I’ll be honest – when I first saw the photos of the A-Class Sedan during its launch, I felt like there was something wrong with its design. The rear quarter seems a little too short, and the proportions of the car just seems.. off. My colleagues tell me that I’m the odd one here.
However, seeing the car in person has slowly made me change my mind. Over the weekend, I’ve grown from accepting its looks, to actually feeling smug being seen in one. Perhaps it’s the AMG Line bodykit, which just brings the modern design to a whole other level.
Up front, the large air inlets paired with the diamond-pin grille gives the A 250 Sedan an imposing face, while the faux vents at the rear squares up the more rounded “Sensual Purity” design language for a more aggressive stance.
Just based on its styling, the A 250 Sedan looks like it’s the perfect car to drive to a party. But step into the cabin at night, and you’ll find that the party is actually inside – The 64-colour ambient lighting makes you feel as if you’re walking into a nightclub, with the giant screens announcing your arrival. All it’s lacking is the eardrum-ripping thumping music.
Although it may look like a riot, the A 250 Sedan is actually fairly pleasant to live with. Wind and traffic noise are well managed, with only a faint tyre hum coming into the cabin at speeds.
The leather-wrapped sports seats are comfortable to sit in even on longer journeys, and material selection throughout the cabin is also impeccable -with scratchy plastics only relegated to the lower portion around the foot well. Although it’s the entry-level Merc, there’s no doubt you’re still sitting in a true Mercedes-Benz.
The party piece of the interior – the twin 10.25-inch displays – sits loud and proud on the dashboard. Animations are smooth on the MBUX system, and graphics are vibrant and attractive.
However, functionality on the system is fairly limited at this stage, as the A 250 Sedan is still not connected to the cloud. With the recent introduction of Mercedes me connectivity in Malaysia though, this experience might change in the very near future.
Matching the party theme is the M260 2.0-litre four-banger under the hood, with a hot-hatch rivaling power output of 224 hp and 350 Nm of torque. Paired with an ultra-aware 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the A 250 Sedan is constantly waiting to pounce on its prey – or in this context, put on a dance show.
A gentle prod on the accelerator and the gearbox immediately drops a cog, waiting for you to unleash the deep throaty roar from the engine – which is a blessing, because the paddle shifters are fiddly and unresponsive at times.
Adding all of that up equates to a car that is brilliant to drive on the highways, and it is way too easy to reach unspeakable speeds. But once you arrive at the back roads, it’s perhaps a wise move to tone it down a little.
Don’t get me wrong, the little sedan holds its line well through curves. However, if you so much as alter any of your inputs by a hair mid corner – be it a touch more throttle input, or a light tap on the brakes – the car just wants to unsettle itself.
It’s almost as if the A 250 Sedan is riding a unicycle on a tightrope; any change of movement and it’ll fall down a deep valley. It’s a shame that the car sometimes become quite unnerving to drive, because the powertrain just aches for you to squeeze out the power whenever you can.
Truth be told though, most A 250 Sedans sold here will probably end up dwelling in the daily traffic of the bustling city centre. In that case, the A 250 Sedan pretty much hits all the right spots – it’s good looking, small and easy to maneuver, comfortable to stay in for long periods of time, and doesn’t drink fuel like a madman.
Though if you ask me, I will probably still choose the A 200 Sedan over this – you’re really not missing much with the torsion beam suspension. If only it comes with the AMG Line body kit.
Social media has made us all constantly crave for attention from our peers. The A 250 Sedan then, might just be the ultimate ‘look-at-me’ car for the young over-achiever.
Mercedes-Benz A 250 Sedan AMG Line Specifications:
| Engine | 1,991cc; turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch transmission |
| Max Power | 224 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Max Torque | 350 Nm @ 1,800 – 4,000 rpm |
| 0 to 100 km/h; Top Speed | 6.3 seconds; 250 km/h |
| Price (OTR w/o Insurance) | RM267,888 |
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