SA Roadtests
South Africa
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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here probably applies to the models you can get at home.
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Published in Witness Wheels on Thursday August 15, 2013
For once, an “all-new” version of an existing model line really is completely different from the one that went before. Mercedes-Benz’s A-Class is no longer the tall and skinny little car that, despite technical improvements, never quite shook off its reputation for falling over when swerving for elk in Scandinavia. It now has street cred and looks more like a regular hatchback, while standing 160 mm less tall than its predecessor with a centre of gravity 40 mm lower.
As with most model progressions, it grew longer; longer even than the original B-Class, but it’s still reasonably compact at 4292 mm on a wheelbase of 2699 mm. Then the engineers gave the range a new set of motors, new gearboxes and more electronics and aligned it toward a more youthful market. There is even a 155-kW A250 Sport model and a fire breathing AMG. Aunt Matilda had better get her ‘young’ on or move across to something else.
OM651-series four-cylinder diesel engines were introduced in 2008 with the primary goal of creating a common platform to maximise parts commonality between Daimler engines. One offshoot of that development was that they can be used either longitudinally or transversely. Emission standards and fuel efficiency were also basic design considerations.
Using recirculated exhaust gas to reduce oxygen in the cylinders, so "starving" any reactions that would produce nitrous oxides; they readily meet euro 5 emissions standards. Actually, the 220CDI motor in our test car was 25-percent more economical than the old 200CDI; meeting euro 6 standards due to be introduced in 2015.
The CVT gearbox was axed in favour of a new 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission that’s smaller, lighter and more efficient; resulting in claimed combined cycle fuel economy of 4,3 litres per 100 km. Its party trick is in having two fluid pumps; one mechanical and the other electrical. The electric one maintains pressure when the engine shuts down during auto stop-start, so there’s no delay in pulling away again.
As for electronics, every A-class car boasts air conditioning, multi-function USB audio, electric windows all around, headlamp assist, a 12-button multifunction steering wheel and a comprehensive safety package that includes collision prevention assistance. For the youth market and other technophiles, a suite of voice, Bluetooth and communication options are available. Then, to cover practically any need or want, choices of three appointment lines, a trio of design packages and yet more options can be added.
The first thing that struck us on the way home from collecting it was how smooth and willing the engine is. Illicit speeds sneak up on one extremely easily. That’s not to say the engine is ultra-quiet by any means; you always know it’s a diesel. Further clues to diesel power and turbocharging are the way it loafs along at 2000 rpm in seventh at 120 km/h, but has bags of pulling power over a wide range when you need it.
A longer, lower and sleeker shape is all very well, but how has it affected practicality? The boot certainly looks more usable. Neat and square with a pair of netted side pockets, four lashing rings, two bag hooks, a light and a 12-Volt socket, it loads at mid-thigh height and is about ten centimetres deep. Its hard measurements are a touch bigger at 341 litres VDA with seatbacks up and 1157 with them folded; versus 224 and 1120 on the old one. There is a penalty though; no spare wheel, just runflats.
Whereas we commented on “room for four fully grown people” the last time we tested an A-class, in 2009, the new one is a little tight both on knee space in the back seat and room for feet if the driver’s chair is adjusted all the way down. The load-through panel is potentially quite useful but you first need to lift the centre head restraint to get at it. While we’re whining, people with large feet will find it difficult to get back out again, so if you’re transporting big people, best buy a B-Class.
In front, the surroundings are like almost every other Mercedes, down to the very discreet little shift lever on the steering column. Where it does show its entry level status is in the mechanical adjusters for the front chairs, although to be fair, both have all the needed lifts and tilts including powered lumbar support buttons. Other items carried over from upmarket models include the selector for eco, sport and manual driving modes and the steering wheel shift paddles.
The all-new A-Class: it’s all-Mercedes, more conventional and hopefully rid of the “elk” tag forever.
Test car from MBSA press fleet
The numbers
Price: R355 000
Engine: 2143 cc, DOHC, 16-valve, turbodiesel
Power: 125 kW between 3400 and 4000 rpm
Torque: 350 Nm between 1400 and 3400 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 8,2 seconds
Maximum speed: 220 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 6,8 l/100 km
Tank: 50 litres
Warranty and maintenance: 6 years/100 000 km
To read about the Mercedes-Benz A250 Sport, click here
This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.
I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.
My reviews and launch reports appear on Thursdays in the Wheels supplement to The Witness, South Africa's oldest continuously running newspaper, and occasionally on Saturdays in Weekend Witness as well. I drive eight to ten vehicles each month, most months of the year (except over the festive season) so not everything gets published in the paper. Those that are, get a tagline but the rest is virgin, unpublished and unedited by the political-correctness police.
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SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8