Small request from Mat Watson. When you give out the prices you always give out the base price of the car which is good, but I would request that you also give out the prices of the fully speced version of it before it moves on to the performance versions, since anyways very few people find themselves buying the base car.
To be honest they have just removed stuff for the facelift and made it cheaper. No rear arm rest, removed the metal trim, removed the touch pad, removed the rear draw. They have just jacked the price up and removed features
@@SeanMcklo have a 2021 cla 250 premium plus I considered a standard executive package first but there was only a £700 difference as they were both used with under 6k miles Both cars had the same features except for bigger screen, pan roof, electric seats. Everything else was identical And I never use the touch screen. Only the stupid trackpad mouse thing. Should have had a rotary controller
Overall - I think the facelifted A-class is a step down from the pre-facelift. The tweaks to the infotainment is nice - but very minor. The lack of the touchpad and the objectively worse functioning steering wheel is a huge setback. The touchpad was BRILLIANT.
Same story as on my bmw 3 Serien g21. I've got the pre lci. Other than the older operating system (different looks, same functionality) and 2 separate screens instead of them joint together it has more features than the newer one, like extra buttons for the ac controlls and driving assistance as well as programmable shortcut buttons for radio stations and infotainment functions.
It's sad times that people judge a car by how the "infotainment" is. Not how it drives or how well it's built :/ It's why manufacturers are pumping out all this generic crap. Like he said, form over function to offer up as leased driveway ornaments
The facelift actually has less interior ambient lighting, no touchpad, a prettier but less user friendly steering wheel and a less customisable drivers display. Seems like a step forward and more steps backwards for this update. I’ll stick with my pre facelift I think!
Really?? I didn't know that. How sad. Does your model have a passenger grab handle? There's so much cost cutting here with the face-lift. No touch pad. No passenger grab handle. Torsion beam only rear suspension (Pre face-lift you could option multi link and AMG line came standard with multi link). The movable compartment at the back of the Centre console is now fixed. And now less ambient lighting as well??? What a shitty "upgrade".
@@Rewindreplay_ oh no. I wonder why? Probably all things leading up to the facelift A. I'm so disappointed with this brand to be honest. But at least don't upgrade to the facelift. Have you had any build and material quality issues?
@@SDav21I have the rear bench arm rest which was said to be on the premium spec and I also don’t have grab handles except the rear but to be truthful you sit so low down and the door is that high up and narrow I don’t think it would be comfy to use it? But would be nice to have!
As someone who owns a pre-facelift, I'm constantly using the touchpad. It's far easier than having to lean forward and use the screen which then leaves fingerprints all over it
The pre-revised version had multi-link suspension on the A250 till mid 2020, which is what I have. It definetly helps the car feel more planted around bumps and corners.
There's somethiong just so likable about Mat. He's real unlike other reviewers. Making random inappropriate jokes and walking around with sticks and branches and lapping up water from the tray
Considering the comments, the general review and the price, I was expecting the verdict to be “consider” rather than “shortlist”. Seems every car reviewed is on the shortlist no matter what.
If you want a small premium hatchback, what are your options? Mini Cooper S, Audi A1 Sportback, BMW 1 Series, VW Golf GTI, and this Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The Merc has the most tech so should be on the shortlist. Volvo has the Ex30 - but that's an EV only.
My 2020 leon cupra 290 lux was 32k new. Obviously it's not a Mercedes but it came with adaptive cruise, adaptive dampers and has independent suspension which this doesn't. And will probably be a lot more fun to drive. Although 32k for a car that doesn't have those features seems stupid to me
The interior actually looks cheaper than that of a newer Mazda for much less money… The chrome “stuck on” vents are giving me Max Power Halfords modification vibes
I don‘t get why anyone would buy this over a Mazda 3 except for the A45 AMG model. The Mazda looks better, comes with better stuff for a lower price for each trim level and is probably more efficient too.
I love my 2019 A250 4matic with the machiato beige interior. It has been reliable other than a malfunctioning airbag light. 100k miles of city driving and the all wheel drive in Canadian winter has been a life saver.
@@MCxTuber any that doesn't have a Renault engine and transmission like this low end mercedes has.. not a Mercedes in my eyes it's a Renault dressed as one.
@@mirrorqueen4293 why would Mercedes need Renaults help or even team up with them to design a 1.3 engine 😂?.. cmon they just say that to get away with installing them in mercedes cars .. so it's looks better , it's clearly just a Renault engine and transmission. The filters are Renault .. the block has Renault casting it's all Renault there's no mercedes parts on that engine , Do Renault help mercedes design the larger engines ?.. they don't , Merc just do it to cut costs on these base models
@@MCxTuber Fiat, Peugeot, Hyiundai, Kia, Toyota and the likes offer much more for the same class of car for the price and many of them have better reliability as well. If you want models i would say the Tipo from Fiat, the 208 for Puegeot, the i30 for Hiyundai and Yaris from Toyota
Hey, I think the redesigned mid area is heaps better. Everyone keeps saying they don’t know what to use that new flat storage area for, but I think it’s perfect to keep my iPhone’s MagSafe wallet, which I need to remove in order to use the wireless charging pad! Matt, you wouldn’t have that issue as you have a Samsung. The only thing I am going to miss is the ‘skip next track’ button which was on the track pad… which I used all the time to skip songs on Spotify…
True, alternatively you could swipe up with 2 fingers to bring up a quick option menu for media. Now you can only set the middle of the drivers display to media control
30K! So if you wanted to own it outright you have to pay £625 over 4 years AS IF. If you have on PCP and live with the anxiety of scratching it for 4 years you'll pay around £300. It's a joke how expensive it is
Drove one of these over the weekend in Poland. Absolutely amazing. However, not much room for a 6’2 lanky git like me as I couldn’t adjust the seat to make it comfortable enough! However, overall the drive was beautiful and the gadgets are endless!!
I fairly recently bought the previous version of the A200 AMG Line Premium for a good price. When it comes to controlling the infotainment system I personally tend to use the controls on the wheel myself. Then my next choice is the touchpad. I never use the touchscreen, as I don't want to get fingerprints on it. I'd say that you're probably better getting a good second-hand version of the previous one over the new one. I'm really happy with mine on the whole. The only thing that I don't really like is that some of the features are hidden behind a paywall. Most annoyingly of all though, a lot of them are subscription based services too. So, I'll never be using them, as I refuse to pay a subscription for features on a car.
Is there any way that Matt and Carwow can give us the whole accumulation of choices for the entire catalog of vehicles tested? How many were avoid, consider, shortlist, and buy it? Maybe you guys can give us a vid on ALL of the choices and decisions in each category. Would be really cool to see a quick summary and breakdown of every vehicle that you've ever reviewed
Watching the water appear and disappear has made me so curious about how many retakes of the same process Matt and his team do in order to come out with a final clip. After he poured water into the center console, there are so many edited scenes where the water is gone, and some were the water is back again, but the voice and actions are smooth. A lot of work goes into this.. smh 😢😊
It's just two different takes edited together, in film this is called continuation, and there's actually someone who has to spot stuff like this lol. Like a clock that keeps going forwards and backwards in different shots, someone's hair or clothing that keeps changing.
I drive a 2004 S-classe, and this is one of the cars I'm considering for the future. Huge shame that everything is creaky and plasticky, and just doesn't feel premium. My car has wood and leather everywhere, and it still feels solid some 18 years later
Your 2004 is still a real mercedes , this is a Renault underneath.. don't believe me look it up engine + transmission RENAULT. , They only do it on the smaller and base mercedes a class/ cla / vans but still this is bullsh*t.. people buy mercedes for mercedes not Renault.
Had one when they first came out and tbh, kind of miss it a little, very nice cabin, nice place to be, cruised well despite only being a 200, would have another in the future for sure!
@tootruesheep872 yeah, sometimes boring can be good, motorway driving in a modified 8v S3 can be very draining and equally boring, drone from the res delete does not help 😅
BMW 128ti is a great option if you don't want a car with boring handling. Also its not overly fast so you can keep within the speed limit and still enjoy it.
Genuinely surprised that the 128Ti is still available at that price point. Not only is it proper value for money (believe it's cheaper than a Golf GTi?) but you've got enough headroom to add pretty much every option you're likely to want without pushing past the magic £40k 'ah, you have money and the tax man would like a lot of it' barrier.
And the BMW is actually built like it comes from a premium carmaker. The BMWs build and material quality is far above the A Class. Enough reason alone for me to buy it over this.
4:56 - surprised there was no mention of the exposed isofix points in the back. Makes the rear seats look naff. I don't mind removable covers you might lose so at least it doesnt look like 4 big holes in the seats.
The new BMW 1 series is crazy, a friend of me owns one and if u go in manual mode and shift into third and give it some gas, the turbo will spin up pretty loud and tsustustu xD
I got the 2022 model and im glad i got it. I always use the centre touchpad which this car lacks (i hate finger prints on the screen). i prefer the wheel in my model the brushed chrome look and the it has tactile buttons rather than it fully being touch sensitive.
Are you sure about the Torsion beam suspension thing? They got rid of that last gen on all AMG line models. They were all multilink, and i was told all of the facelift models are also multilink?
Agreed. Especially with all the obvious cost cutting measures here like making the front LED strip just one line, removing the touch pad, removing the movable compartment at the back, the torsion beam only rear suspension etc etc. What an awful car. Maybe at half the price it would be lovely but at this price it's just shitty.
Mat Watson never mentions it but the reason OEMs remove functionalities to the screen is because they can use less computer chips - a big issue since the shortage that cost them lots of money
The CLA (x118) in fact does have the rear suspension which moves independent from one wheel to another (multi-link axle). I don’t know why they haven’t done that in the a class especially in the facelifted version 🤷🏻♂️
I'd say either of the i30s (either the hatchback or the fastback - I prefer the fastback) are the more reasonable buy now. I know Hyundai and KIA share the platforms, so the Ceed is pretty close to it, but that Fastback has a great silhouette.
Just to add if you damage that parcel shelf, they are expensive to replace. They also suffer from plastic dowels falling off and you can't buy them separate from the dealer.
@@paul5683 Mazda's have to cut costs since they're meant to be more of an economy vehicle whereas Mercedes is top 3 most making profit car manufacturer per car. They don't need to cut the costs.
In the list of five good things about the A class Matt mentions the pop out reversing camera. I think the camera should be at the top of the list of annoying things about this car as I have found that it automatically opens when you get below 16mph then closes again when you get back up to 20mph. It will do this every single time you start the car up and will do it around 4-5 times in my car then stops although I have heard that on some cars it can do this continually. This creates a noise much like the central locking operating so is quite noisy and very annoying when it is happening over and over again - every time you start the car remember. I have been in contact with the dealer then Mercedes direct and have been advised that this is not a fault and that this is now the intended operation of the A class as the camera is going through a calibration process. I just cannot understand why the camera has to calibrate itself in such a noisy manner every time the car is started. Did you not notice this on your test car? I have started contacting car magazines to see if anyone can pick this up as, at the moment Mercedes re not interested in addressing this.
@@WinkelHoofyeah I just can’t see that being worth it tbh. I know it’s only a facelift but there are still some niggly bits that they really should have fixed. That said I really want that front bumper for my car lol
As a colour-blind person, I appreciate brands where very clear digits can be shown instead of dials. On my old 180, I have those annoying dials with a large digital display in the middle though. Unfortunately, this always drops out when notifications or warnings are given. The French brands more often have simple large digital displays instead of dials. I am curious to know how it is here
I have an a class and I use the touchpad alot it's very useful when changing music and radio stations. This is a downgrade by cutting corners and saving costs. I'll stick with my current a class.
This car is really not worth the price. There is so much cheaper competition with better equipment and comparable design/build quality. This should only be bought, if you are in serious need of a fancy Mercedes star on the hood. I wouldn’t consider Mercedes below the C-Class. (And I am from Stuttgart ;)) There are so many shortcuts in missing features and cheap materials. The back seats are also really bad imo, too steep, too uncomfortable. And it is just too expensive for all of that. You can spec an entry level A-class with a Renault(!) engine to more than 50k. An A45S can scratch 90k€ (it drives nicely, but has the same mediocre built quality than the 30k entry model). To be fair: I’m not a fan of the MBUX/infotainment systems (visually and from a functional perspective) of any Mercedes.
Why would they get ride of the touch pad ????!... I only use it on my A-Class, the screen is too far and it's so annoying to go and touch it while driving, the touch pad is just so easy to use!
Great video Mat! I think there might be some confusion when discussing Adaptive Cruise Control as you talk about it being able to steer. I suppose you meant Mercedes active steering assist?
I understand that the changes made on the face-lift A class may be frustrating for some of you guys, but don't forget we are talking about the absolute SIMPLEST version of every day usable Mercedes-Benz. Don't expect wonders. If you want spectacular features and experiences, go for the S-class(if you are able to, if not continue to hate on the A😂)
I think i'll stick with my 2019 A200 🤣 it's a really good car tbf, I got the AMG-Line with Premium package so all the extras trown in etc. Stage 1'd it straight away to 201bhp and its a little pocket rocket! 6.9 0-60 time, 46mpg on average, handles well, great brakes, sounds nice, looks amazing, has great tech, speakers, seats etc. The only downside is the build quality, its all nasty cheap rattly plastic that buzzes and makes noises when driving on any surface over 15mph... I've had a bunch of warranty claims from the Mercedes garage and they basically had to take the entire interior apart and re-attach it back with glue.
Omg no way. To be honest I'd rather take better build and material quality like old Mercs over extra tech and features any day. What's shocking is that even at this high price, it doesn't come with things that cars a fraction of the price have as standard. So when you combine the lack of standard features and the lack of build and material quality then it makes this a tough buy. At least they could give one or the other. Like give lots of standard features for sub standard build and material quality or give amazing build and material quality and make many features optional. But as it stands this face-lift is a big no. Keep your Pre face-lift. The new one has too much cost cutting and I fear it'll even be worse.
@@SDav21 Yep! I've had 11 warranty claims to be specific. Rattly dashboard, passenger door, boot seal, glovebox, middle air-vent, passenger seatbelt clip in b-pillar, along with a failing seatbelt slider on passenger one, a loose rear numberplate, a horrible screach and rattle from the passenger window motor, the list goes on... I took it to an official Merc garage for its repairs, and a mechanic there told me that all MBUX fitted models have the same build issues. Mercedes stopped using metal screws and glue on their interior so to cut costs and to make repairs 'easier' for mechanics, now they use 'plastic clips' instead, which has increased the warranty claims for interior issues by like 400%. His final words made me laugh, "if you want a good built German car, get a BMW", which is what i'll be doing next!
@@Shaggy12321 Omg wow. That's crazy and sad to hear. Lol. I don't see how all the warranty claims will save the brand money when they've got all the tooling etc for their higher quality old models anyway. I feel like even using some old parts from the second Gen mommy wagon looking A Class could've helped quality because that car was actually very well built. I also agree with you. My next vehicle will be a BMW. I have a 2014 W212 E350 Bluetec. On a few occasions I went to test drive the new C Class, the W213 E Class facelift etc to see if I should replace mine. I walked away so disappointed and with a whole new level of appreciation for my car. After driving those and getting back into mine, it feels like mine was built by engineers from a piece of granite. By engineers who loved their jobs with zero input from finance to cut corners. The new ones felt cheap and brittle by comparison. I then went to test drive the new BMWs and was so shocked by how much better they are built. An X5 feels twice as expensive as a GLE yet the GLE costs more. I couldn't wrap my head around it. I was once such an avid Mercedes fan. I am one no more. It's so sad to see what my brand has become. But I'll now move on to another. And that will be BMW.
In what woorld are 17 " rims to small? Car testers complains of the hard suspension on many cars but they also prize big rims. Why not be a little sensible? Big rims give a harder ride, more rumble noise, more vibration, more problems on water at the road during high speed, more expensive. Just unintillegent by other words.
From owning a pre facelift yellow a35 premium plus. I’d say the facelift inside looks abit of a downgrade. Those touch buttons on the steering wheel are awful. And I actually liked the touch pad in the centre console (ocd for fingerprints on my screen). With these A class’s it’s premium plus or nothing for me. However, I do think you get a lot of car for the money tech wise. Nothing on the 540i I’m in now however 👊🏻
Matt, it is a pity you never did a hill start, as the engine lurches forward. It is not as sure footed as it should be. Sometimes dangerously so. Maybe a further update would help.
The rear diffuser actually contributes to the aerodynamics by reducing drag at higher speeds, the A-class have a relatively flat floor for that reason. That’s why its Cx is one of the best in the market. Hope that helps.
I used to drive a similar Mercedes in a driving school… I would say that ergonomics (parking brake, single understeer switch etc) is quite unusual. Traffic sign recognition system shows weather on planet Mars. Suspension feels cheap with poor absorption capacity. I am frankly surprised how bad this car actually is overall.
I disagree on the gear selector being on the steering column. The problem with it is that it means all lights and windscreen wiper controls are all on the one control on the other side which makes it cluttered and awkward to use.
Now thats a good looking city car :) Though realistically a similar sized car from f.ex Toyota would be quite a lot cheaper... and a more obvious choice for the regular people out there on a budget. Edit: the boot area on this mercedes is quite impressive
The touchpad is certainly my go to for controlling the screen. A lot easier than using the touch screen and the left section of the steering wheel. I drove a courtesy car that no longer had the touchpad and I really felt lost without it. Bit of a shame they got rid of it.
It feels like this is really only for someone who really cares about a badge and HAS to be seen to drive a Merc. For a fairly similar price, you can get a top of the range Mazda 3, which obviously doesn't have the same "badge appeal" but the quality of the interior is, imho, far better, comes with every gadget you can think of and the outside looks pretty good as well.
The 2023 Mercedes A-Class that I drive (along with many others!) has a fundamental flaw with the rear camera flap. When the car slows to under 15mph the rear camera flap opens (sounding like the central locking system engaging), it closes again when it reaches 20mph. The problem is, it continues to do this for the duration of the drive unless you can drive between 15mph and 20mph in straight line for around about 200 metres (I kid you not). It does this EVERY TIME you start the car. A number of disgruntled A Class drivers have taken their cars to the service depot assuming this is a fault, but sadly Mercedes say this is how the car should function. If you're happy to drive a car that has the noise of a central locking engaging every time you accelerate and decelerate then you'll be fine...but I'm yet to meet anyone that can tolerate this!
And to this day I didn't understand what that sound was all about. I'm driving the A250e, thus, I thought it was something related with the battery/hybrid system. Guess not. Makes sense it's what you say, never had thought it was the rear camera flap! Ahah. Now, the thing is, I'll admit it doesn't bother me, not that annoying for me.
Didn’t mercedes say that AMGs are only two digit model cars? Like the 63 and 55? So when I see new mercedes with 3 digit number models with amg badges I get confused whether they are true AMGs or the owner just put a badge on the car.
It is the best hot hatch on the market. 😊👌 EVERY penny worth it. Design and Engines are so powerful Even the A200 with 163 HP needs 7.5 sec to 60 mph. So bad launch from you Mat.
@@bwmim9709 VW and Audi are waste of money because their cars are cheap produced and don't last that long. Engine blows up after a few hundred miles. VW Audi is a overpriced Skoda
@@bwmim9709 Renault is more successful in Formula 1 and Racesport than VW Audi. Anyways Mercedes developed the engine together with Renault. Look at your car. What is from the manufacturer?
Small request from Mat Watson. When you give out the prices you always give out the base price of the car which is good, but I would request that you also give out the prices of the fully speced version of it before it moves on to the performance versions, since anyways very few people find themselves buying the base car.
This car in my opinion looked like European Supermini.
Take the prices with a pinch of salt, they change all the time.
Add 60% 🙂
That's a bit more tricky since it can drastically differ market to market, but I understand what you mean.
thats where ur wrong, majority of buyers choose the base car.
To be honest they have just removed stuff for the facelift and made it cheaper. No rear arm rest, removed the metal trim, removed the touch pad, removed the rear draw. They have just jacked the price up and removed features
This car is the AMG line the premium has all those things in it!
@@SeanMckloagree. And also classic silver lining.
I've seen that in a lot of cars recently. A lot of features in the mk7.5 golf were removed or made cheaper in the mk8 golf for example
They alle do the same. Less things and more screens: price up and cost down.
@@SeanMcklo have a 2021 cla 250 premium plus
I considered a standard executive package first but there was only a £700 difference as they were both used with under 6k miles
Both cars had the same features except for bigger screen, pan roof, electric seats. Everything else was identical
And I never use the touch screen. Only the stupid trackpad mouse thing. Should have had a rotary controller
Never thought I will see Mat flying with Spitfire during the A-class review
He flew a spitfire quite a while ago. I could link you the video of his review which was a pretty cool one if you want.
@PLEX632???
@@Presto_001share the link pls
@@IbrahimKhan-tp7dn ua-cam.com/video/xER8irXgWRM/v-deo.html
@@IbrahimKhan-tp7dn ua-cam.com/video/xER8irXgWRM/v-deo.html
Overall - I think the facelifted A-class is a step down from the pre-facelift.
The tweaks to the infotainment is nice - but very minor.
The lack of the touchpad and the objectively worse functioning steering wheel is a huge setback.
The touchpad was BRILLIANT.
Absolutely spot on, the haptic feedback touchpad and steering wheel buttons is a great combination.
Also all the shortcut buttons around the touchpad!
Totally agreed. Removing the touch pad is just cost cutting. So too the suspension.
Same story as on my bmw 3 Serien g21. I've got the pre lci. Other than the older operating system (different looks, same functionality) and 2 separate screens instead of them joint together it has more features than the newer one, like extra buttons for the ac controlls and driving assistance as well as programmable shortcut buttons for radio stations and infotainment functions.
I agree. I use the touchpad in my cla 250e all the time. Literally all the time!
It's sad times that people judge a car by how the "infotainment" is. Not how it drives or how well it's built :/
It's why manufacturers are pumping out all this generic crap. Like he said, form over function to offer up as leased driveway ornaments
The facelift actually has less interior ambient lighting, no touchpad, a prettier but less user friendly steering wheel and a less customisable drivers display. Seems like a step forward and more steps backwards for this update. I’ll stick with my pre facelift I think!
Really?? I didn't know that. How sad. Does your model have a passenger grab handle? There's so much cost cutting here with the face-lift. No touch pad. No passenger grab handle. Torsion beam only rear suspension (Pre face-lift you could option multi link and AMG line came standard with multi link). The movable compartment at the back of the Centre console is now fixed. And now less ambient lighting as well??? What a shitty "upgrade".
@@SDav21 My 2020 A250e has the rear compartment removed, along with the sunglasses holder that the earlier models had.
@@Rewindreplay_ oh no. I wonder why? Probably all things leading up to the facelift A. I'm so disappointed with this brand to be honest. But at least don't upgrade to the facelift. Have you had any build and material quality issues?
@@Rewindreplay_you don’t even have a sunglasses holder?! That’s ridiculous 🙁
@@SDav21I have the rear bench arm rest which was said to be on the premium spec and I also don’t have grab handles except the rear but to be truthful you sit so low down and the door is that high up and narrow I don’t think it would be comfy to use it? But would be nice to have!
As someone who owns a pre-facelift, I'm constantly using the touchpad. It's far easier than having to lean forward and use the screen which then leaves fingerprints all over it
3:21 that was the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen in a car review 😂
😅so true! i hope they cleaned that area he licked before selling the car to another buyer
white folks
The pre-revised version had multi-link suspension on the A250 till mid 2020, which is what I have. It definetly helps the car feel more planted around bumps and corners.
It was all a250 from 2018 onwards, not 2020
I have a 12/2020 A250e, does that apply to mine ?
Or how can o check-it
A45 AMG when for this?
@@Rafael77LopesNo, i also have a 250e. Its torion beam . Drop some coilovers on it and it handels great tho
I love how people complain about Hyundai and cheap materials, but can't see how ,,premium" brands are fitting parts badly. I30N for the win 8)
Premium brands are not premium anymore they are thieves riding their reputation
The Hyundai and A Class from Mercedes both also have some cheap materials.
Yes but your comparing hyundai's best car to Mercedes Worst or cheapest car imo.
@@oscar7476you mean cars that cost a similar amount?
@@oscar7476 How is the i30 hyundai's best car? It's literally in the same class as the A.
There's somethiong just so likable about Mat. He's real unlike other reviewers. Making random inappropriate jokes and walking around with sticks and branches and lapping up water from the tray
Agree. Much like Donut Media occasionally
This review shows exactly why I never really like the a class. A decent car for a premium price. About 70% of it's price is for the badge on the grill
As for Most things in life of so called premuim brands….
I'd say 70% of the price is the badge AND the MBUX system.
I actually liked the touchpad a lot in the pre-facelift version! Use it quite a lot rather than having to reach the screen whilst you're driving.
I always use the touchpad. Such a clever design & works great ! Rarely ever touch screen.
@@D.Daniels1990ame. Also no need to get fingerprint marks all over those nice displays with the touchpad
Considering the comments, the general review and the price, I was expecting the verdict to be “consider” rather than “shortlist”. Seems every car reviewed is on the shortlist no matter what.
No doubt.
Paid advertisement.
If you want a small premium hatchback, what are your options? Mini Cooper S, Audi A1 Sportback, BMW 1 Series, VW Golf GTI, and this Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The Merc has the most tech so should be on the shortlist. Volvo has the Ex30 - but that's an EV only.
Not sure if I’m getting old but 32k for a base spec hatchback!! There’s many cars out there I’d much rather have for 32k!
agree
My 2020 leon cupra 290 lux was 32k new. Obviously it's not a Mercedes but it came with adaptive cruise, adaptive dampers and has independent suspension which this doesn't. And will probably be a lot more fun to drive. Although 32k for a car that doesn't have those features seems stupid to me
@@Lewis_Treff97 I’d take a Leon Cupra 290 Lux over this A Class in a heartbeat. The Cupra would be entertaining and fun to drive.
@@6770connor not to mention but can still get over 40mpg on my commute to work
@@Lewis_Treff97 that’s impressive with that performance
The interior actually looks cheaper than that of a newer Mazda for much less money…
The chrome “stuck on” vents are giving me Max Power Halfords modification vibes
base spec higher trim gets aluminum not gloss black vents
I don‘t get why anyone would buy this over a Mazda 3 except for the A45 AMG model.
The Mazda looks better, comes with better stuff for a lower price for each trim level and is probably more efficient too.
@@heinzketchup4558Mazda…3
And the a180 has a Renault engine
@@lolitapitpong3826 So as A200
Nobody does the ac vents like mercedes. Its like a piece of art ❤
I had one for four years great car, except the jerky gearbox when pulling away and slow speeds and the lack of ground clearance
One thing no one talks about on the A class is the extremely cheap sheet metal. You can dent it by accidentally tapping it.
My cat eat the soft metal around the wheel arch
I love my 2019 A250 4matic with the machiato beige interior. It has been reliable other than a malfunctioning airbag light. 100k miles of city driving and the all wheel drive in Canadian winter has been a life saver.
Do you feel any jerking from the car at slow speeds?
For me - you'd be crazy to spend £30k on a small car from Mercedes considering what that could buy you from other manufacturers. Madness.
Give an example that is better
@@MCxTuber any that doesn't have a Renault engine and transmission like this low end mercedes has.. not a Mercedes in my eyes it's a Renault dressed as one.
@@dontjivewitha5559
This 1.3L petrol engine was designed by both Mercedes and Renault engineers.
@@mirrorqueen4293 why would Mercedes need Renaults help or even team up with them to design a 1.3 engine 😂?.. cmon they just say that to get away with installing them in mercedes cars .. so it's looks better , it's clearly just a Renault engine and transmission. The filters are Renault .. the block has Renault casting it's all Renault there's no mercedes parts on that engine , Do Renault help mercedes design the larger engines ?.. they don't , Merc just do it to cut costs on these base models
@@MCxTuber Fiat, Peugeot, Hyiundai, Kia, Toyota and the likes offer much more for the same class of car for the price and many of them have better reliability as well.
If you want models i would say the Tipo from Fiat, the 208 for Puegeot, the i30 for Hiyundai and Yaris from Toyota
That water scene was best scene I’ve ever seen in a car review 😂😂😂
Hey, I think the redesigned mid area is heaps better. Everyone keeps saying they don’t know what to use that new flat storage area for, but I think it’s perfect to keep my iPhone’s MagSafe wallet, which I need to remove in order to use the wireless charging pad! Matt, you wouldn’t have that issue as you have a Samsung. The only thing I am going to miss is the ‘skip next track’ button which was on the track pad… which I used all the time to skip songs on Spotify…
True, alternatively you could swipe up with 2 fingers to bring up a quick option menu for media. Now you can only set the middle of the drivers display to media control
30K! So if you wanted to own it outright you have to pay £625 over 4 years AS IF. If you have on PCP and live with the anxiety of scratching it for 4 years you'll pay around £300. It's a joke how expensive it is
and that price is only for base model so you need to add at least 10k , so will be even more 😱
A45s is around £70k now lol
HP I’m paying 433£ a month
Drove one of these over the weekend in Poland. Absolutely amazing. However, not much room for a 6’2 lanky git like me as I couldn’t adjust the seat to make it comfortable enough! However, overall the drive was beautiful and the gadgets are endless!!
I fairly recently bought the previous version of the A200 AMG Line Premium for a good price. When it comes to controlling the infotainment system I personally tend to use the controls on the wheel myself. Then my next choice is the touchpad. I never use the touchscreen, as I don't want to get fingerprints on it.
I'd say that you're probably better getting a good second-hand version of the previous one over the new one. I'm really happy with mine on the whole. The only thing that I don't really like is that some of the features are hidden behind a paywall. Most annoyingly of all though, a lot of them are subscription based services too. So, I'll never be using them, as I refuse to pay a subscription for features on a car.
Is there any way that Matt and Carwow can give us the whole accumulation of choices for the entire catalog of vehicles tested? How many were avoid, consider, shortlist, and buy it? Maybe you guys can give us a vid on ALL of the choices and decisions in each category. Would be really cool to see a quick summary and breakdown of every vehicle that you've ever reviewed
Watching the water appear and disappear has made me so curious about how many retakes of the same process Matt and his team do in order to come out with a final clip.
After he poured water into the center console, there are so many edited scenes where the water is gone, and some were the water is back again, but the voice and actions are smooth.
A lot of work goes into this.. smh 😢😊
The Mercedes A Class with update only has 18bhp increase.
It was only the b-roll (different camera angles) where the water was gone as far as I could see. The main interior shot of Matt talking all had water!
It's just two different takes edited together, in film this is called continuation, and there's actually someone who has to spot stuff like this lol. Like a clock that keeps going forwards and backwards in different shots, someone's hair or clothing that keeps changing.
@@climbrR 'Continuity' I think. I actually thought the water-pouring was a bit of a scummy thing to do to make a rather weak point.
Correct@@giotto4321
I drive a 2004 S-classe, and this is one of the cars I'm considering for the future. Huge shame that everything is creaky and plasticky, and just doesn't feel premium. My car has wood and leather everywhere, and it still feels solid some 18 years later
Your 2004 is still a real mercedes , this is a Renault underneath.. don't believe me look it up engine + transmission RENAULT. , They only do it on the smaller and base mercedes a class/ cla / vans but still this is bullsh*t.. people buy mercedes for mercedes not Renault.
Going from the era of s class you have to a modern a class would be like comparing a Bentley to a classic mini.
Old Bentley. Maybe a Jag actually. Both from the 80's
@@dontjivewitha5559A 1.3l engine for 177hp is also kind of a joke in this price segment
@@dontjivewitha5559 I had no idea this is the case. That's absolutely bonkers
Had one when they first came out and tbh, kind of miss it a little, very nice cabin, nice place to be, cruised well despite only being a 200, would have another in the future for sure!
my friend owns one of these (2019 model) and he loves it but we both agree it is a really boring car
@@tootruesheep872 BMW 128ti is a good option if you want fun handling without too much power
@@maxmorris4562 that is a really good shout!
@tootruesheep872 yeah, sometimes boring can be good, motorway driving in a modified 8v S3 can be very draining and equally boring, drone from the res delete does not help 😅
Hated when it bottomed out on any hump though
I actually don't expect the interior of a Merc to be sturdy these days 😂
BMW 128ti is a great option if you don't want a car with boring handling. Also its not overly fast so you can keep within the speed limit and still enjoy it.
Genuinely surprised that the 128Ti is still available at that price point. Not only is it proper value for money (believe it's cheaper than a Golf GTi?) but you've got enough headroom to add pretty much every option you're likely to want without pushing past the magic £40k 'ah, you have money and the tax man would like a lot of it' barrier.
@@smiddlehurst1with proper financing, the Golf GTI Clubsport is within the same range also though, and that thing is faster on another level.
And the BMW is actually built like it comes from a premium carmaker. The BMWs build and material quality is far above the A Class. Enough reason alone for me to buy it over this.
@@Mav86asianits not ‘faster on another level’ there isn’t much in it…
Also the golf has a terrible interior lol
Golf not look good ,also have very poor media and very cheap inside
4:56 - surprised there was no mention of the exposed isofix points in the back. Makes the rear seats look naff. I don't mind removable covers you might lose so at least it doesnt look like 4 big holes in the seats.
The new BMW 1 series is crazy, a friend of me owns one and if u go in manual mode and shift into third and give it some gas, the turbo will spin up pretty loud and tsustustu xD
Still pretty ugly though. I30N, Gti or Cupra Leon are SO much better and a lot cheaper as well. M1 is a proper waste of money
Jokes on you, I drove 2 out of those 3.
I got the 2022 model and im glad i got it. I always use the centre touchpad which this car lacks (i hate finger prints on the screen). i prefer the wheel in my model the brushed chrome look and the it has tactile buttons rather than it fully being touch sensitive.
Are you sure about the Torsion beam suspension thing? They got rid of that last gen on all AMG line models. They were all multilink, and i was told all of the facelift models are also multilink?
I have one of these in the a250e model as a company car because i work at mercedes and can say it is bloody lovely to drive
The pre-facelift looks better than the facelift. The facelift looks like a pre-facelift.
Agreed. Especially with all the obvious cost cutting measures here like making the front LED strip just one line, removing the touch pad, removing the movable compartment at the back, the torsion beam only rear suspension etc etc. What an awful car. Maybe at half the price it would be lovely but at this price it's just shitty.
Do you mean the w176 I just got one of them amg line nightpack
@@nletecca8030referring to the w177 from last year
Agree. Mercedes has just lost the touch design wise. New C-Class, GLC, E-Class and A-Class all look WAY worse than the previous models…
@@nletecca8030 the W177
Mat Watson never mentions it but the reason OEMs remove functionalities to the screen is because they can use less computer chips - a big issue since the shortage that cost them lots of money
The CLA (x118) in fact does have the rear suspension which moves independent from one wheel to another (multi-link axle). I don’t know why they haven’t done that in the a class especially in the facelifted version 🤷🏻♂️
Costcutting.
The lack of passenger grab handle is possibly due to side curtain airbag. No certainty on this though
When the door panel color is visible from the cabin you know thats some renault twingo level quality there....
It basically is a Renault. They share parts
I hate those rotating knobs for changing the chair angle. I much preffer a release handle.
The default hatch to recommend to most buyers used to be the Golf. Now I’d say get a Ceed and forget the rest
I'd say either of the i30s (either the hatchback or the fastback - I prefer the fastback) are the more reasonable buy now. I know Hyundai and KIA share the platforms, so the Ceed is pretty close to it, but that Fastback has a great silhouette.
@@DranzellHyundai Clix still better than A Class in terms of performance and comfortability.
Just to add if you damage that parcel shelf, they are expensive to replace. They also suffer from plastic dowels falling off and you can't buy them separate from the dealer.
That basic suspension on the rear is historic. Not what I would expect on a modern family hatch1
Newsflash! That is exactly what you get on a modern mazda, a panhard rod, they work and it's cheap.
@@paul5683 Mazda's have to cut costs since they're meant to be more of an economy vehicle whereas Mercedes is top 3 most making profit car manufacturer per car. They don't need to cut the costs.
Because I’m Mat Watson and I launch absolutely everything * this should be the new line.
In the list of five good things about the A class Matt mentions the pop out reversing camera. I think the camera should be at the top of the list of annoying things about this car as I have found that it automatically opens when you get below 16mph then closes again when you get back up to 20mph. It will do this every single time you start the car up and will do it around 4-5 times in my car then stops although I have heard that on some cars it can do this continually. This creates a noise much like the central locking operating so is quite noisy and very annoying when it is happening over and over again - every time you start the car remember. I have been in contact with the dealer then Mercedes direct and have been advised that this is not a fault and that this is now the intended operation of the A class as the camera is going through a calibration process. I just cannot understand why the camera has to calibrate itself in such a noisy manner every time the car is started. Did you not notice this on your test car? I have started contacting car magazines to see if anyone can pick this up as, at the moment Mercedes re not interested in addressing this.
I have a w177 a250 premium plus, wondering if this is a big enough step up to warrant going for this new model compared to mine?
I got a A200. Only worth to upgrade if you go for the hybrid but its very expensive compared to the petrol engines.
@@WinkelHoofyeah I just can’t see that being worth it tbh. I know it’s only a facelift but there are still some niggly bits that they really should have fixed. That said I really want that front bumper for my car lol
10:42 I think you only have to move the gear lever up or down once
As a colour-blind person, I appreciate brands where very clear digits can be shown instead of dials. On my old 180, I have those annoying dials with a large digital display in the middle though. Unfortunately, this always drops out when notifications or warnings are given. The French brands more often have simple large digital displays instead of dials. I am curious to know how it is here
I have an a class and I use the touchpad alot it's very useful when changing music and radio stations. This is a downgrade by cutting corners and saving costs. I'll stick with my current a class.
question : is the quality of skodas much much improved or mercedes is no longer what it used to be? coz my humble skoda is not worse inside..
This car is really not worth the price. There is so much cheaper competition with better equipment and comparable design/build quality. This should only be bought, if you are in serious need of a fancy Mercedes star on the hood. I wouldn’t consider Mercedes below the C-Class. (And I am from Stuttgart ;))
There are so many shortcuts in missing features and cheap materials. The back seats are also really bad imo, too steep, too uncomfortable. And it is just too expensive for all of that. You can spec an entry level A-class with a Renault(!) engine to more than 50k. An A45S can scratch 90k€ (it drives nicely, but has the same mediocre built quality than the 30k entry model).
To be fair: I’m not a fan of the MBUX/infotainment systems (visually and from a functional perspective) of any Mercedes.
Why would they get ride of the touch pad ????!... I only use it on my A-Class, the screen is too far and it's so annoying to go and touch it while driving, the touch pad is just so easy to use!
Great video Mat! I think there might be some confusion when discussing Adaptive Cruise Control as you talk about it being able to steer. I suppose you meant Mercedes active steering assist?
That one is Driving Assistance Package I think, ACC is only part of it
Active cruise is part of the driver assist, as was stated, as is lane assist.
Standard cars have normal cruise and lane departure warning
The new Mercedes cars look exactly as good as they feel bad to touch.
As a BMW fan, i can honestly say that the A Class looks 100% better than the 1 Series
And I can honestly say that you are wrong.
Sweet little hatchback 😊
I understand that the changes made on the face-lift A class may be frustrating for some of you guys, but don't forget we are talking about the absolute SIMPLEST version of every day usable Mercedes-Benz. Don't expect wonders. If you want spectacular features and experiences, go for the S-class(if you are able to, if not continue to hate on the A😂)
I think i'll stick with my 2019 A200 🤣 it's a really good car tbf, I got the AMG-Line with Premium package so all the extras trown in etc. Stage 1'd it straight away to 201bhp and its a little pocket rocket! 6.9 0-60 time, 46mpg on average, handles well, great brakes, sounds nice, looks amazing, has great tech, speakers, seats etc. The only downside is the build quality, its all nasty cheap rattly plastic that buzzes and makes noises when driving on any surface over 15mph... I've had a bunch of warranty claims from the Mercedes garage and they basically had to take the entire interior apart and re-attach it back with glue.
Omg no way. To be honest I'd rather take better build and material quality like old Mercs over extra tech and features any day. What's shocking is that even at this high price, it doesn't come with things that cars a fraction of the price have as standard. So when you combine the lack of standard features and the lack of build and material quality then it makes this a tough buy. At least they could give one or the other. Like give lots of standard features for sub standard build and material quality or give amazing build and material quality and make many features optional. But as it stands this face-lift is a big no. Keep your Pre face-lift. The new one has too much cost cutting and I fear it'll even be worse.
@@SDav21 Yep! I've had 11 warranty claims to be specific. Rattly dashboard, passenger door, boot seal, glovebox, middle air-vent, passenger seatbelt clip in b-pillar, along with a failing seatbelt slider on passenger one, a loose rear numberplate, a horrible screach and rattle from the passenger window motor, the list goes on... I took it to an official Merc garage for its repairs, and a mechanic there told me that all MBUX fitted models have the same build issues. Mercedes stopped using metal screws and glue on their interior so to cut costs and to make repairs 'easier' for mechanics, now they use 'plastic clips' instead, which has increased the warranty claims for interior issues by like 400%. His final words made me laugh, "if you want a good built German car, get a BMW", which is what i'll be doing next!
2019 A200 has 8bhp more than this A Class.
Sounds nice and pocket rocket, don’t belong in the same sentence as A200 😂😂😂
@@Shaggy12321 Omg wow. That's crazy and sad to hear. Lol. I don't see how all the warranty claims will save the brand money when they've got all the tooling etc for their higher quality old models anyway. I feel like even using some old parts from the second Gen mommy wagon looking A Class could've helped quality because that car was actually very well built. I also agree with you. My next vehicle will be a BMW. I have a 2014 W212 E350 Bluetec. On a few occasions I went to test drive the new C Class, the W213 E Class facelift etc to see if I should replace mine. I walked away so disappointed and with a whole new level of appreciation for my car. After driving those and getting back into mine, it feels like mine was built by engineers from a piece of granite. By engineers who loved their jobs with zero input from finance to cut corners. The new ones felt cheap and brittle by comparison. I then went to test drive the new BMWs and was so shocked by how much better they are built. An X5 feels twice as expensive as a GLE yet the GLE costs more. I couldn't wrap my head around it. I was once such an avid Mercedes fan. I am one no more. It's so sad to see what my brand has become. But I'll now move on to another. And that will be BMW.
In what woorld are 17 " rims to small? Car testers complains of the hard suspension on many cars but they also prize big rims. Why not be a little sensible? Big rims give a harder ride, more rumble noise, more vibration, more problems on water at the road during high speed, more expensive. Just unintillegent by other words.
From owning a pre facelift yellow a35 premium plus. I’d say the facelift inside looks abit of a downgrade. Those touch buttons on the steering wheel are awful. And I actually liked the touch pad in the centre console (ocd for fingerprints on my screen). With these A class’s it’s premium plus or nothing for me. However, I do think you get a lot of car for the money tech wise. Nothing on the 540i I’m in now however 👊🏻
Matt, it is a pity you never did a hill start, as the engine lurches forward. It is not as sure footed as it should be. Sometimes dangerously so. Maybe a further update would help.
The rear diffuser actually contributes to the aerodynamics by reducing drag at higher speeds, the A-class have a relatively flat floor for that reason. That’s why its Cx is one of the best in the market.
Hope that helps.
This facelifted A-Class feels like a huge compromise. Just get a used one from 2 years ago and save your money.
Whats good alternative for same money?
I used to drive a similar Mercedes in a driving school… I would say that ergonomics (parking brake, single understeer switch etc) is quite unusual. Traffic sign recognition system shows weather on planet Mars. Suspension feels cheap with poor absorption capacity. I am frankly surprised how bad this car actually is overall.
I disagree on the gear selector being on the steering column. The problem with it is that it means all lights and windscreen wiper controls are all on the one control on the other side which makes it cluttered and awkward to use.
Now thats a good looking city car :)
Though realistically a similar sized car from f.ex Toyota would be quite a lot cheaper... and a more obvious choice for the regular people out there on a budget.
Edit: the boot area on this mercedes is quite impressive
The touchpad is certainly my go to for controlling the screen. A lot easier than using the touch screen and the left section of the steering wheel. I drove a courtesy car that no longer had the touchpad and I really felt lost without it. Bit of a shame they got rid of it.
i love matt's humor
Me too man. Doug Demuro also has equally epic taste of humour.
I'm surprised no one is complaining about the abysmal HP & performance numbers. There're Honda Civics from the early 2000s with better numbers
Nice Renault
It feels like this is really only for someone who really cares about a badge and HAS to be seen to drive a Merc. For a fairly similar price, you can get a top of the range Mazda 3, which obviously doesn't have the same "badge appeal" but the quality of the interior is, imho, far better, comes with every gadget you can think of and the outside looks pretty good as well.
good point.
only valid a class of this facelift, is the a35 and a45 tbh,
Good looking car looks even better!
The 2023 Mercedes A-Class that I drive (along with many others!) has a fundamental flaw with the rear camera flap. When the car slows to under 15mph the rear camera flap opens (sounding like the central locking system engaging), it closes again when it reaches 20mph. The problem is, it continues to do this for the duration of the drive unless you can drive between 15mph and 20mph in straight line for around about 200 metres (I kid you not). It does this EVERY TIME you start the car. A number of disgruntled A Class drivers have taken their cars to the service depot assuming this is a fault, but sadly Mercedes say this is how the car should function. If you're happy to drive a car that has the noise of a central locking engaging every time you accelerate and decelerate then you'll be fine...but I'm yet to meet anyone that can tolerate this!
And to this day I didn't understand what that sound was all about. I'm driving the A250e, thus, I thought it was something related with the battery/hybrid system. Guess not. Makes sense it's what you say, never had thought it was the rear camera flap! Ahah. Now, the thing is, I'll admit it doesn't bother me, not that annoying for me.
An A class isn't 'cheap' Carwow
Didn’t mercedes say that AMGs are only two digit model cars? Like the 63 and 55? So when I see new mercedes with 3 digit number models with amg badges I get confused whether they are true AMGs or the owner just put a badge on the car.
You should do the M2 vs A45s vs RS3
Well, result should be pretty clear RS3=M2>>>>A45
So the a 220d 2.1d 170 2015 have better time than A200 2ld 177 2023 ???in 0-60
It is the best hot hatch on the market. 😊👌 EVERY penny worth it. Design and Engines are so powerful
Even the A200 with 163 HP needs 7.5 sec to 60 mph. So bad launch from you Mat.
Waste of money . Overpriced Renault
@@bwmim9709 VW and Audi are waste of money because their cars are cheap produced and don't last that long. Engine blows up after a few hundred miles.
VW Audi is a overpriced Skoda
@@yannikair won’t blow up as quick as 1.3 Renault engine in a class though
@@bwmim9709 Renault is more successful in Formula 1 and Racesport than VW Audi. Anyways Mercedes developed the engine together with Renault. Look at your car. What is from the manufacturer?
@@yannikair 😂😂😂😂
Famliy owns the pre facelift version, we feel the car front bumper scrapes too often on slightly bigger speedbumps
Sadly this will be the last A-Class from Mercedes 😢
Why???
Who cares, BMW is the way.
Sadly ? Lol
@@alexbs3975because Mercedes will be producing only luxury cars in the future
@@tsaki_titangood thing, everyone can have their own opinion
What’s the point of revising it when they are discontinuing anyway? Seems like they’ve removed features to me.
I believe it's better than bmw 1 , it depends on taste .
Definitely not from a build and material quality perspective.
The current price for that model is £34.600 & it’s a electrically assisted hybrid petrol, that’s what the battery you found in the boot is for
Licking water part is probably the greatest moment in all car reviews history ever 😂
How come in a Mercedes it doesn’t have a lined glove box like they do in Audi, VW and bmw
This review is probably pointless for 90% of people that will buy this car. They’ll buy it because they like it
Mat drinking water from that little water “bowl” will be remembered for generations to come 😂
The level of commitment to actually drink the water from there. Amazing!
How durable is it??
H5Ht is a reliable engine, every A class with Renault engine it s reliable
3:12 Mat: To create a little water bath
Mercedes Press Team: 😲😲😲
Why are cars so incredibly cheap in the UK? In the Netherlands, the A 200 AMG line STARTS at 48.636 euro's (41.837 GBP)....
Not sure but renting a car in the UK is extremely expensive. 100-150 pounds for the cheapest option per day.
UK's car system I really don't understand
I love the presentation with the "stick" ahaha :D
Does it still have a Renault engine?
Don’t get me going on the adaptive cruise control. I have an a250e, it has all the sensors (uses them for regen) but no adaptive cruise 🤬
shortlist? Cheap plastic, not equipped, no electric seat for the driver?
For many more disadvantages
very weird
Why were you double-tapping the gear lever?
Is this A-class based on a Renault megane? The body looks sort of similar and I think they share some engine but I’m not sure