Of the three engines Mercedes currently offers on the new A-Class, this is the last to be subjected to an acceleration test. It's the A 250, way more powerful than the previously shown A 180 d and A 200.
But let's get one thing straight: other A-Class models have been prepared. There's the 109 HP A 160 and the 136 HP A 180, both of which use a 1.3-liter turbo. The A 220 gets a 190 HP 2-liter, which will be the go-to unit for the sedan model as well.
Getting back to the A 250, this remains the fastest, most powerful non-AMG version of the hatchback. Just like it was in 2012, power comes from a 2-liter turbo engine. It's got significant efficiency upgrades and that particle filter that the EU wants.
However, we're more interested in the power, which has gone from 211 to 224 HP. With a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 6.2 seconds, the A 250 doesn't have mind-bending performance, but it can match a Golf GTI.
One of the performance test videos shows the A 250 reaching 200 km/h in 25.7 seconds under less-than-ideal autobahn conditions. For the record, a 230 HP Golf GTI with DSG is supposed to pass that speed barrier in 24.2 seconds.
The two cars have a lot in common, including the use of twin-clutch gearboxes. While the GTI is an icon, there are still plenty of reasons to pick an A 250, not least of which is that interior or the fact that you can have all-wheel drive.
It's not cheap, though. The A 250 starts from €36,461, and that's before any options. But the AMG line body kit looks too good to miss out on, and the red paint just amplifies the sporty appearance. Want a nice leather interior and the latest in safety systems? You'll spend over 40k, but it's not like a good Golf GTI is cheap either.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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