The local launch of Mercedes-Benz’s all-new A-Class is a few weeks away, and with that, the German automaker has finally revealed pricing for the premium hatch.
According to their configurator, which has gone live at https://www.mercedes-benz.co.za/passengercars/configurator.html , two variants of the Mercedes A-Class will be available at launch - the A200 and the A250.
The A200, priced from R499 000, will use a turbocharged Renault-Nissan developed 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol motor, good for 120kw and 250nm. This is up from the 115kw and 250nm produced by the W176 A200’s 1.5-litre turbo motor. And unlike the W176 which was offered in both manual and automatic, it seems – according to the configurator – that the new A200 will be only be available with a 7-speed DCT transmission.
The sportier A250 starts at R593 300, and uses an evolution of the current car’s turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol motor, and now makes 165kw and 350nm. It produces marginally more grunt than its predecessor, up from 160kw and 350nm, so expect an improvement on the W176’s 0-100kph sprint time of 6.3 seconds. It will also only be available with a 7-speed DCT transmission.
While the initial reaction has been that this is deemed “pricey”, it’s important to note that this pricing has been kept very much in line with the pricing for the previous-generation A-Class, which is still on sale. And when you factor in that the standard features on the new car is far more extensive than its predecessor and its competitors, the pricing appears quite fair. As expected, the options list is extensive, but it’s good to see that Mercedes-Benz's spectacular MBUX multimedia system is standard equipment in the new A.
One of the biggest technical differences though between the two models that form the basis for the new A-Class’ South African assault, is that the A200 uses a torsion beam rear suspension setup, whilst the A250 makes use of a four-link suspension setup at the rear. Also, surprisingly, colour options for the A3-rival are limited, with only four metallic, and three standard colours being offered.
No news on the Mercedes-AMG A35 and A45 siblings, but expect those to only reach our shores late in 2019.
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 new Mercedes-Benz A-Class cost in South Africa?
The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class starts at R499,000 for the A200 variant and R593,300 for the sportier A250, making it competitively priced against the previous generation while offering significantly more standard features.
Q: What engines are available in the new Mercedes A-Class?
The A200 gets a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 120kW and 250Nm, while the A250 uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol motor making 165kW and 350Nm, both paired exclusively with a 7-speed DCT transmission.
Q: Is the new Mercedes A-Class worth buying over competitors?
Yes, the new A-Class offers excellent value with its extensive standard features including the brilliant MBUX multimedia system, improved performance figures, and pricing that matches the previous generation while delivering a significantly better package.
Q: What's the difference between the A200 and A250 models?
Beyond the engine differences, the A200 uses a torsion beam rear suspension setup while the A250 gets a more sophisticated suspension system, plus the A250 offers better performance with its more powerful 2.0-litre engine for an extra R94,300.
Should You Buy It?
Yes, you should seriously consider the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The best entry-level luxury hatch under R600,000 in South Africa is the A200 at R499,000, which delivers genuine Mercedes luxury, the excellent MBUX system as standard, and improved performance over its predecessor. If your budget stretches to R593,300, the A250 offers proper hot hatch performance with 165kW and a more refined suspension setup. While some might grumble about the pricing, you're getting significantly more car for the same money as the outgoing model, making this the smartest way to get into a three-pointed star without breaking the bank.
