MUMBAI :

It is well-known that car manufacturers, especially luxury car manufacturers, pay extra special attention to their entry-level models because in a way it is a gateway to their brands and there are so many buyers out there who are on the fence about whether they should take that leap of faith and join the club. Afterall, it is a fiercely competitive market these days and the Germans have to constantly ensure that they offer something that is extremely enticing for buyers out there who are buying into the luxury brand for the very first time. Afterall, the writing is on the wall…most buyers buying the entry-level model, in all likelihood, will graduate to their more expensive and more powerful models at some point of time in their lives, and that is why it is essential that no stone is left unturned to appease the entry-level buyer at every step - product, sales, or aftersales. And all of this only means great news for the buyers who feel pampered with everybody fussing around them. But do these entry-level models really have what it takes or are they dwarfed by their own more powerful siblings? We took the Mercedes-Benz A200, which rivals the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A3, out for a spin to look for answers. Here’s what we think… 

At the outset, it must be said that the A200 is a looker. Also, by now, everybody knows better than to mess with anybody behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz. The fact that over generations, Mercedes-Benz, has earned enough respectability ensures that most car drivers make way for it, when they spot one in their ORVM, and that is no exaggeration. Like it or not, the three-pointed star just commands that respect. And that is something that we have always experienced while being behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz and the A200 was no different. Although the A200 isn’t as big as other sedans in the Mercedes-Benz stable, there is no shying away from the fact that it is big on style and let’s face it, visual appeal is quite a draw for any car buyer. So, yes, it does check the box for oodles of style. 

A long bonnet with just two strong crease lines that swoop down along with a beautiful nose with striking boomerang shaped DRLs, you’ll agree that the front fascia does not disappoint. The side profile gets largish windows and a classy chrome strip running alongside the windows which really gives the A200 an elegant look. The shoulderline, not very thick, adds a beautiful dimension to the sedan and the 17-inch doublespoke alloys look classy. At the rear, a slightly rakish windscreen, non-fussy tail lamps, a beautifully sculpted boot lid, reflectors, and faux exhausts that flank a beautiful strip of chrome complete the look. 

Inside, is nothing short of sorcery, except that it is not the black magic kind, instead what greets your eyes is beautiful ivory coloured leather, the kind that you never ever get tired of looking at but can be high maintenance, especially for those of you who pay scant attention to the cleanliness levels and upholstery of the car. Upkeep of this leather will be an added burden, yes, but then like they say, "No gain without pain." So, if you want to have your A200 looking shiny and new especially on the inside, you’ll definitely have to spend some time taking good care of it.

The cabin feels airy thanks to the large glass windows and the light-coloured upholstery, the 64-coloured ambient light options look good, especially while driving through tunnels and the use of wood, leather, soft touch plastics and satin-aluminum really elevate the interiors of the A200 to the next level, especially because of the use of these high-end materials which give the cabin a very trendy and sophisticated look and feel.

We especially liked the ticket fastener that the visor has, which is a thoughtful touch.

 The seats, look slim, but are comfortable both in the front as well as at the rear, though the rear seats do make you feel as if you’re sat closer to the ground…and believe us when we say that there are many out there who actually like this feeling. Besides, there is plenty of leg, shoulder (For two) and headroom and it’s not a bad place to get comfortable, relax and enjoy the ride, especially if you’re the average Indian height guy or girl because the 2729mm wheelbase sure ensures your comfort. 

The elongated two 10.25-inch touchscreens which take up most of the space on the dash are the highlight of the A200. Packed with features, the system can be controlled directly, via the trackpad or through the steering controls. The 10.25-inch instrument cluster can be personalized and you can have it giving out car and driver related information, just the way you like it. All in all, the cabin sure seems like quite a trendy and chic place to be. The leather and ambient lights give it a very contemporary feel and with all the tech onboard, you can be sure that there’s never going to be a dull moment whilst behind the wheel or even whilst seated inside in the backseat of this stunning sedan.

The A200 comes with a 4-cylinder, 1.3-liter (1332cc) BS-VI engine that is mated to a 7speed-DCT gearbox which churns out 163hp and 250 Nm@1620-4000 rpm of of torque. We enjoyed driving this car around and it did a good job, both on the city’s streets as well as on the highways. The light steering felt remarkably good.

Being an 8.3 second car (0-100), it also managed to put a big smile on our faces as we stepped on the gas and started overtaking everything that was in front of us, well almost. Of course, at those speeds, the engine noise was definitely filtering inside the cabin and was very different from earlier, when the engine was just purring beautifully with us barely hearing any noise inside at all. Being a 2WD, the A200, felt light and agile, both to maneuver on narrow city streets as well as while speeding on state highways – always a good thing for anybody interested in driving/owning this sedan. Some turbo lag was also experienced, (during a certain type of driving) from time to time, but nothing that you couldn’t deal with by taking control via paddle shifts. We were also impressed with the suspension setup which offered a really comfortable ride for the most part, even at some really high speeds, despite some really bad potholes on the roads.

All in all, we felt that the A200 behaved like a super nice sedan, displaying very good road manners. Most buyers would definitely be pleased with their purchase because of its impressive ride and handling, not to mention 405-liters of boot space and impressive FE (Fuel Economy) figures – 17.50kmpl. And so, if you’re ready to dish out anything upwards of INR 40+ Lakh for your first German marque to join the prestigious club, the Mercedes-Benz A200, may just be the sedan for you. Definitely a great place to start building that three pointed star collection in your garage, we say.