When you’ve got a tried-and-trusted formula, there’s no need to change it.
Which is why the Mercedes-Benz A-Class has been given a nip and tuck, rather than a full overall, for the model ‘23 year.
The A-Class as we know and love it - ie, the third generation variant - has been going strong for a decade now, having first been launched in 2012. The less said about the boxy old A-Class from the late 90s and early Noughties the better…
And the A-Class will continue to go toe-to-toe with rivals like the Audi A3 and the BMW 1 Series.
So, what new things does this update bring?
Well, the A-Class is still available as both a hatchback and a saloon.
Design wise, there’s a new front radiator grille, redesigned rear diffuser, as well as some new alloy wheels and paint to choose from.
Mercedes-Benz describes the exterior as ‘sporty, muscular’ and possessing what it calls a steep ‘shark nose’, and it’s certainly more angular than the Volkswagen Golf.
In the interior, dual 7 inch and 10.25 inch infotainment screens are now standard, as are a Nappa leather steering wheel and reversing camera, while the centre console has also been redrawn. There are also sporty new seats as standard.
Meanwhile there’s also an update to the powertrains on offer.
The headline stat is that the new plug-in hybrid engines - ie, the ‘A 250 e Hatchback’ and the ‘A 250 e Saloon’ - enjoy a welcome boost in power of around 7 hp compared with the old versions, as well as an increase in electric range.
It takes overall power with both the PHEV hatchback and the PHEV saloon.
n to 218 hp, while the plug-in A-Class is also now able to travel for up to 50 miles using battery power alone.
The improved battery can now also be charged with alternating current and up to 11 kW, instead of only 7.4 kW as before. A 22 kW DC charge from 10% to 80% takes around 25 minutes. Make sure you get the most out of every charge and consult our guide on picking your idea electric car charger.
The rest of the petrol and diesel engines in the A-Class armoury are all mild-hybrids that use a new belt-driven starter-generator (RSG) that ‘improves the comfort and experience’ for those behind the wheel.
As before, besides the regular A-Class, there’s also the sporty Mercedes-AMG variants - the A 35 and the A 45 S, both of which boast ‘4MATIC’ all-wheel-drive and exhilarating performance. There’s 421 hp on offer with the A 45 S hatch, which is more than the Audi RS 3 or the Volkswagen Golf R.
Elsewhere at Mercedes-Benz, there’s also a slight update for the B-Class - which brings changes that are almost identical to the ones dished out to the A-Class in terms of style, tech and engines
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