The Mercedes-Benz A-Class has just been unveiled and it’s undoubtedly the most technologically-advanced A-Class there has ever been. That said, it wasn’t without a long journey dating back to the first generation W168 from the late 1990s.
Those days, you’d need to consult an eye doctor whenever you come in contact with one but nearly two decades on, the A-Class is now an in-demand eye candy and here are five reasons to believe that the A-Class is here to stay.
- Since October 1997, over 5.5 million Mercedes-Benz compact cars have been delivered worldwide – three million of them were Mercedes-Benz A-Class models.
- In 2017, one out of four Mercedes-Benz cars sold was a compact model. Following the reintroduction of the W176 A-Class in 2012, over 620,000 customers took delivery of their new A-Class, B-Class, CLA and GLA.
- The A-Class is now offered with Intelligent Drive on par with the S-Class. As standard, it is not only able to brake for vehicles but also for pedestrians. Its Blind Spot Assist also warns against passing cyclists when stationary. The A-Class is also the first model in its class to be available with an extensive Driving Assistance package.
- The introduction of the W176 A-Class back in 2012 projected a more youthful image for the Mercedes-Benz brand. In Europe, the average age of an A-Class owner is more than 10 years less than those who own the previous model. In China, one in three customers were under 30.
- The A-Class has had a high capture rate. Last year in Europe, more than 60 percent of A-Class customers previously drove a competing brand.
