You could argue that the first two generations of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class were quite ahead of their time, from a number of reasons.
Created from scratch, with no other Mercedes-Benz cousins in any way, shape, or form, they looked like no other three-pointed star vehicle before them.
They introduced features like a double floor and tilted transversal engines for improved safety and interior space versus exterior size, but on the other hand their peculiar look didn't actually made them feel like cool cars.
The third generation of the A-Class went in the exact opposite direction compared to its predecessors, with Mercedes-Benz creating a cool-looking car that is pretty much created on the compact segment template.
Since the new A-Class W176 is like the Volkswagen Golf from Mercedes-Benz if you like, there are a lot of journalists that have started actually pitting the two models against each othe in comparison tests.
This kind of works better with the higher-powered versions, with the closest battle being fought between the Mercedes-Benz A 250 and the Volkswagen GTi. These exact two models were put in a comparison by the folks at the South African edition of Car Magazine, and their review is a pretty nice read, despite the conclusions not exactly favoring the A-Class.
They introduced features like a double floor and tilted transversal engines for improved safety and interior space versus exterior size, but on the other hand their peculiar look didn't actually made them feel like cool cars.
The third generation of the A-Class went in the exact opposite direction compared to its predecessors, with Mercedes-Benz creating a cool-looking car that is pretty much created on the compact segment template.
Since the new A-Class W176 is like the Volkswagen Golf from Mercedes-Benz if you like, there are a lot of journalists that have started actually pitting the two models against each othe in comparison tests.
This kind of works better with the higher-powered versions, with the closest battle being fought between the Mercedes-Benz A 250 and the Volkswagen GTi. These exact two models were put in a comparison by the folks at the South African edition of Car Magazine, and their review is a pretty nice read, despite the conclusions not exactly favoring the A-Class.