In Ukraine, the Mercedes-Benz A-class is traditionally considered a "women's" car. And the appearance of a version with an automatic transmission only strengthened this stereotype.
2004 Mercedes-Benz A-class (W169)
© Photo: Sergey Krestov, 5 Koleso
Women always pay attention to appearance — whether it's clothing, interior, or a car. Here's my acquaintance who was choosing an SUV for herself. She looked through a bunch of options and seemed to find the ideal one in all characteristics. But here's the problem: the suspension springs were visible from the rear. That became the decisive factor. In the end, she bought a completely different car, much less suitable in terms of parameters, but without those "extra" details.
The creators of the A-class clearly know about such female preferences. After the facelift, the car received a swift, taut silhouette that invariably draws approving glances.
2004 Mercedes-Benz A-class (W169)
© Photo: Sergey Krestov, 5 Koleso
The unusually high sill when entering the cabin immediately catches the eye. This is a feature of the once revolutionary sandwich-panel floor design: in a frontal impact, the powertrain goes down under the floor. But in rainy weather, there's a risk of soiling your clothes. And although the seating position is high, the driver sits almost reclined. The completely flat floor is also unusual — there are no footwells here.
The quality of the interior trim raises no questions: everything is done neatly, the materials are pleasant. But the feeling that you're in a real "Mercedes" doesn't arise. The A- and B-class are a completely different story. Only the star on the steering wheel, the standard DaimlerChrysler radio, and the familiar controls remind you of belonging to the famous brand. Special attention deserves the steering column stalk, which houses the controls for lights, turn signals, and wipers. You need to get used to such a number of functions. The instrument panel is simple, but all the necessary information is easy to read. The onboard computer buttons are located directly on the steering wheel.
In motion, the little Mercedes also doesn't behave like the older models. Instead of the stately softness of the "adult" suspensions, here are stiff settings. The result is a fairly lively and nimble car. Passengers feel not only large potholes but also changes in the road surface. Moreover, it's not just felt — you can clearly hear in the cabin what's happening under the wheels.
2004 Mercedes-Benz A-class (W169)
© Photo: Sergey Krestov, 5 Koleso
The driver has it even harder. The steering wheel doesn't give a clear feel of the road; the feedback is vague. In general, there's no desire to drive the A-class fast and with enthusiasm.
But for the city, this little one is created perfectly. The light steering wheel and minimal effort on the pedals make hours of standing in traffic jams quite bearable. And the continuously variable transmission Autotronic finally simplifies driving. Smooth and logical changes in gear ratios allow confident maneuvering in traffic. The transmission has two modes — Comfort and Sport. Honestly, I didn't notice much difference between them. In Sport, the dynamics are slightly better, the engine revs higher, but fuel consumption also noticeably increases. It's most pleasant to drive in Comfort mode.
There are no complaints about the engines. The working rev range is wide, and the torque of the two-liter engine is enough for both city and highway.
2004 Mercedes-Benz A-class (W169)
© Photo: Sergey Krestov, 5 Koleso
So, the version with an automatic is an ideal choice for an active city woman. The most affordable "Mercedes" with an automatic transmission in a three-door body and a 1.5 engine starts from 20,100 euros. The base package includes front electric windows, front and side airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, and ABS. The five-door version with a two-liter engine will cost at least 23,400 euros. The top modification of the A-class is priced at 28,400 euros.
Technical specifications of Mercedes-Benz A 200
Curb weight, kg – 1270
Gross weight, kg – 1695
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm – 3838/1764/1593
Wheelbase, mm – 2568
Trunk volume, l – 435/1370
Maximum speed, km/h – 195
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s – 10.2
Control fuel consumption, l/100 km:
- city cycle – 11
- suburban – 6.1
- combined – 7.9
Fuel tank volume, l – 54
Engine:
- type – 4-cylinder, 16-valve with fuel injection
- displacement, cm3 – 2034
- power, hp at rpm – 136/5750
- torque, Nm at rpm – 185/3500
Transmission – continuously variable transmission
Suspension:
- front – independent
- rear – semi-independent
Brakes:
- front – disc, ventilated
- rear – disc
Price, euros – from 23,400.
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Torquey engine, automatic transmission operation.
– Very stiff suspension, visibility.
© 5 Koleso