Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £14,290 to £18,645
Much better perceived quality in cabin, it's very good to drive, even more spacious inside
Get the wrong tyre/engine combo and the ride quality goes off, still only five seats available
From the standpoint of dynamics and perceived quality the new A-Class is a huge improvement. Adding a three-door model was a masterstroke.
The new A-Class has an even stronger structure than the car it replaces, with more use of ultra high-strength steel alloys, especially for safety related components. The A-Class also retains the 'sandwich floor' construction, which allows the engine and transmission to slide underneath the car and not into the cabin in the event of a head-on collision. That also provides more deformation and energy absorption, which would otherwise have required the A-Class to have a much longer nose. Inside, there are standard fit dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, as well as side airbags in the front. Rear sidebags and window curtain airbags are optional extras. Seat belt tensioners with load limiters are standard fit. Anti lock brakes are standard and the A-Class also benefits from the latest generation ESP (electronic stability programme), which helps prevent the car from sliding off its intended cornering trajectory. Or falling over when it sees an elk.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Mercedes A-Class
wrote on 16 08 2006