Everything You Need to Know About the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan

Nearly five years after the launch of CLA in the US, Mercedes-Benz is doubling down further on affordability by introducing its most budget-friendly car: the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan. Mercedes-Benz is calling this a sedan because instead of the fifth in the conventional A-Class hatchback models, there will be a presence of trunk on the rear side of the vehicle.

History of Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class has been in production since 1997 and has undergone significant transformations. Between 1997 and 2012, during its initial two generations, it was categorized as a front-wheel drive subcompact car. However, the third generation was modified into a four-wheel drive subcompact executive car.

The difference between subcompact and subcompact executive car is related to the size of the vehicle. However, at the launch of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class in the US in late 2018, buyers would have the option to buy either the front-wheel-drive A 220 sedan, or the four-wheel drive A 220 4MATIC® sedan.

Design

The anticipated design of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class shows a strong resemblance to the European A-Class hatchback.  The triangular headlights drew strong inspiration from the new generation and more premium CLS.

Dimensionally, the 2019 A-Class model is 179.1 inches long and has a wheelbase of 107.4 inches. This is an interesting revelation because the A-Class is three inches shorter in length than the current CLA, but the wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than its counterpart model.

This translates into a lower overhang that can have a significant bearing on the performance and control of the vehicle. Both cars are 70 inches wide without considering the mirrors. There is also the added advantage of more headroom in the A-Class as it is three-tenths of an inch taller against the present CLA model.   

Performance

The grille design is a way forward from the traditional radiator design present on the prevalent models of A-Class, CLA, and GLE. The move is towards a chrome strip on each side of the three-pointed star.  The new A 220 sedan will have a 2.0L turbo I4 engine just like CLA 250 and GLA 250.

However, in terms of performance, the A 220 will have 188 horsepower (hp) and 221 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque as opposed to 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque for CLA 250 and GLA 250.  This also means that the new A-Class will not be able to meet the benchmark of 6.5 seconds for 0 to 100 kilometer per hour (km/h). This level of performance indicates a heavy likelihood of high-performance AMG® models after a period of year or more.

Meanwhile, like the CLA 250 and GLA 250, the A 220 and A 220 4MATIC® will have a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission system, which will be electronically limited to 130 miles per hour (mph).

Entertainment

The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class will be the first to come out with the German auto manufacturer’s most modern infotainment system known as the Mercedes-Benz User Experience, or more commonly known as the MBUX. The system will have a car assistant that will have the ability to learn via artificial intelligence. It will also have the ability to adapt according to every individual user of the car.

This means that there will be an emotional bond between the respective passengers and the car. The system will include two 7-inches wide touch screens that will give a cockpit feeling. If the driver wants to take this experience to a whole different level, then they can opt for two 10.25 inches wide touchscreens.

By introducing the touchscreens, the control of the vehicle would not be restricted to knobs and touchpads installed. Usual features like Android auto integration and Apple CarPlay will be present. MBUX will also support the car-to-X communication platform that allows the car to record events from its sensors and inform the driver of accidents on the way beforehand.

Safety

The safety features of the new A-Class comprise of the Active Brake Assist System that includes the standard automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and pedestrian identification.

There is also the presence of Active Distance Assist Distronic that can analyze the road ahead to navigate the car safely through turns. There will also be the presence of active safety technology like blind spot warning, lane keeping and lane changing assist, along with rear-traffic alert. The car will also come with 17-inch alloy wheels with LED full headlights.