Stuttgart has finally pulled the kill switch on its entry-level hatchback, sending the Mercedes-Benz A-Class on one final cruise in the same direction as pop-up headlights and manual parking brakes.
Nobody was caught out by the news of its demise, having been hinted as far back as 2023 during the unveiling of the Concept CLA Class. The Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) underpinning the concept would see the seven compact models be culled to only four, the new CLA, a shooting brake and most likely the new GLA and GLB.
As the months towards the discontinuation of the A-Class in 2026 inches by, we thought a little cruise down nostalgia alley would be a perfect send-off for the classy hatch that redefined the premium compact segment.
W168 – 1st Generation (1997-2004)
Stuttgart’s first foray into the premium compact segment came in the frumpy form of the W168 A-Class. Nonetheless, its launch was akin to Charles Dickens opening in A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Stuttgart set out with a simple brief for the car, C-Class room within a shorter footprint with E-Class safety. The feat was largely achieved, thanks to a revolutionary sandwich floor designed to maximise safety and cabin room – but much of the A-Class’ initial notoriety stemmed from footage of it turning turtle during the demanding ‘Moose Test.’
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The floor was engineered for the engine and transmission to slide underneath it during a collision, but wasn’t of much use if the car had a tendency to end up belly-up instead.
To fix its fatal flaw, Mercedes’ work was double tiered, first having to fork out a significant amount to tweak the suspension and install ESP systems (segment first) for more stability at the limit handling, before setting about reminding people the car was still a great compact.
Nevertheless, the original A-Cass was nothing short of an engineering marvel, with several novel ideas to achieve the model’s goals. The engine is unassuming on its own, the single-cam, inline-four M266 displaced between 1.4- and 2.1-litre without breaking any horsepower records. It was however canted forward at a 59-degree angle – perfectly positioned to slide between the two floors during a crash.
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Additionally, the engine being almost on the ground translated into larger cabin room that rivalled the C-Class and the raised top floor gave it a high hip-point, attracting plenty of older buyers. And what about safety on par with the E-Class? How does a 4-star NCAP rating sound like?
By the time it ended production, the W168 had sold over 1.1 million units. Towards the end of its lifecycle however, the Audi A3 and first BMW 1 Series had begun to leave it behind in the pecking order, necessitating the second-generation A-Class.
W169 – 2nd Generation (2004-2012)
An evolution more than a revolution, much of the focus around the W169 A-Class centred on refining its predecessor within a more matured design language, which included retaining the sandwich floor and introduced a three-door body option.
Tech was the name of the game here with Mercedes cramping as much as they could into the A-Class. This included adaptive damping, a CVT gearbox, Active Park Assist function, adaptive brake lights that pulsed under emergency braking, stop-start and lastly, to make us feel old, a USB input for iPod connectivity.
Mercedes even discovered that the space between the sandwich floors were perfect for a battery pack. Said battery was a 36 kWh pack supplied by then emerging carmaker Tesla Motors, yes that Tesla, and was good for a circa 200 km range. Dubbed the A-Class E-Cell, 500 units were made and leased to selected customers.
By the time the second-generation A-Class was phased out, around February 2012, Mercedes had sold about one million units.
W176 – 3rd generation (2012-2018)
Sales are sales and while the raised seating position and MPV-ride height made the A-Class popular among the elderly, it was also this very ‘uncle’ image that Mercedes was looking to shift away from and attract younger buyers that would remain with the brand for generations.
Facilitating that necessitated a much more conventional-looking family hatchback. Out went the sandwich floor and raised ride height, resulting in 150 mm being chopped from the height and length extended by 409 mm. The A-Class finally looked like a hatch a 20-something year old would be proud to step out of.
Interior room was also sacrificed with a conventional floor, but Mercedes did a little smoke and mirrors show with a much more vibrant dash design such as the circular vents and tablet-style infotainment screen. Safety was given more attention, with all variants sporting a Collision Prevention Assist function.
The new modular platform also meant it could be stretched to underpin a host of other models like the GLA and CLA, the latter of which would eventually lead to the demise of the A-Class.
It was with this generation that AMG decided to wave its wand over and bless us with the A45 AMG. At the time, the four-wheel drive hyper-hatch was powered by the world’s most potent engine on a power-per-litre basis, the M133 DE20 LA with an astonishing 381 hp.
All in, the revamp of the A-Class for its third generation worked wonders. Sales soared and the marque had now cultivated a more youthful, vibrant persona that appealed to younger customers.
W177 – 4th generation (2018-not for long)
It can be argued that the swansong of the A-Class, the W177, was every bit as innovative with its engineering as the original… just not in the manner you’re probably imagining. You won’t find any sandwich floors or engines laid out on its side, instead the German boffins focussed on what resonates with younger buyers.
That’s infotainment and connectivity, which led to the birth of MBUX and the now iconic ‘Hey Mercedes’ catchphrase to activate the natural speech recognition tech. Wake up the system with the command and speak to it in simple language to adjust the various functions such as music and navigation. By this time, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay was standard issue.
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Despite targeting the tech-savvy younger buyers, the actual practicality aspect wasn’t completely neglected. The W177 had a longer wheelbase and larger boot as well.
Lastly, in what was likely a double-edged sword, this generation of the A-Class spawned a sedan body style to rival the Audi A3 sedan.
Perhaps a perfect send-off, AMG went off the rails with the AMG A45 S 4Matic, blessing it with a manic 421hp. Seeing that this also pushed the A45 into a higher price bracket, Mercedes saw it fit to introduce a baby AMG in the form of the A35 AMG, taking its place as the new entry-level Stuttgart hot hatch.
If you’re looking to delve into A-Class ownership before it’s gone for good, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has a number of variants on offer. If you’re keen on the A-Class Sedan, you can pick from either the A200 Progressive Line (RM241,888), the A250 4Matic AMG Line (RM269,888) or the flagship sedan that is the A35 4Matic (RM343,888).
However, if it’s the hatchback you’re after, there’s only the fire-breathing Mercedes-AMG A45S 4MATIC+ to fill that gap for a cool RM509,888.
