A more thoughtful study of the price list slightly descends from heaven to earth. Undoubtedly, even the basic equipment looks very decent. But only against the background of "classmates" from the mass segment ...

Are there many buyers who are ready to buy a Mercedes without automatic box transmissions, climate control, parking sensors, alloy wheels and metallic reflections on the body? And along with all this goodness, the cost of a 122-strong A-class is already approaching the one hundred thousand rubles mark - the price of a well-equipped D-class car.

And yet, nevertheless ... Beauty cannot be measured with money. Mercedes top managers are tired of proving to the whole world that a compact car should be like family compact van, and gave Mark Featherston (chief designer of the new A-class project) complete freedom. And he did not disappoint. Not becoming to follow traditions or reinvent the wheel, the artist painted a classic two-volume hatchback. The truth ends with the "classic" body type.

The appearance turned out to be daring, but not rude, impetuous, but not sporty, bright, but not defiant - the perfect balance of attractiveness. And most importantly, the new "Ashka" unmistakably reads the true Mercedes-Benz and at the same time there is individuality! Featherston was able to get away from the matryoshka principle, when all models of the brand differ from each other only in size. True, it is better to choose a more striking color - silver metallic noticeably conceals both the sharpness of the edges and the elegant stamping of the embossed "body".

Behind the driver's door of the Mercedes-Benz A180, the gaze falls primarily on the luxurious bucket seats with integrated headrests. Feeling like they were mistakenly rearranged from some SLS AMG. In fact, there is no pronounced sportiness in them - just comfortable seats.

Otherwise, looking around, only one thought comes to mind - everything is the same. Well, almost everything. The analogies can be traced, first of all, with the new B-class, ... which recently took our test.

The same front panel with the familiar arrangement of all controls, the same "airplane" air vents and the same pedantic quality factor in the finish. The dark interior is diluted only with carbon inserts and a silver-plated instrument panel. True, there is no need to be upset about this - for the A-class there are many interior design options.

Mounting a standard screen "on a leg" in Russia has already been criticized more than once for its resemblance to the navigator left in the cabin. We can only hope that thieves and vandals follow the trends in automotive fashion and know that there is no point in pulling out this device.

But being in the second row leaves a mixed feeling ... Although, why dissemble - behind in "Ashka" is uncomfortable and uncomfortable. The strong slope of the tailgate and roof makes you bend your head more when landing, and when sitting down, you clearly feel the proximity of the ceiling

Adequate legroom is freed up only due to the vertically placed back of the sofa - you sit in line. Add to this the surrounding darkness of the black interior, the access of light to which is blocked by massive front seats and small windows. In general, the Mercedes left the family image of the previous generation car exponentially, which also emphasizes the space behind the fifth door ...

The A-class trunk is the smallest of all direct competitors - 341 liters. To classmates from BMW, Audi and Lexus, he loses from 19 to 64 liters. The opening is narrow, in our version there is no hatch for long vehicles, and in the underground there is no spare wheel of any kind. Repair kit only.

On the go, the Mercedes-Benz A180 brings back memories of its older brother. It is related to the B-class not only by the same aggregate pair of the engine and gearbox, but also by the identical suspension scheme: McPherson at the front and "four-lever" at the rear. Even in terms of weight the cars differ insignificantly - "Ashka" is the lightest of all by 55 kg.

Surprisingly, the power of the 122-horsepower engine is enough for the hatchback. Although new A-class immediately adjusts to a measured ride. Due to the weightless gas pedal and the default Eco-mode, in the first moments it seems that the A-class does not want to accelerate at all. But as soon as the accelerator passes a third of its stroke, the potential of the turbo engine is revealed.

Its main advantage is elasticity at low and medium speeds, thanks to a solid supply of torque. The 7G-DCT transmission also works in complete harmony with the engine, the setting of which can be considered a reference without false modesty. There are no special problems with overtaking either in the city or on the highway - and there is enough traction, and the transmission is the one that is needed. The main thing is to try to work the right pedal ahead of the curve. Only then does predictable, linear acceleration appear. Another way is to turn on sport mode right away.

The dense, energy-intensive A-class suspension does not turn any road into a mirror, however, it smooths out irregularities very nobly: without unnecessary sounds, shaking and body vibrations. Stability? It is also exemplary: in steep turns, the car holds on to the last, without frightening the driver with either rolls or sliding off the trajectory. But they did not turn "Ashka" into a driver's car - the steering wheel is accurate, but it lacks sharpness even with an increase in speed.

But Mercedes did a great job on aerodynamics, which affected, first of all, the silence in the cabin. At 100-120 km / h, no gusts of wind, no howls of incoming air around the mirrors and front struts. Only an unobtrusive hum of tires, and even then only on rough asphalt.

Overall, new Mercedes-Benz A-class did not disappoint expectations. And from the outside, and inside, and in motion - this is a real Merce. Let family-pragmatic values \u200b\u200bremain in the past, but ahead is a new image and a new target audience. First of all, young people who will definitely buy into a stylish appearance, illuminated by the glow of a three-pointed star.

What about the cost? Take a closer look, we already have a VW Golf, Kia ceed or Honda civic have been supporting the millionth price line for a long time. And here is a real Mercedes-Benz ... there is something to think about and make the right move.

Prices for Mercedes-Benz A-class in the Russian market

The smallest Mercedes is delivered to Russia in two versions - A180 and A200. The first version for 875,000 rubles is distinguished by a 1.6-liter turbo engine with 122 horsepower and manual gearbox... For the "machine" will have to pay a considerable 90,000 rubles.

The standard equipment is decent: ABS, ESP, seven airbags, air conditioning, an MP3 radio, rain and light sensors, heated seats, cruise control, adaptive headlights, a blind spot monitoring system and many less significant options. List additional equipment just as extensive and Mercedes-like roads.

Uprated to 156 horsepower, the A200 in the "Special Series" is sold for 1,170,000 rubles. For this money, the car will already have a seven-speed 7G-DCT transmission, parking sensors, alloy wheels and a metallic color.

Competitors of Mercedes-Benz A-class in the Russian market

First of all, the new "Ashka" is designed to give battle on the market, of course, rear-wheel drive Bmw 1-series... And we can safely say that the “Bavarians” in this segment will have to move. It is interesting that the starting price for cars is absolutely the same - 875,000 rubles. True, the BMW 116i is more powerful, but it loses a little in terms of equipment.

In 2013, the small A-class minivan, well-remembered by all for its remarkable appearance, went down in history. The new generation, unexpectedly for everyone, is a sleek, low, semi-sporty hatchback, painted with paint shining like French nail polish in cheerful shades.

The exterior of the glamorous little car, as it turned out, goes well with the interior. Unlike the previous generation, inner space Mercedes-Benz A-Class does not want to take up measuring the volume of the trunk. The idea of \u200b\u200btransporting goods in this tiny living room on wheels seems ridiculous. If you really do carry something, you have to put your luggage on the seats the color of whipped cream, and in order not to get them dirty, you can only carry boxes with gifts, tied with a wide red ribbon. The festive packaging will look great in the evening, when the illumination invitingly lights up in the cabin in response to the push of a button on the chip key. With her, the hatchback looks like a cruise ship sailing at night on a dark river. In the cabin, not only ceiling lights are illuminated, but also hidden lights in door pockets and niches, conventionally separating the headrests from the backs of the front seats. The ghostly light stays on, even on the move. Illuminated by soft orange beams, the salon resembles a nightclub chill-out.

The image of the owner of this car was formed in two stages. Mercedes-Benz A-class will be a wonderful present for a daughter who graduated from high school with a gold medal and entered a prestigious university. But you can also become a victim of the A-class charm, as an acquaintance of mine who went to buy his wife a MINI in a powerful configuration. The thirty-two-year-old man kept it for himself, giving his wife a pretty decent crossover.

Serious people will take this statement with irony: how does it feel to pick up a car for girls? The fact is that it can be difficult to part with a beautiful thing, even if it is female. Such is the appeal of beautiful things. A-class is a beautiful thing.

So what did Mark Featherston, who led the development of the next generation of the A-Class, do to create an attractive car?

First of all, it is a common body type. A five-door hatchback has been in everyone's life at least once, and many retain warm feelings towards him. At the same time, he is not endowed with a particularly bright individuality - the charm is not revealed immediately. At some point, looking from the side, you realize that with sixteen-inch wheels and thin tires, the A200 looks cool. You stop to take a closer look and notice the quirky curves and cutouts front bumper, sharp stamped edges and intricate lines, born of the designer's imagination. The exterior of the car is far from minimalism, they worked hard on it. A work of art differs from an ordinary thing in that it can be admired more than once. That is why even a middle-aged man, not devoid of a sense of beauty, can suddenly leave a little Mercedes for himself. Many now have two cars, and this is not the limit. We are not idealizing the hatchback. The more complex a thing, the more likely it has flaws. And the A-class has them, you will read about them. The only question is in which direction the scale will swing for you personally.

Mercedes-Benz has never had a model in such a body, especially a front-wheel drive one. Therefore, it is possible to say with confidence that it is "Merc" in front of you, but only from certain angles. The driver following you is unlikely to accurately identify the brand. Perhaps, the German origin can be guessed due to the design rear lights... From the side, not everything is obvious either. But if you look in front or in three quarters, everything becomes clear, even without a huge star with three beams on the radiator grille.

In the front part, the family traits are especially noticeable, akin to the small hatchback with the B-class and other modern Mercedes-Benz models. This is the almond-shaped headlights that look at the world with a mixture of naivety and light aggression, the bonnet line and, of course, the radiator grille with two massive horizontal bars.

The most noticeable interior detail of the A200 is the front row seats, which mimic sports buckets. In this case, the word "imitation" does not have a negative connotation, because the seats are made flawlessly. However, those who have had to squeeze into monolithic sports chairs will understand the difference. It consists in the fact that the chairs in the A200 are soft, and you do not need to squeeze into them. The feeling of similarity is enhanced by the triangular headrests that form a single unit with the backs of the seats. Interestingly, the CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake has exactly the same seats. It's nice when, having acquired the most modest model, you understand that they treated you with the same care as a person who is ready to part with a larger amount. However, even the A-class costs mind-boggling money. But more on that later.

I would not call the chairs ideal - they are cramped, although I am only 174 centimeters in, and in winter I do not wear bulky outerwear. Lack of space does not allow you to adjust them the way you want, you have to do it the way you want. It's not a lack of adjustments on the joystick with memory on the door and not in the steering position, which changes in two directions: the body is just too small.

At first it seemed to me that the front edge of the roof somehow hangs too much over my head, even with my modest height. But later this feeling disappeared, especially when I lowered the chair cushion almost to the floor. It was still comfortable to sit.

The main disadvantage of ergonomics is visibility. It is useless to look to the left when changing lanes - there is a solid wall in front of you, or rather, a "fat" rack. Yes, massive "pillars" will save you if, God forbid, you have to "tumble", but small rear side windows and an even more modest glass of the rear door cancel out the hope of seeing something in the dead zone with your own eyes. In addition, you are attracted to the chair by a smart belt, which pre-measures the volume of the chest, and then tightens "to the eyeballs", depriving the last opportunity to turn in a monolithic chair. All that remains is to trust the mirrors, the rear-view camera, which, by the way, tells the trajectory of the parking, and the blind spot tracking system, which signals the danger with triangles that light up in the exterior mirrors and short, frightening at first sound signals.

While trying to deal with the visibility problem, I accidentally opened one "foolproof" in the A200. Driving the hatchback into the gate in reverse, so as not to catch the post, I opened the door ... and immediately stopped. The Germans are categorically against the old-fashioned parking methods. The box switched to "P" mode as soon as I opened the door.

The back row of seats was moderately comfortable. This convenience is achieved through the smallest luggage compartment compared to competitive models such as the BMW 1 and Audi A3. I was too lazy to rearrange the child seat for the sake of a single trip, but my wife, 173 centimeters tall, took a ride with the child in her lap and said that it was comfortable for her. Exit and entrance for passengers back row maximally lightened - the door swings open at an angle of 90 degrees, and you don't have to get your clothes dirty.

You forgive a small hatchback in advance for the flaws in sound insulation, but in the A-class, acoustic protection is not ideal in only one thing - the noise comes from below, from the wheel arches. Perhaps the hearing is simply sharpening, because it cannot perceive anything else. Standing at the crossing, I was surprised to notice that I did not hear the sound of the wheels of a freight train passing 15 meters from the car. Even the semaphore bell could not get into the salon. There is, however, one small drawback: if the wind sets while driving at a certain angle, a funny whistle appears in the cabin, although the mirrors are made according to all the rules of aerodynamics and are installed on consoles.

A look at the dash reveals that Mercedes has elements that are deliberately and diligently cultivated. Ventilation deflectors, similar to those installed on the A200 panel, were used in the Mercedes-Benz 220 W180 / 128, but they are similar in the modern SLS.

This detail perfectly characterizes both the A200 interior and the brand as a whole. Even in the cheapest front-wheel-drive hatchback, the plastic will be of high quality and soft, the seats are beautiful (and in our case, also leather), the panel is decorated in the right places with carbon inserts. The salon of the A-class is not at all "childish", although a restrained attempt to give it a "youthful look" is obvious. This is another reason why an adult, unexpectedly for himself, can leave the A-class for himself, even if as a second car.

Mercedes A-class is a robot on wheels, and that says it all. Basically, the robot is busy with business, and he has no time for you. It measures the engine speed against the gearbox and looks for ways to prevent you from flying off the road if you miscalculate something in the control or get too close to the car in front or to the side. So that you do not interfere with his work, the cabin provides an extensive set of functions available through the screen, fixed on the top of the console, through the buttons under it and the not very convenient joystick. In addition, function control is duplicated on the steering wheel, making the area around your hands, in my opinion, congested. The joystick is inconvenient for its location. To operate it, you need to put your hand on the armrest, which is also the cover of the box located between the seats. The armrest moves back and forth, but in both positions the hand must be twisted like a bird's paw in order to jerk the joystick with your fingers. However, let the passenger do this, and you will get used to steering on the steering wheel.

In order not to get bored on the road, you can fry the front passenger with separate climate control (fortunately, the car's stove is excellent), call through the hands-free system, delve into navigation system, listen to music, play with adaptive cruise control, or burn all the fuel in autonomous heater salon, as I did. Unfortunately, the vigilant Germans deprived the driver of the opportunity to access the Internet on the go, although such an opportunity is provided in the media system. However, listening to music through Harman Kardon speakers will help you come to terms with the limitation.

I got the impression that the media system is really friendly only with Apple phones. I connected two HTC smartphones to it and talked on the phone, but when asked to give a summary of the traffic situation and to allow me to check my mail, the car answered with a phrase in the spirit of "This device does not support this function."

The navigation system surprised me with the fact that it painstakingly draws the forest as you drive past it, but does not know the houses built according to the inscription on the facade in 1970. We are talking about the buildings of a large enterprise located in the Moscow region, 35 kilometers from the capital. This is a clear disadvantage given the advances in electronic cartography in recent years.

I got the A200 hatchback with a 1595cc petrol turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 154 horsepower... Perhaps someone would have regretted that it was not an A250 with a two-liter turbocharged engine producing 208 hp, but not me, because it seems to me that for such a small car 1.6 liter turbo is enough. In addition, these engines have the same blocks. Looking under the hood, you can see what kind of massive unit is there, taking up almost all the free space. I emphasize this, because you cannot look at many modern motors without tears - how they can withstand 150–180 supercharged forces and do not fall apart is amazing. The A250 with a 2.0 engine accelerates to 100 kilometers per hour in 7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 240 kilometers per hour. The A200 feels like it is in no way inferior to it. The speedometer scale for the A250 and A200 ends at one mark - 260 kilometers per hour.

I honestly wanted to check what it was like to ride a turbocharged small hatchback at a speed of over 200 km / h, but nothing worked out for me - the weather did not allow. Therefore, I will confine myself to expressing confidence that the car is "going". There is, however, one "but". The 7G-DCT seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, how shall I put it right ... this is the very robot that doesn't want you to mess with it. According to the official treatise, "smooth switching almost escapes perception", and "without that low level noise in the car is reduced as a result of lower rpm crankshaft". All this is true, but the gearbox interferes with acceleration as expected, taking into account the engine power, and, contrary to all the laws of the universe, it does not help to reduce fuel consumption. During the two weeks of the test, I only once drove into the city, but the consumption never fell below 10 liters per 100 kilometers.

The robot lives its own life. The built-in ECO start-stop function automatically shuts off the engine when idle in front of traffic lights or in traffic jams and then starts it again. In order to force the engine to accelerate in ECO mode, it is necessary, in the literal sense, to trample the accelerator pedal. It is wrong to use slang expressions in the text, but after two or three short presses on the pedal, the car suddenly starts to rush, "like a victim", because the box, like a spurred horse, immediately switched 3 steps down. When a turbine is also connected to the process, you just have to throw the pedal, so you bump into a car driving, and even accelerating, in front. Engine power in winter conditions is so excessive for one axle that the car regularly skids when starting from a standstill on the asphalt.

It is pertinent to note here a decision that I, who never owned a Mercedes-Benz, found extremely controversial. On the right, under the steering wheel, is the gear selector. Many other vehicles have a turn signal switch at this location. If we were talking about a mechanical lever with a lock, I would not be indignant, but in the A-class we are dealing with an electronic transmission mode switch. Blocking on the go is not provided, I checked it on purpose. You can press the button on the end of the switch and stand dead in place, moving before that at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. Switching to P mode on the go is nonsense. Imagine what would happen if you accidentally hit the button at high speed.

While I was getting used to it, I had another incident related to the box switch. Taxiing onto the highway, I "turned on the right turn signal" ... and drove back, straight into the car of the driver who was waiting for me to leave. After a while, having conceived to overtake the slowly driving gentleman on a suburban highway, I “turned on the left turn signal” and ... shamefully returned to my seat, having driven 25 meters with full throttle in neutral gear. Fortunately, there was no oncoming car.

The work of the multi-link suspension does not cause any particular complaints, except for the disadvantage that even in the Comfort configuration it is a little stiff. You can imagine how it shakes on russian roads those who have purchased a hatchback with a sports suspension. The adaptive power steering is beyond praise. The steering wheel is moderately heavy when you turn it while standing still, and remains so when accelerating to any speed.

I don’t know what is the matter here - in excess torque or lack of weight, but in 2 weeks I almost flew off the road several times, although the hatchback was "shod" in a set of beautiful studded finnish tires... After hearing stories about the outstanding Mercedes-Benz stabilization system, I was slightly surprised at how easily this front-wheel drive car begins to "float" on the icy porridge, passing a not too steep long bend. I've been driving for 15 years and I know how to behave, but a girl student may not be able to cope with such a situation. Conclusion - with even more powerful engine it is necessary to be very careful when driving the A-class on country highways in winter.

The ground clearance of 14 centimeters for the car, oddly enough, is enough, even if you live in a suburban village, where the roads do not have time to clear by the time you need to leave for work. I checked it very simply - I drove the hatchback in reverse into a parking lot, covered with snow about 30 centimeters above the thresholds. I just drove until the rear bumper had shoveled enough snow that further movement would have scratched the beautiful “nail polish” covering the bumper. After that I got out without any problems, trying to go ahead not in my tracks. The main thing is not to let the engine rip the wheels into "boxes".

The DISTRONIC PLUS system turned out to be a great toy, which helps the driver to automatically maintain the distance to the vehicle in front. I suspect that DISTRONIC and the accident prevention system that gave me unpleasant surprises two or three times are one and the same thing. The surprises were that on a small screen located between the analogue scales of the speedometer and tachometer, right on the move, for no apparent reason, a message appeared that the accident prevention system was not working. At the same time, the car simply stopped accelerating, but honestly drove. The impression was that throttle, and the transmission defended the engine, making it impossible for the driver to make sudden movements. Seizing the moment, I drove to the side of the road, and after the "reboot" the error disappeared without a trace.

I selected the dirtiest cars for the DISTRONIC PLUS test, including a high barrel labeled “Flammable”, and “clung” to them at speeds between 30 and 150 kilometers per hour. All in vain: it was not possible to deceive the radar sensor even once. In addition to maintaining the distance at a given speed range, DISTRONIC PLUS automatically slows down the vehicle until it comes to a standstill. Automatic braking occurs with a deceleration rate of up to 4 m / s2. Then, when the vehicle you are “hitched on” starts to move away, DISTRONIC PLUS automatically accelerates the hatchback to the set speed. If the DISTRONIC PLUS system thinks it would be good to brake more vigorously, it issues a warning in the form of an intermittent audible signal and a warning symbol in the instrument cluster comes on. If braking ends with a stop, you just need to pull the lever of the "Tempomat" system or lightly touch the accelerator pedal. The toy is simply magical, but again not for girls. Works anytime, anywhere, even in traffic jams, in traffic conditions with frequent stops.

Before us is a robot disguised as a glamorous hatchback. The beauty of it is that it allows for completely opposite driving styles. If you're used to being in the oncoming lane more often than your own, the sport-mode transmission, robust turbocharged engine and stiff suspension will allow you to do whatever you want. If you are a girl or a golden boy, you can partake of the gifts of the premium brand without buying a hefty sob. If you are a senior citizen, you can doze (but not sleep!) While driving, trusting in the accident prevention system. The only question is whether you are ready to pay for the A-class hatchback from 1 million 150 thousand rubles (A180), up to 2.4 million rubles for the A45 AMG 4MATIC "Special Series". The car I was able to ride costs 1 million 450 thousand rubles.

Grades on a 10-point scale:

The new Mercedes A 200 made me temporarily become the hero of Valentin Gaft from the film "The Sorcerers" according to the Strugatsky script, who took possession of a magic wand. "I want it to open!" And the door lock obediently unlocks. "Hello Mercedes!" This is not just a courtesy, but a voice control activation command. “What else can I wish for? I want to go home!" Navigation immediately makes a route to Moscow from the Croatian resort town of Split, where the riding presentation took place. And there is more than enough of such applied magic in the new Mercedes.

The similarity between Mercedes and VP, the Strugatskys' magic wand, enhances the unpretentious appearance. So you imagine an A-class artistic council by analogy with the scientific council at NUINU, the Scientific Universal Institute of Extraordinary Services.

And who did this ... create?

An interesting solution. Democratically. Conveniently.

To be honest, I saw something more elegant ... But if there are no objections, then the form is accepted.

The drag coefficient Cx has been reduced from 0.27 to a record in the class of 0.25 thanks to the improved aerodynamics of the wheel arches and the installation of optional Airpanel active louvers (7,600 rubles) behind the radiator grille, and not only behind the upper, like in its predecessor, but also behind the lower

On the other hand, no matter how much the A-class is scolded for the absence of the Stuttgart breed, after years it turns out that everything is calculated accurately. The magic of the coveted three-pointed star, coupled with the relative availability, works flawlessly: more than three million "asheks" have been sold in 20 years! Moreover, in the past year, the A-family (Daimler traditionally also includes the platform B-class plus CLA sedans and station wagons) with 420 thousand sold cars confidently outstripped the "ones" and "deuces" of BMW (383 thousand cars in total) and Audi A3 of all stripes (313.5 thousand).

The glazing line dropped slightly, the body pillars became thinner, and the front ones, thanks to the mirrors on the legs, also lost their massive bases. Now it will be much easier to control the situation around, especially for short girls

In addition, Mercedes proudly reports that the previous generation of the A-class with the factory index W176 broke with the image of a grandmother-mobile and made a revolution: the A-class not only increased sales, but also rejuvenated the Mercedes audience for ten years! Therefore, the vector of movement is the same: no more gondola layouts, like the W168 / 169 with a sandwich floor and original rear suspensions. Development - in the same "youth" direction of the modular MFA platform, indirectly confirmed by the evolutionary change of the index from W176 to W177.

The back has become more spacious in the knees and above the head. And the girl sits like this because the pillow is short and low, like in the old W176. Recessed head restraints are still available only with standard seats, and with "sports" (pictured) integrated head restraints are great obscuring the view back

Didn't your customers like the cramped interior? In the Mercedes, the wheelbase was increased by three centimeters and a little space was added in breadth and height. It has become more spacious, and the new shape of the less rounded tailgate opening has simplified entry and exit. However, on a low couch with a short pillow it is still cramped. And the trunk did not become huge, although the tail has grown a good nine centimeters - 370 liters will now enter under the rigid shelf instead of 341 liters earlier.

Following the example of BMW, now Mercedes has not just a ski hatch, but three-section split backs, and you do not need to pay extra for them. The passport volume of the neatly finished compartment with two hooks for bags has grown to 370 liters, and now the A-class is 10 liters ahead of the BMW "one" and is just as much behind the Audi A3. The electric drive of the fifth door and stowaway, alas, is not in the list of options

But those who want to be in the driver's seat will surely increase. Entering this mysterious and exciting salon is like entering the treasury. So the first thing I did was turn on Edward Grieg's "Cave of the Mountain King" from the flash drive.

In order for the A-class salon to be the same as in the photo, you need to start configuring with the Style version for 1 million 890 thousand rubles

The front panel is like a sheer rock with a waterfall of a huge display: a ridge of grooved keys, pleasantly cooling the hand, and impeller deflectors. And if you find yourself in a tunnel or just in a semi-dark underground parking, all this will sparkle in the beams of contour lighting so that comparison with the E-class or the new Gelendvagen will not seem blasphemous. After all, democracy inside the A-class is given only by thin paddle levers made of inexpensive plastic and the inability to order an electric steering column.

But you forgive all this for MBUX, Mercedes-Benz User Experience. This is a new multimedia developed in partnership with NVIDIA and LG. And she's cooler than the Comand in the S-class! The main thing in it is not even the ability to swipe left and right and up and down or a fast processor and stunning graphics, where the navigator superimposes house numbers on the image from the front view camera. And the non-responsive touchscreen that turned the duplicate optional trackpad into a throwback. The most important thing is artificial intelligence! It is thanks to him that MBUX can itself structure the menu according to the frequency of your requests, self-learn and execute not only standard commands, but also florid ones like "Put the music more fun." And the ability to quickly and clearly control almost everything from the voice casts doubt on the usefulness of gesture control in BMW.

MBUX is amazingly friendly thanks to artificial intelligence. But for the joy to be complete, you need to pay 42 thousand rubles for a widescreen display

Engines? We, Russians, should not be interested in either the improved Renault diesel engine (1.5 l, 116 hp) of the A 180 d version, or the modernized gasoline turbo engine of the Mercedes A 250 (2.0 l, 224 hp), designed for use with a hybrid appendage. For this year only A 200 will be brought to us with the latest supercharged gasoline engine joint development of Mercedes and Renault. With a power of 163 hp working volume is downsized 1.33 liters. Although European automakers, in particular Volkswagen-Audi, in connection with the introduction of measurements of carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption according to the new WLTC cycle and the RDE procedure (Real Driving Emissions) are already switching to rights sizing - 1.5-1 , 8 liters for this power.

Camshaft-disengaged second and third cylinders, integrated into the exhaust manifold head, high degree compression 10.6: 1, work on a homogeneous mixture - the new M282 gasoline turbo engine, the fruit of cooperation between Mercedes and Renault, exactly repeats the technical solutions of the old Volkswagen 1.4 TSI ACT engine. But the working volume is less (1.33 instead of 1.4 liters), the degree of boost is higher (163 versus 150 hp), and on the cylinder walls a special Nanoslide coating has been applied and a rare gasoline engines particulate filter

Our new engine specially designed for real, not imaginary efficiency, - the Mercedes minders calmly parry. - We have optimized the shape of the combustion chamber, on the cylinder walls there is a special Nanoslide coating to reduce friction, the exhaust manifold is integrated into the cylinder head, and at partial loads, the sliding cams of the camshaft switch off the second and third cylinders.

The seven-speed "robot" with two wet clutches on the A 200 and A 180 d modifications is not from Mercedes, but from Getrag. The new 7DCT300 box was originally designed for modular docking with electric motors (the A-class will certainly have hybrid options!) And is designed for a torque of up to 300 Nm

I believe in efficiency unconditionally: paired with a Getrag seven-speed preselective gearbox with wet clutches, designed for a torque of up to 300 Nm (the old and heavier proprietary preselector for 350 Nm remained only in the A 250 version), with an energetic drive, the A 200 spent only 8.4 l / 100 km. This was facilitated by the intelligently working start-stop and the box itself, which turned into neutral at every opportunity. But neither the one nor the other caused not the slightest protest! The union of the motor and the preselective is wonderful: good traction everywhere and always, without the proprietary Mercedes thoughtfulness.

No more "sticks" - the hood holds the gas stop. By the way, pay attention to the absence of a soundproofing coat on the hood. An engineering calculation showed that a double plastic box on the engine shield, as on older models (such was not previously used on the A-class), and correctly selected windshield give more effect: W177 is much quieter

One could only complain about the sound, not as juicy and energetic as the previous 1.6. But there are even more complaints about the two-liter unit, on which I still optionally rode. At low revs, the A 250 rattles like a diesel! So I will hardly wait for his appearance in Russia.

Most Russian A 200s will have an H-beam in the back. A multi-link complete with adaptive shock absorbers is an option for 93 thousand rubles. Surcharge for the Avantgarde rigid sports suspension, which is 15 mm lower, is 27 thousand. And the ground clearance increased by 15 mm will cost only 9416 rubles

The Mercedes MFA chassis has evolved towards relief: wishbones front suspension type McPherson and steering knuckles now aluminum. And behind on the A 250, on future all-wheel drive modifications (so far only front-wheel drive), all cars with adaptive dampers and / or wheels larger than 18-inch will have an upgraded multi-link. But on all other versions - a simple twisting H-shaped beam!

Mercedes is traditionally proud of an intensive development testing program, which included 12 million kilometers for the A-class on four continents.

Fortunately, it doesn't turn the Mercedes into a cart, it just works a little louder and louder. But it will be noticed unless rear passengers... By the way, they will grumble more than anyone else on bumps, complaining about hard jabs. And the driver of the A 200 will delight the European-style dense, "meaty" suspension. And this is equally true for cars with passive shock absorbers, 18-inch wheels and a beam, and for the advanced version with multi-link, 19 discs and adaptive struts - I rolled on both.

They are the same in terms of handling. Mercedes does not seek to flirt with you like Jaguar, twisting in every bend, and does not show excessive zeal for lunges at the wheel, like BMW. No, everything is noble, with dignity. But at the same time quickly and accurately. And the proprietary electromechanical jelly on the steering wheel can be changed to a sincere, like a confession, reactive action, simply by clicking the Drive Select button in Sport. Moreover, the level of effort itself will not increase!

Mercedes' new word in safety is the functioning of the blind spot monitoring system within three minutes after stopping the engine. It can even detect a cyclist moving faster than 7 km / h, and in case of danger, when opening the door, it will beep

It remains to wait for the versions adapted for Russia, where the suspension, as usual, will be raised by 15 mm: with the standard European clearance under full load is 110 mm, and in the sports Avantgarde version - 95 mm. And the A 200 engine is derated for us to a tax-beneficial 150 hp, and the particulate filter will probably be amputated.

Dual-mode radars front and rear, stereo camera and parking sensors (front side ones with a range of 4.5 m!) - the A-class semi-pilot arsenal is the same as that of the flagship! Supplement for the Plus driver assistance package is 179 thousand rubles. Adaptive cruise control with a single radar is three times cheaper - 56,427 rubles

But the main consumer quality is unlikely to suffer from this. Say "Hello Mercedes!" and to look ten years younger - isn't that what many dream about?

“What is it, miracles for cash? How much will my rejuvenation cost me? "

There is glare without a visor, but thanks to a special coating on the display, they do not really interfere even in sunny weather. And you can configure virtual devices as you like!

Not that expensive by the standards of a compact premium hatch. The initial version of the A 200 Comfort with two truncated seven-inch screens, fabric upholstery, halogen headlights, climate control and 16-inch steel wheels is estimated at 1 million 720 thousand rubles - at the level of cars such as the BMW 118i and Audi A3 Sportback. For Style with leatherette and alloy wheels they ask for 1 million 890 thousand, and the top version of Sport on 18-inch wheels and with sports chairs will cost 2 million 210 thousand. There are, as always, a lot of options, and they are not cheap. For example, a rear-view camera costs 31,500 rubles, and lED headlights - 78 thousand.

But any Mercedes, even a basic one, will have a magic wand - MBUX multimedia. And with it you will forget about Audi and BMW. Just say, "Hello Mercedes!"

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