Mercedes’ A-Class wins 2019 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year
Following its debut last year, the tech-laden Mercedes-Benz A-Class has steam-rolled the competition and has taken top honours at the 2019 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year, winning the coveted Car of the Year title.
The Porsche Cayenne nabbed second place, while the brilliant Volvo XC40 rounded off the top three. The win was an extremely momentous occasion for Mercedes-Benz, which last won the South African Car of the Year in 1987 with the Mercedes-Benz 260E. Porsche last won in 2018 winner was with the Panamera, while Volvo’s XC90 wore the crown in 2016.
In a historic first for the AutoTrader South African Car of the Year, five categories were introduced. These included the Medium Sedan/Hatch Category, which saw the Mercedes-Benz A-Class taking gold yet again, the Premium Sedan Category was won by the Lexus ES 250, the Leisure SUV/Crossover Category was won by the Porsche Cayenne, whilst Suzuki scored two wins – with the Suzuki Swift winning the Urban Compact Category and the Suzuki Jimny taking the Lifestyle Utility Category.
The A-Class features an industry-leading, in-vehicle command centre, Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), pairing natural voice recognition with voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) technology to seamlessly integrate with today’s multitasking lifestyle. “With ‘Hey Mercedes’, the A-Class has not only revolutionized the way a driver and their car interact, but completely redefined modern luxury in the compact car segment,” says Selvin Govender, Marketing Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa.
George Mienie, AutoTrader CEO, believes that the A-Class is a truly deserving winner. “The AutoTrader South African Car of the Year has to represent innovation and ingenuity, while setting new benchmarks in its market segment. There is absolutely no doubt that the A-Class does this,” he notes.
It certainly wasn’t unexpected though; the jury members were full of praise for the A-Class during the test days. “The judges were particularly impressed with its interior comfort, stunning design, innovative technology, terrific road manners and exemplary safety features. Furthermore, the advanced engine offers the optimal blend of efficiency, performance and driving fun,” confirms Rubin van Niekerk, chairman of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ).
Incredibly, members of the public reached the same conclusion as the highly qualified jury members, who collectively have 584 years of experience in the motor industry. For the first time in the competition’s 34-year-long history, members of the public could cast a vote via the AutoTrader website – and pick a car that they believed most deserving of the AutoTrader South African Car of the Year title. “After 55 000 consumer votes, I am delighted to reveal that the public vote yielded exactly the same result: they also chose the Mercedes-Benz A-Class,” Mienie reveals.
Also worth a look: the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Celebrates 140 Years with an Epic Glob and the Mercedes-Benz Gla.
FAQ
Q: What does the Mercedes-Benz A-Class cost in South Africa?
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class starts from around R499,900 for the A200 and goes up to R699,900 for the AMG A35, making it surprisingly competitive in the premium hatchback segment when you consider all the tech you're getting.
Q: Is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class worth buying?
Absolutely, especially if you want proper German luxury without breaking the bank completely. The MBUX system alone is worth the price of admission, and winning Car of the Year isn't something that happens by accident.
Q: What engine options are available in the Mercedes A-Class?
You can choose from the 120kW A200 with a 1.3-litre turbo engine, the 140kW A250 with a 2.0-litre turbo, or go full tilt with the AMG A35 that pumps out 225kW from its hand-built 2.0-litre turbo.
Q: How does the Mercedes A-Class compare to BMW 1 Series and Audi A3?
The A-Class absolutely smashes both with its MBUX infotainment system, better interior materials, and more advanced safety tech, plus it won Car of the Year while the others didn't, which says everything really.
Q: What makes the Mercedes A-Class special compared to other hatchbacks?
The "Hey Mercedes" voice command system is genuinely revolutionary, the build quality feels properly premium unlike most compact cars, and you're getting S-Class technology in a package that costs less than R700,000.
Should You Buy It?
Yes, you absolutely should buy the Mercedes-Benz A-Class if you have between R500,000 and R700,000 to spend on a premium hatchback. The best luxury compact car under R800,000 in South Africa is definitely the A-Class, especially the A250 at around R599,900 which hits the sweet spot for performance and features. This isn't just marketing hype, it genuinely won Car of the Year for a reason. The MBUX system makes every other infotainment setup feel like it belongs in a museum, the interior quality is miles ahead of anything else in this price bracket, and you're getting proper Mercedes-Benz engineering. Sure, it's more expensive than a Golf GTI or Honda Civic Type R, but you're paying for tech that feels like it came from the future and build quality that'll still feel solid in ten years' time.
