First Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives, Luxury

Third Time Is Absolutely A Charm For Entry-Level Merc



You are looking at what is likely the most important Mercedes-Benz passenger car since the old 190 turned into the C-Class "Baby Benz" back in 1993. And the United States and Canada won't get it, at least not in this hatchback configuration we have just tested extensively in Slovenia.

The big message coming from Mercedes, however, is that the new A-Class is categorically not to be referred to as a baby anything. (We wish them good luck in enforcing this mandate.) The attitude is aggressive and "Attack Mode" in nature, clearly showing how tired Mercedes is of being known as the less exciting, more mild mannered German brand.

The thing is, that reputation is well earned and the brand has embraced it for quite some time with real success. But now it's time to bust out of the current normal and cater to the kids with expendable cash in pocket.

Since 1997, the world has lived through two generations of A-Class, one of the most utterly bland four-wheeled semi-premium small cars ever formulated. And since the 190/C-Class went all upmarket in the early '00s, Mercedes has had no true competitor - at least not a very cool one - in a premium small car segment anywhere on Earth where it sells cars. And, boy, have they needed it.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Regards,

Derik Chan