spacious A-Class appears cuter, with pup seal eyes and rounded hips. The three-door varieties seem to emphasise that cuteness with cleaner, rounder lines down the sides.I drove the new 2-litre three-door five-speed manual recently and immediately noticed the vastly improved interior.Having stepped straight from a C-Class, it was evident that the classy instruments were shared, with only minor variations, and now include a multifunction steering wheel. Interesting that cruise control stays on, even if you change gears. Not sure if that is that a good thing or a bad thing.Seat adjustment is still rudimentary with stiff winders for the back rest. Fine, if you want incremental adjustments, but a nuisance for some, such as older people with arthritis. That is a shame because older people would be attracted to the high hip level for entry, wide access doors and upright driving position.Rear seat passengers get plenty of leg-room with 805mm between the front and rear seats, while shoulder room is up 97mm and boot space 15 per cent bigger, with two different floor levels. Importantly, the rear seats are now split and recline for more diverse cargo-carrying capacity.Above you is a concertina sun-roof that allows a bigger area of glass. The interior sunroof cover is opaque, so it allows a bit of light through, even when shut. It would probably also make the car warmer when parked in the sun.The cabin is quieter than before, except for the intrusion of engine noise. And the 2-litre engine does sound noisy. In fact, my daughter thought it was a diesel.It clatters and groans until it evens out over 3000rpm. Low-down power is lacking and you can easily stall on hill starts unless you give it a fair revving. However, mid-range and top-end power is much improved. The turbo should have more low-down torque.Under way, the new baby Merc feels solid and riveted to the road. There is no lifting and spinning of wheels around bumpy corners, little understeer, and certainly no fears of rolling.The ride is good for a car with a 2568mm wheelbase. Front wheels feel the sharper bumps, but the rear spherical parabolic-spring axle rides through quite comfortably. The rear drum brakes finally have been replaced with discs and the result is responsive, progressive stoppers.This two-litre three-door variant is really in a class of its own.There is no direct Jazz comparison. No close rivals at all.

The Mercedes-Benz baby has grown up and offers noticeably improved handling and ride comfort over the previous model.The A 150, A 170 and A 200 were tested at the launch this week were five-speed manuals and an automatic version of the A 200.The drive program consisted of tight and twisty roads and even a nice little dirt track with plenty of off-camber corners and slippery patches to give the ESP a real workout.On the freeway all models offered a comfortable ride. Wind noise was minimal but tyre noise from the A 170 and A 200's bigger 16-inch wheels was noticeable. Despite high winds, the new A-Class did not get blown over the road like the previous model did on test and definitely inspired more confidence behind the wheel.On the open road both the A 170 and A 200 cruised easily and effortlessly, the smaller A 150 needing a little bit more work on some of the bigger hills.Through the tight and twisty roads the cars kept their line over some harsh irregularities and while the ESP did show its presence it was only when a deliberately overactive right foot caused some sliding through corners.The dirt section gave a great indication of the ESP.While the little yellow exclamation light was extremely active through this section it was being pushed quite hard. It did not back the driver out too early but was able to be used to push that little bit harder.Inside, the quality of the finish has been upgraded and refreshed and further adds to what was an already stylish and funky interior.