We spent some ‘bitter sweet’ time behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz A200 AMG on our review as the brand readies to halt production on this model in 2025.
One thing that the A-Class has been able to carry over, is how spacious it feels on the inside. The cabin has carried over that Mercedes-Benz feel in that it still feels premium with minimal plastics being used throughout (most notable is the covers around the vents). The dash sees an inclusion of what feels like a dual-screen setup between the infotainment center and the instrument cluster – in which both are high-res displays with minimal lag through interaction. The infotainment screen features a 10.25-inch screen feels similar, in size, to the previous generation (Thankfully Mercedes-Benz did not fit the hyper screen into this model – for obvious reasons). The steering wheel has multi-functional touch sensitive buttons that enable the driver to either manage the infotainment system or switch between driving options through the drivers display. The buttons have been toned down from previous iterations in that you physically need to press the buttons in-order to select the option – which will stop you from flipping between tracks on the infotainment system while you’re turning the steering wheel.
The MBUX voice system did see a notable improvement past the previous ones we tried but it still needs a tad more work – I think the heavy South African accents are to blame in that regard. We loved how the climate & volume controls still have physical buttons and that we could control them better in that sense. The volume buttons also distract one from the fact that Mercedes removed the infamous trackpad that was fitted in the A-Class before but has since been removed and not replaced but anything in that space (awkward that my iPhone could not fit in that space). We also would not recommend leaving your change in there as it would fly out all over when you do sudden take-offs – so it would leave one to wonder as to its use for now.
The premium feel carries on to the seats and door panels and the seats. We are not going to lie, the driving experience within the car is not far off from the A35 AMG and the red AMG stitching noted around the seats and steering is testament on the performance heritage that has crossed over. The front sees an influx of USB-C ports, 2 being between the driver, an additional 2 being positioned in the center console and 2 being made available for the rear occupants. Unfortunately, no USB-A ports available in the car.
The A200 AMG is powered by a 1.3L turbo charged engine, paired to a 7-speed DCT transmission that faired well when switched to ‘Sport’ mode, though still sounded a tad underwhelmed – still, it’s not a high-spec performance hatch so it is expected. The engine puts out 120kW @ 270Nm of torque, so it shouldn’t underestimated one bit. Mercedes-Benz claims between 6.4 – 5.8L/100KM in terms of fuel consumption but we can confirm that a 6.7L/100KM is more of a realistic number under most driving conditions.
Alright, let’s talk money figures considering that the A200 has been noted as the cheapest way to make ones way into the brand. Firstly, the A-class has a starting price of R755 099 and is available in 2 engine derivates; petrol and diesel given that the end-of-production time has been set for 2025 by the brand. There is a number of features and extras that can be ticked off from the optional extras but most notable is the extra R29 000 for the AMG Line and R65 000 for the Premium Package – whether it’s worth it or not is up to every individual but we can confirm that it makes a difference in experiencing the car(it might sway you to keep the car longer at that).
View our video review below:
