Price As tested: A180 Sport petrol- INR 22.73 lakh Ex-Delhi
Verdict
The A-class represents a brand new breed of cars for the Indian market. It’s meant to be a compact, fun-to-drive, stylish and feature laden premium hatch for the young and the restless. We think M-B has got it right as regards styling and character, and we also love the car for the way it drives. For a diesel centric Indian market, however, a launch with a diesel power plant would have probably made a little more sense in our humble opinion.
It’s a fun car to drive, the A-class, and doesn’t compromise on technology or safety. Loaded to the gills, oozing character with a lively, playful personality, the A-class should appeal to the discerning, upwardly mobile and young at heart go-getters. We Indians have a habit of associating size with value, and we’re sure the trend will be followed in the A-class’s case as well.
Being a CBU, there was no possible way M-B could have priced it lower than the aforementioned price. It’s a shade more expensive than we expected it to, but the good thing is that M-B have priced the big-volume diesel lower than the petrol variant. For those who value individualistic character, fun-to-drive quotient and modern engineering above sheer size, the A-class should make for a compelling pick.