THE A-CLASS hardly got off on the right foot. When Mercedes-Benz presented its first compact in 1998, the car flipped over on its first press launch in Sweden. The marque gave the little car a few tweaks and it sold well, however.
The all-new A-Class is unmistakably Mercedes-Benz. The car has proudly retained its pioneering sandwich construction - with the engine laid flat under the cabin to save space. The cabin is roomier and passengers are safer in a frontal crash. Expanding the range's repertoire in this competitive market, a youthful three-door variant has been introduced, along with three new diesel and three new petrol engines and a two-litre petrol turbo that will lead the range later this year.
At the moment, Hong Kong will only get the five-door A200 variant, but compared with the former model, this new 'A' has shed its puppy fat. Chiselled flanks and a more angular visage, similar to the stunning CLS, work wonders to the basic one-box silhouette.
All-new body panels ensure more aerodynamic efficiency and fuel economy and manage top marks in crash protection. Sharper-looking headlamp clusters can house powerful bi-xenon units (for $8,300 extra). The cabin's brighter. Although our demonstrator wasn't equipped with the panoramic louvred sunroof (a $9,400 option), the huge glasshouse and light-coloured interior cheer me up on this gloomy Monday morning.
Taller, wider and longer than its predecessor, this A200 Elegance version offers enough room to rival its C-Class brothers, with the added advantage of a higher seating position and better visibility. The flexible interior packaging offers a near-infinite combination of folding and removable seats to accommodate luggage.
The well-formed seats are manually adjusted (an electric seat $3,000 extra), and have a tilting, telescoping steering wheel that accommodates drivers of any reasonable size and shape. There is enough shoulder- and leg-room for three medium-sized adults in the back.