A-Class (W177) [Official] Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W177)

[Star&Car]

Where's the sedan?

The sedan will be fugly just like the 1er sedan.

 

[Merc1]

Wouldnt' call it fugly.
But boring.

Does it share anything with Renault?

One of the engines might be co-developed. Not sure yet.

M

 

[Centurion]

Brilliant evolution! Everything about the exterior is "just right" but with an interior devoid of the Fisher-Price screen.

I'm glad MB have improved practicality as that's one area where the A-Class lags behind rivals. The rear door aperture and rake of the rear bench makes the Mk.I less than ideal as a small family car.

Let's hope the eccentric dashboard and centre console is premium in the areas that matter.

 

[John Galt]

Let's all hold our breaths for Cadillac's compact response, hey?

Actually there will be a car in the C-class segment

 

[John Galt]

Future CLS owners will be upset that the cheap A-class has almost the same front.

 

[nikola1984]

Interior

 

[Centurion]

I'm amazed how the A-Class offer CLS design and lair at less than half the price!

This is a rare occasion when an entry-level car isn't dumbed down. Metal switch gear, new HVAC controls, seat controls on the doors and steering wheel are very upmarket touches.

Bow down people. This hatchback straddles the line between premium and luxury.

 

[Merc1]

Future CLS owners will be upset that the cheap A-class has almost the same front.

If they aren't upset about the current CLA and CLS the new one isn't going to matter to them.

M

 

[lukeswiss]

Looks awesome, I'd drive it. Audi will still have a nicer interior build quality.... but you buy this for different reasons I guess.

 

[Serpens]

I'm amazed how the A-Class offer CLS design and lair at less than half the price!

This is a rare occasion when an entry-level car isn't dumbed down. Metal switch gear, new HVAC controls, seat controls on the doors and steering wheel are very upmarket touches.

Bow down people. This hatchback straddles the line between premium and luxury.

Don't get carried away- there will be plenty of hard plastic in the interior. Hopefully it will be a better balance than with the current generation. Also that switchgear is metallized plastic.

@Busty talked about this a while ago.

 

[Monster]

It is a nice looking thing, everything the new A-class needs to be to attract new and current owners to purchase the car again. I am still against MB's design team using the CLS front end on the A class, it is 99% identical.

Interior design looks appealing, everything is shiny and looked well designed, but the actual material quality doesn't look too good.

 

[Shining Star]

I think the materials look good for what the car is. The upper dash is clearly soft-touch, as is the perforated middle section. If I'm correct, the middle trim section in the previous generation was hard plastic, so this is an upgrade. I also think there's a classier application of the wood/aluminum trim in this design, IMO.

Sure, the lower dash and center tunnel is probably hard plastic, but that's in line for the segment. Even an A4 has a hard plastic glovebox I think (though it's been some time since I've sat in a current-gen A4).

The only cheap parts that jump out at me on a first glance are the gear selector (current looks more substantial) and the light switches to the left of the steering wheel. These parts seem manufactured specifically for Mercedes's compact range.

 

[Monster]

Interior is already a finger print magnet.

 

[sako97]

Imagine driving home in your brand spanking new CLS, then seeing another CLS drive towards you opposite direction, but realizing it's acutally an A-class.

*Joking....., but maybe not.

Good for the A class, idk about the CLS.

 

[Monster]

Good for the A class, idk about the CLS.

Definitely not good for the owner of the CLS.

 

[Merc1]

It won't matter in the real world with actual owners/buyers. Some people might be put off about it at first glance, but once they experience a CLS they won't care about the A_Class.

M

 

[sako97]

^ But even that's complicated by the fact that the CLS has the E's interior. But that's neither here nor there in this thread, so I digress.

 

[Shining Star]

The new A-Class.

 

[Merc1]

If they can get truly young people into this car, they have a winner.

M

 

[deity]

It won't matter in the real world with actual owners/buyers. Some people might be put off about it at first glance, but once they experience a CLS they won't care about the A_Class.

M

I agree with this. Consumers bear the ultimate responsibility in terms of telling what a company is okay and what is not okay. People still buy the E-Class despite it looking like a C-Class; people buy a 7-series despite it looking similar to a 5-series. Consumers are telling MB/BMW/Audi that they don't care if a $100k+ car looks like a $30k car so they're gonna keep on doing it. Imagine if sales of the E completely dropped off because it looked like the C...it would really send a message to Mb that what they're doing is not ok.