2022 Mercedes-Benz A-class

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2021-2022 Review

If there ever was an automotive version of the ugly duckling story, perhaps the Mercedes-Benz A-Class would be the best fit. The first generation represented a large paradigm shift within the company, exploring segments they had otherwise been absent from and a surprisingly foresighted move. Perhaps the only other manufacturer at the time who beat them to the punch was Audi, who launched their first generation A3 in 1996, though the first A-Class came in 1997.

Unfortunately, it didn’t prove to be quite the global hit that Mercedes had expected. It sold in pretty decent numbers, but many other markets around the world couldn’t accept it as a model from the three-pointed star. This was consistent with the second generation – which retained more MPV-esque styling like the first. No, the A-Class really took off when the third generation came into the world.

A proper compact luxury car, shaped like a hatchback, loaded with an interior that wasn’t too far removed from the rest of the models in their line-up. It proved to be incredibly popular, spawning both a four-door coupe and crossover variant, as well as high performance AMG models as the crown jewels of the range.

Now in its fourth generation, Mercedes has taken that winning formula and refined it further. The global and local launch of this generation was back in 2018 in two hatchback variants, with two sedan variants introduced the following year. 2019 also saw the launch of the Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC sedan variant, while 2020 brought the Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC hatchback and the Mercedes-AMG A45S 4MATIC hatchback.

Unfortunately with COVID-19 and other restrictions like a microprocessor shortage in play, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has trimmed the offerings currently available to just two hatchback variants and two sedan variants. This is consistent with the rest of the local Mercedes line-up being more limited.

The CKD A35 Sedan was introduced in June 2022, alongside the GLA35. If the price was always the barrier for anyone that wanted to purchase the A35 sedan, well the CKD version has definitely helped lower its price tag.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2021-2022 Specifications

It’s a little easier to understand the Mercedes-Benz A-Class variants if we go by engine. Going by what is currently offered, you need only know what the A35 4MATIC and A45S 4MATIC+ produce in terms of their powerplants. Both variants are powered by turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engines, though outputs are vastly different.

The A35 4MATIC has had its engine fettled slightly by Mercedes-AMG. Outputs are 306 PS and 400 Nm of torque, delivered to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch type automatic transmission. This is available in both the hatchback and sedan bodystyles, though the hatchback variant is still offered solely as the Edition 1.

The most potent variants of the A-Class come with the A45S 4MATIC+ powertrain, making a staggering 421 PS and 500 Nm of torque. Power once again goes to all four wheels courtesy of the 4MATIC system – albeit with a little more aggressive programming courtesy of that + suffix – and it also gets an eight-speed dual-clutch type automatic transmission to handle gearing. This is currently limited only to the hatchback body style.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2021-2022 Exterior

The outside of your regular Mercedes-Benz A-Class isn’t radically different from the model that came before it – only in the sense of it still being a two-box shape in the case of the hatchback. Styling elements are heavily updated and follow the trends and language set by the current generation E-Class which was launched just a year or two before. The sedan shares the same front end with the hatchback, though the taillights are surprisingly unique and not comparable to any other model in the range.

In terms of exterior packaging, things get a little messy. In the case of the cheapest A-Class hatchback you can get, that would be the A35 4MATIC Edition 1 variant which also comes with 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, albeit a different multi-spoke design. As there’s no regular A-Class hatchback models to compare it to, it’s hard to see where the aesthetic differences are – though at launch it came with a different rear diffuser insert and rear spoiler, as well as a twin exhaust pipe setup at the back.

Its more potent counterpart is the A45S 4MATIC+, and this once again gets 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, though similar in design to the A250 AMG Line hatchback units that are no longer on offer. The wheel arches are more flared, the front grille Is the Panamericana design reserved for serious AMG models, there’s a quad exhaust setup at the rear, and a jet-wing profiled front bumper with dive planes and an aggressive rear diffuser round out the aesthetics package.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2021-2022 Interior

If you’re exhausted by now, you get a little bit of a break – the interiors of all the Mercedes-Benz A-Class variants are fairly consistent across all body styles and variants, which is a great thing. You get the modern Mercedes-Benz dual-screen setup that occupies two-thirds of the dashboard – half of it being used for infotainment, and the other half functioning as a customizable instrument cluster.

You get three air condition vents sitting in the middle, with one flanking each end of the dashboard – again an excellent design that is both beautiful and functional, easily manipulated to make sure all occupants get their share of cool air. The centre console is home to a control pad for the infotainment unit and some switchgear for the drive controls. A large storage binnacle is situated behind that, with twin cupholders and a storage bin in front too. Differences in the models come down to the choice of seats and trim materials.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2021-2022 Safety Features

It may be difficult to remember, but Mercedes-Benz packaged the A-Class with a pretty extensive, modern suite of safety systems for the time. This continues with this generation as all variants get Active Brake Assist (autonomous emergency braking and forward collision warning), in addition to your more regular items like electronic stability and traction control, ABS with EBD, and so on.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2021-2022 Strengths & Weakness

The really stand-out elements of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class that every variant benefits from is the interior – high quality materials, excellent design, and functionality that is bleeding edge. Mercedes has also worked on some of the sore points that the third generation model were known for, improving the ride quality without compromising handling characteristics.

If we’re talking about the AMG variants in particular, these powertrains and gearboxes are incredibly potent, with a healthy amount of power on tap and a broad, easily usable torque band. These are great compact performance cars – not quite outright sports cars, but definitely qualifying as hot hatchbacks or a sports sedan (bodystyle dependent).

A pitfall that can’t be avoided with cars like the A-Class is simply rear legroom – you get a modest amount, though it still can’t compare with models like the C-Class or larger. Ultimately it is a compact hatchback (or sedan), and you can’t escape the design constraints of its short wheelbase.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2021-2022 Price

For the time-being, the only variants of the A-Class hatchback you can get are the Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC Edition 1 for RM 366,785.06, and the Mercedes-AMG A45S 4MATIC+ for RM 437,673.41. The A35 sedan which was launched in 2022 can be had for RM343,888, which can go up even further depending on optional extras.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2021-2022 Features

A stand-out element of any Mercedes-Benz model in this day and age is MBUX, or the Mercedes-Benz User Experience, which includes the infotainment system and instrument panel customization. The system can be controlled in a variety of ways – including voice recognition – and is incredibly intuitive and well designed, more than making up for the COMAND system of older Mercedes models.

Keyless entry and push start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in navigation, Active Parking Assist, ambient lighting, and a multi-function steering wheel are all part of the package too – having been offered with even lower level variants than what’s currently on sale.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2021-2022 Fuel Consumption

There is no local data regarding fuel consumption for any of the A-Class variants, but we can look overseas and see what they are returning. The A35 4MATIC will return 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres, or 13.5 kilometres per litre. The most powerful variant, the A45S 4MATIC+ takes 8.4 litres per 100 kilometres, or 11.9 kilometres to the litre.