← Continued from Page 1 of "2012 Mercedes A-Class First Drive Review"Once you climb aboard, you'll notice that the cabin offers a high-tech feeling, even when talking about the lower spec models. While the shape of the glass area, that of the rear window, as well as the beefy rear pillars give the car the aforementioned sharp appearance, all these features turn into drawbacks when you're inside the car, as they limit visibility and having this kind of issues with a car that plays in a class where practicality is a rule means that we've got quite a problem here. The car we drove easily dealt with this by using parking sensors and a reverse camera.
Forget the high driving position of previous A-Class models, the new one is much lower and also makes you feel better. Combine that with the high dashboard and you'll get the feeling of a special car, one that comes to protect you and fits you.
We drove the middle-of-the-range A200 with a manual gearbox, which meant that we got a turbocharged 1.6-liter petrol engine delivering 160 hp and 249 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque, with the unit working with a six-speed manual.
The time we spent behind the wheel was pleasant, the car now knows how to offer something from every menu - it can be a little bit sporty, but it's also pretty comfortable and, in the end, you do get that feeling of refinement that each three-pointed star-gifted car should come with.
The A-Class reaches its limits when you want to order specialties - while the car manages to cater to... most of most people's transportation needs, but it doesn't go very deep under your skin. For example, we were pleased and relaxed when we finished our test, but this wat that kind of driving experience that you can describe using just one word.
While Mercedes played the hatchback game using its own rules in the past, the carmaker is now paying close attention to the market. Well, it may be a tad too attentive to what the customers want. To be more precise, the new A-Class is a car that leaves no doubt about its commercial intentions.
The styling cues of the exterior are exactly what people want these days and Merc doesn't care what happens in more than a few years' time, the interior brings that "cocoon" feeling everybody talks about when describing a premium car and the feeling you get when you sit behind the wheel will certainly appeal to a large share of the market.
While all the aforementioned details, which, after all, make up the whole car, are perfect for the time being, this approach also means that the A-Class doesn't quite have its own personality. Will this be a problem for buyers or will its rich bouquet of assets be enough? Let's fill the A-Class' hourglass with some sand and wait for the answer.
Forget the high driving position of previous A-Class models, the new one is much lower and also makes you feel better. Combine that with the high dashboard and you'll get the feeling of a special car, one that comes to protect you and fits you.
We drove the middle-of-the-range A200 with a manual gearbox, which meant that we got a turbocharged 1.6-liter petrol engine delivering 160 hp and 249 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque, with the unit working with a six-speed manual.
The time we spent behind the wheel was pleasant, the car now knows how to offer something from every menu - it can be a little bit sporty, but it's also pretty comfortable and, in the end, you do get that feeling of refinement that each three-pointed star-gifted car should come with.
The A-Class reaches its limits when you want to order specialties - while the car manages to cater to... most of most people's transportation needs, but it doesn't go very deep under your skin. For example, we were pleased and relaxed when we finished our test, but this wat that kind of driving experience that you can describe using just one word.
While Mercedes played the hatchback game using its own rules in the past, the carmaker is now paying close attention to the market. Well, it may be a tad too attentive to what the customers want. To be more precise, the new A-Class is a car that leaves no doubt about its commercial intentions.
The styling cues of the exterior are exactly what people want these days and Merc doesn't care what happens in more than a few years' time, the interior brings that "cocoon" feeling everybody talks about when describing a premium car and the feeling you get when you sit behind the wheel will certainly appeal to a large share of the market.
While all the aforementioned details, which, after all, make up the whole car, are perfect for the time being, this approach also means that the A-Class doesn't quite have its own personality. Will this be a problem for buyers or will its rich bouquet of assets be enough? Let's fill the A-Class' hourglass with some sand and wait for the answer.
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