Awhile back, we took a look at the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class and its new interior. From what we saw of the new A-Class’ cabin, it seemed to be an absolute game-changer in the segment. It featured the same design and layout as the six-figure S-Class. It also featured a new infotaintment system (which we’ll get to in a moment), and superior driving dynamics to the old car. We also recently spoke about how, unless BMW makes some drastic changes to the 1 Series, the A-Class could dominate the segment. Now that Carwow has done a video review on it, the latter point seems inevitable.
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The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class will compete with the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3 primarily and, at least compared to the current offerings from its competitors, the new Merc will outsell them with ease. Not only does it look fresh and modern, and surprisingly much better than the CLA-Class it shares its design language with, but its cabin is just so far ahead of everything else in the segment.
The steering wheel and dash layout designs are plucked straight from the S-Class, making it feel far more premium than a car in its price range should feel. While the materials aren’t industry-leading, neither are any of the materials in any car in this segment. So it’s perfectly fine for its price point and competition. What it does have, though, is technology that bests everything else.
As part of Mercedes-Benz’s new infotainment system, the A-Class has an advanced voice recognition system, similar to that of Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa. So all you have to do is say “Hey, Mercedes” and it will engage, asking you for a command. From there, you can control almost any aspect of the car’s infotainment system and interior controls. You can even adjust the color of the ambient lighting by voice.
The most impressive thing, though? The augmented reality navigation system. So on the nav screen, which is the right one of the two dashboard screens, you actually get a POV camera view of where you’re going, thanks to a camera on the nose of the car. In that view, you get navigation arrows that appear in real time, pointing you through turns and what not. It’s incredibly impressive and can make navigating tricky roads a breeze.
Carwow’s Mat Watson doesn’t seem in love with the A-Class’ handling and ride but it’s really going to be competitive in this segment, especially with the next 1 Series also being front-wheel drive-based. Plus, customers in this segment aren’t going to care about that. They’re going to see the premium cabin and wild tech and sign on the dotted line.
Admittedly, we’ve seen a brief teaser of BMW’s updated iDrive 7.0 and digital gauge cluster, which looks really impressive. But we don’t know how good it will be and we don’t think it’s going to have an augmented reality nav system. So customers are going to flip over the A-Class and I have a hard time seeing anything else outselling it in its class.
Instrument cluster rectangular design on a Mercedes is awful and lazy design. Round gauges on a rectangular screen. Can’t imagine why anyone could like that.
The screens are not integrated on the dash. It seems they’ve thrown two screens there.
Fair points, but in that segment (compacts), the buyers won’t care too much about that. The author is right, that A Class will easily sell loads and probably dominate its segment. Don’t be surprised if Mercedes declare a significant bump in annual profits end of next financial year. Only car that can slow them down now is upcoming 1 series.
Hatchbacks, meh!
Hot hatch, yeh!
the tech in this car is unreal and it’s just a compact car! imagine what the next gen s class tech is like!
there isnt THAT much tech only new thing i saw was the camera video feed showing you nav directions and that he rear looks like a kia. it cant be compared to an S class that still has more tech than this car. people just see the turbine air vents and automatically think S class interior but soon as they touch and feel its cheap. you really need to see the SE base spec model for the A class then ull understand. that car been shown to reviews are just edition 1 press cars fully loaded.. SE looks like night and day difference.
i mean i guess everyone has a different taste. to me i think it looks awesome. no complaint from me.
its much better than the old a class for sure
You quiet correct, the base model even has steel wheels and hubcaps, for what you see here in the edition model, you will unfortunately have to part with a lot of your money.
You’d be surprised a lot of their buyers do want to part with their money on these options. Some buyers want compact cars but they still want the luxuries it and its good for car makers to make those options available to them.
“We also recently spoke about how, unless BMW makes some drastic changes
to the 1 Series, the A-Class could dominate the segment.”
Im sure you guys at BMWBLOG Horatiu or someone else contacted BMW a while ago to let them know to make drastic changed to the 1 series interior and they replied with we know or something?
They replied with we have a new model coming.
new interior ? im sure they replied with they are aware? i cant even remember
The optimism on this page ignores that we haven’t even seen the 1st fwd. 1 Series, including a possible 300 hp. M.
That beautiful interior with all the flat screens on an entry level car! It will be a winner. The GLC/C series has a fantastic modern interior also. MB not afraid to try to designs. I owned a GLA and loved it. It had the standard type of interior but a great vehicle at that entry level. BMW was alway a leader over MB but I think that is changing. I use to own several BMW’s but recently have purchased more MB’s. But now I am on to Tesla’s as I love bleeding edge tech with instant torque/horsepower. I also love the MB AMG. My wife drives a Panamera but the MB AMG interior is gorgeous!
Yes, who needs a dash when you can have a videogame?
GLC does not have a modern interior at all
I know it’s all a matter of personal preference, but I don’t like Mercedes interiors. At all. I don’t like the air vents, I don’t like the seat controls on the door, and I just feel that they’re a mess, design-wise. The materials are always super premium…but the styling itself is just…awkward.
Their exterior designs are hit-or-miss, for me. Mostly misses.
I’ll admit the AR nav is interesting…but how many people actually use the car’s nav system, anyway? The vast majority of people I know use Waze or some other app…so I don’t know if that’s really going to drive a lot of sales. I mean, it would be a nice bonus if I were already interested in the car, but…
You saved me time and effort of typing all of that.
Spot on on all counts!
AR together with HUD. Like on half of the drivers side glass. That will be revolution.
Merc has only one good looking car. And that’s C-class. Their new design language got on target only in this model. Everything else is bland and trying to find right way….
Carwoe
Gonna wait for this to be available where I live and the A class sedan global launch is just around the corner being launched in Beijing soon. Gotta admit I got caught up with all the hype thinking this could be my next car. BMW interiors these days aren’t cup of tea anymore but am willing to wait for the G20 with the iDrive 7.0 to see what’s new in the BMW camp.
Article is on point. Funny enough, after playing football earlier this morning, at least 3 of the very very young guys were talking about this new A Class and how they’ve already placed orders for them as their new company cars to replace their Audi A3s. If anyone knows anything about 17-22 yr old guys and their fondness for Audi A3s here in the U.K., you’d know it’s a big deal, a huge deal, that they’re now dropping that to move onto A Class, a “Mercedes???”, in that segment.
ye thats a big deal for an audi A3 owner to switch to a merc a class especially here in the UK. but we will see what audi and bmw do for there next gen models
Voice control, that works, over everything (seat heat, sunroof, etc…) is new. If it does work as well as it seems to, that will be an enticing feature.
Quite hilarious if you try to compare A’s interior to 1-series. You can’t, you simply just can’t.