With the race for the top spot among luxury carmakers heating up, Mercedes-Benz is switching strategy in India. Much like rivals Audi and BMW, the company is lowering the price point at which you can own a three-pointed star. To this end, it is about to launch its most affordable model, the A-class, at an estimated price of Rs. 20-23 lakh. And most significantly, the driver-focussed A 180 marks a change in Merc’s traditional approach – targeting the self-driven rather than the chauffeur-driven luxury car buyer.
What’s more, the company will have the first-mover advantage in this segment, as rival BMW’s luxury hatchback, the 1-series, is expected here only later this year. The biggest hurdle in Mercedes’ path, however, is that Indians generally associate luxury cars with saloons, and more recently, SUVs. So the A-class’s success here hinges on more car buyers starting to accept premium hatchbacks as luxury offerings.
It certainly makes a good first impression – the A-class looks simply stunning. It’s a youthful, fresh design that is markedly different from the vast, regal look of traditional Mercs. The grille comprises 302 diamond-shaped aluminium bits, the headlamps are flared, and bold cuts and slashes run along the side of the car. The youth-focussed design continues with the wide haunches at the rear, the low roof, twin exhaust pipes and 17-inch smoked grey alloys.
The 1.6-litre turbocharged, direct-injection petrol engine under the hood of this A 180 powers the front wheels via a seven-speed, twin-clutch transmission. And, at 4,292mm long, 1,780mm wide and 1,433mm tall, it’s no ‘small car’; in fact it is almost as big as a Ford Fiesta saloon.
On the inside, there’s decent space in the rear by hatchback standards, although the sloping roof means the headroom is tight, and the small windows and black insides give it a cooped-up feeling. This back seat certainly won’t offer the comfort you associate with a luxury car, but then this car is meant to pander more to the driver.
The rest of the cabin is just as plush as an E-class, but feels far more modern. The SLS AMG-style triple air-con vents, the free-standing screen for the COMAND interface, the sculpted steering wheel and the chequered-design dials add to the youthful flair. The single-piece front seats are superbly snug, and the knobs, switches and stalks work precisely. The pedals are slightly offset, but this is made up for by the fantastic driving position. However, the steeply-raked windscreen and the small rear window compromise visibility, which is bothersome in traffic and when parking.
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