By JAY WONG
IF there’s ever a compact sedan that’s to be had, look no further than the Mercedes-Benz A 250 Sedan (V177) AMG Line.
Now available as a locally-assembled (CKD) vehicle, the A 250 sits between the entry-level A 200 Sedan and the Mercedes-AMG A 35 4Matic Sedan. The latter is the apex predator of this model line-up.
Perfectly sized for that young single executive, this A-Class Sedan isn’t too cramped for space with a useable 420-litre boot and is also the epitome of the phrase “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.
Rather than the Renault-sourced M282 1.3-litre turbocharged engine with a respectable 163PS and 250Nm and managed by a seven-speed dual clutch (wet) Getrag gearbox used in the A 200, the A 250 instead gets a Mercedes-Benz M260 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing a proper dollop of 224PS and 350Nm.
The same gearbox manages power delivery to the front wheels here as well.
Exterior
Out of the box, the A 250 is a definite looker - from the outside in, having in its possession a good combination of style, simplicity, sportiness and elegance to win over this writer whole-heartedly.
Below, the faux brake ducts flank the main honeycomb grille and while they seemed to have no purpose, they do have some aero-effect at high speed by connecting to vents on either side just forward of the front wheels that help the front end stay planted via venturi effect.
The side profile presents its curvaceous disposition and while it shows off rather cavernous wheel wells, they are properly filled out with five twin-spoked 18-inch AMG-badged wheels fitted with 225/45 series tyres which aren’t too low profile and can be said to be the car’s first line of defence against any rough road-going spots.
At the rear, the boot shows off a slight ducktail to capture some air to help keep the posterior planted and coupled with the rear diffuser, a strong sense of stability can be had during high speed cruises.
Vents just aft of the rear tyres and the chromed exhaust outlets are there purely for looks.
Interior
The cabin looks like a thoroughly blacked-out canvas with a combination of Artico man-made leather and Dinamica microfibre while satin-finished metal parts, piano-black plastics and red-stitching litter to the interior for contrast.
Colour comes from the dual-10.25-inch displays with 64-colour ambient lighting system, 10 colour themes as well as the Mercedes me connectivity and that “Hey Mercedes” voice recognition command.
The “black” interior does well to hide the cabin’s spatial deficiencies and brings about a more cosy feeling instead with all controls easily within reach and there’s three USB Type C ports - two for the front and one for the rear of the cabin, to help keep gadgets topped off with power.
Although the front door cards may seem lacking in stowage space - even more so for the rear doors, they are still able to accommodate a wide variety of water bottles while deep cup holders help to hold your choice of beverage securely during commutes.
Moving to the aft, the rear bench seemed a little on the tight side and would ideally fit two with an adequate amount of leg and headroom.
Unfolding the rear centre armrest will allow seated passengers to deploy the integrated cup holders.
All-around visibility is deemed good and the inclusion of a bezel-less rearview mirror adds to this effect.
While the powered seats with three memory slots provide some stiff opposition, they do very well in the support department for both lumbar and thighs.
When out and about, the A 250 is nothing but smooth in its operation and drivers will be happy to note how well-insulated the interior feels against noise, vibration and harshness.
At slow speeds, uneven road surfaces will be noticed and the somewhat girthy steering almost feels effortless to handle.
Cruise along highways and the appreciation takes a step higher with very little wind noise intrusion as the suspension simply soaks up imperfections.
This particular A Class provides thee pre-programmed driving modes of Eco, Comfort and Sport, a fourth Individual mode was preferred in which Steering and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) were left in Sport mode while Drive was set to Comfort.
This allows for a more engaging drive that accords a somewhat responsive throttle, taught steering feel (lightens up to aid with manoeuvrability when in tight spaces) and a non-intrusive ESP when at speed.
Paddling through the gears when in Manual mode was found not to be too abrupt, in fact, it was more skewed towards the smoother side of things.
When taking on tightly twisted routes, roll is perceptible - just not alarming in its degree with steering response feeling sharpish and when coupled with plenty of access to the engine’s 163PS and 250Nm, it drastically transforms into a proper thoroughbred that keeps one coming back for more.
Combine this with its strong brakes and it certainly makes for a confidence-inspiring drive.
Verdict
The cosy and quiet cabin does feel arguably upmarket, somewhat sporty, chic and technologically advanced.
If anything, this little sedan, with an on-the-road without insurance price of RM243,857, is capable of providing plenty of smiles-per-miles - even for more experienced drivers.
Spatially, it may seem compact, yet still accommodating when considering its overall size and the young (including the young-at-heart) would still find the A 250 a delight.
Specifications
Engine: 1,991cc, four-cylinder, turbocharged
Maximum power: 224PS at 5,500rpm
Maximum torque: 350Nm from 1,800 - 4,000rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch (wet)
Acceleration (0-100kph): 6.3 seconds
Top speed: 250kph
Features: Seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability programme, blind spot assist, active parking assist, active brake assist, exit warning assist, Pre-Safe positioning for front powered AMG sports seats with driver-side memory, rain-sensing wiper, emergency call system (Hermes), cruise control, LED High-performance headlamps, AMG body styling, AMG Line, lowered comfort suspension, Dynamic Select switch (Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual), auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors (powered), keyless-entry with push-start button, MBUX multimedia system with MB Connect (Vehicle Setup and Monitoring), Smartphone integration package, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, remote engine-start, 10.25-inch instrument cluster and 10.25 touch-sensitive media display, touchpad with haptic feedback, engine sound via speakers, reverse camera, 18-inch AMG five twin-spoke alloy wheels fitted with 225/45 series tyres (includes tyre-pressure monitoring system), Active Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Keyless-Go Comfort Package and wireless charging
Price: RM243,857 (on-the-road without insurance and SST)
Warranty: Four-year unlimited-mileage
