Mercedes-Benz A-Class A200 BlueEFFICIENCY Style Review: Third time's the charm

What we like:

Excellent handling that has gone far beyond its predecessors. Great design that looks the part of a youthful sporty hatch.

What we dislike:

Short on legroom in the rear for taller passengers. Boot is a little small compared to class standards.

If the change on the outside isn’t significant enough for you, once you step into the new A-class you will immediately realize this third generation has come a long way. Powered by an effervescent 1.6-litre turbocharged inline four, the powerplant offers robust acceleration off the line with the century sprint despatched in 8.3 seconds.

Handling it seems is where Mercedes-Benz worked most of their magic. Unlike the previous generations of the A-class that were tall and ungainly like an awkward teenage girl, this new A-class is the same lass but more planted and confident.

The multi-link suspension in the rear does a great job of keeping things in check as you make rapid progress over uneven surfaces. Steering is in a word, sublime. Something quite unexpected from an electric rack but while the gritty feel no longer sticks, the accuracy and speed of the rack does impress. Enthusiastic drivers won’t be disappointed here.

The sure footedness of the chassis does come with some trade off in the form of a firmer ride. It however stops short of being uncomfortable. The 7G-tronic cog box proves worthy of its dual clutch moniker with its quick shifts and works equally well when left to its own devices.

Suffice to say, the latest A-class is a quantum leap over previous generations. What was a mediocre performer has blossomed into a fun peppy automobile that gives its driver a fair exchange of miles for smiles.

Mercedes-Benz is so pleased with the new baby that they’ve decided to stuff the world’s most powerful inline four into it and slap an AMG badge on. Considering the driving pleasure it already offers, we can’t imagine what a gremlin it’ll be with 350bhp under the hood.

Credits: Story and Photos by Benjamin G. Kline