2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Review

　　

2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　You'd think Mercedes-Benz, of any carmaker, would be immune to the pressures of driving down the cost of entry. The three-pointed star is synonymous with a luxury standard revered by middle managers and heads of state the world over. A compact sedan like the A-Class, priced in the low $30,000s to start and seemingly aimed at vibrant young bon vivants, feels out of character for the historically orthodox brand.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 220 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$158/mo  for A-Class A 220

　　A-Class A 220

　　A 220 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) (Most Popular) - $33,650 MSRPA 220 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $35,650 MSRPAMG A 35 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $45,850 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　But the A-Class is actually a shrewd move. It distills Mercedes' traditional focus on comfort, quality and technology into a more affordable package, setting the hook for long-term ownership. You don't quite get the gravity of, say, the S-Class here, but there is a playful interior, lively handling and class-leading infotainment. The A-Class isn't perfect, but as a representative of pint-sized Mercedes refinement, it's a great choice. Check out the categories of our Expert Rating to learn more about the 2021 A-Class.

　　

What's it like to live with?

We've tested out an A 220 for more than a year, and it's largely delivered on the promise it showed after our first tests. The interior feels stitched together like a proper Mercedes, the engine has decent power, and cargo space is impressive given the car's size. Check out our A-Class long-term test to learn what it's like living with every day.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the A-Class drive? We tested the A 220 and found it surprisingly entertaining to drive. It pulls away from stop signs smoothly and silently with almost no delay. It's not as quick as the Audi A3, but overall the Mercedes is punchy. In zzdcar' testing, it covered 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds. The dual-clutch transmission is one of the better examples but still exhibits clunky action in traffic.

　　The feel of the brake pedal is immediately intuitive. It's easy to stop smoothly and with confidence from any speed. We also like the A 220's handling. There's more than enough grip thanks to the optional summer tires, and the available all-wheel-drive system can also help get the power down quickly when exiting a turn. Overall composure is excellent.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the A-Class? Mercedes is out to prove that compact luxury cars can be just as comfortable as their bigger, more expensive siblings. The A-Class leads the charge with a compliant suspension that absorbs most bumps at high or low speeds with ease.

　　The A 220's cabin is thoroughly comfortable as well. There's very little road or ambient noise. The seats are well contoured and agreeable to many body types, though taller drivers might wish for more upper-back support. The system provides plenty of airflow from the fancy-looking turbine-style air vents.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The driver and front passenger enjoy ample headroom, shoulder and elbow room, which is a pleasant surprise in such a small car. While rear passengers have decent headroom, legroom is a bit tight. Thankfully, the backs of the front seats are sculpted to provide some additional knee room. Outward visibility is OK, but the thick rear roof pillars and small rearview mirrors obscure your rearward view slightly.

　　Mercedes includes a bunch of luxury and technology features in the A 220. Thankfully, they are pretty easy to access and figure out. There's excellent redundancy in the controls, so most drivers should find a suitable way to operate it.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The A-Class is one of the most tech-forward vehicles on the market, small sedan or otherwise. The high-resolution center display responds quickly via touchscreen, buttons or touchpad. The optional Burmester audio system is remarkable for a car in this price class.

　　The voice recognition system interacts with a variety of vehicle systems and supports natural speech detection. We found it easy to activate the system inadvertently, however. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are two USB-C ports. Only some hyperactive electronic driver aids spoil the technological tour de force. Though generally sophisticated, they could be overbearing at times and returned a few false alarms, mostly inaccurate speed limit information. That had us scrambling to turn them off.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Belying its size, the A 220 can perform most duties you'd ask of a luxury sedan. The trunk is a little narrow, but the split rear seats that fold help make the most of the available space. An abundance of interior storage keeps the clutter to a minimum. The door pockets and a fairly deep center console bin aid those in front, though rear passengers can really only store items in the door pockets.

　　You can probably use an A-Class for kid taxi duty, but it's obviously not ideally suited. The child safety seat anchors are easy to access, but the lack of rear seat space makes for a tight fit if you're rocking a rear-facing child seat.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The A 220 gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is an average figure for an entry-level luxury sedan. On our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route, our all-wheel-drive A 220 test car returned just over 29 mpg.

　　

Value

8.5/10

　　Is the A-Class a good value? The A 220 is fairly well equipped from the start. But as is typical for European luxury vehicles, adding desirable option packages can increase the price tag by thousands of dollars. Still, the amount of luxury and technology and overall competent nature of the A-Class make it feel like you're getting your money's worth.

　　The standard Mercedes-Benz warranty is four years/50,000 miles for both bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, the norm among its mostly German competition. Roadside assistance coverage is also limited to the warranty period; it used to be unlimited. There's also the option to prepay for scheduled maintenance years in advance at a discounted rate.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　The A-Class excels at offering the modern Mercedes-Benz experience in simply a smaller package. It's loaded with tech, features and luxury. It's also enjoyable to drive and looks suitably upscale. Mercedes has raised the bar for the entry-level luxury sedan class.

　　

Which A-Class does zzdcar recommend?

Of the two A-Class trim levels, the AMG A 35 is the more thrilling to drive. But considering its significant price increase, we think the standard A 220 will satisfy most buyers. While its considerable options list won't get you more speed, it offers plenty of comfort, safety, style and tech upgrades. The Premium package's keyless entry and upgraded display screens make it a top choice, and the advanced driving aids in the Driver Assistance package are ideal for reducing fatigue and enhancing safety.

　　

2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class models

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a compact entry-level luxury car available in two trim levels: A 220 and AMG A 35. The A 220 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (188 horsepower, 221 lb-ft of torque) paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive (Mercedes calls it 4Matic) is optional.

　　The AMG A 35 uses a similar setup, but engine power rises to 302 hp and 295 lb-ft. All-wheel drive is standard here.

　　A 220

　　The base trim A 220 comes nicely equipped with standard features that include:

　　LED headlights 18-inch wheels Panoramic sunroof Rain-sensing windshield wipers Heated side mirrors Push-start ignitionInterior features include:

　　Simulated leather upholstery Power-adjustable front seats with memory function Dual-zone climate control Customizable ambient cabin lightingStandard technology and safety features include:

　　7-inch touchscreen display Touchpad controller Digital gauge cluster display Mercedes' MBUX infotainment interface Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Blind-spot monitor (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)AMG A 35

　　Besides a more powerful engine and all-wheel drive, the AMG A 35 adds:

　　18-inch AMG wheels Sport suspension 10.25-inch infotainment display Bigger driver information displayThe A 220 and AMG A 35 offer abundant options, both à la carte and bundled in packages. Highlights include:

　　Driver Assistance package Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the A-Class and the car in front Lane keeping assist (steers the A-Class back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Enhanced blind-spot monitoring (can steer the A-Class to help avoid a collision with a vehicle in your blind spot) Parking Assistance package 360-degree surround-view system (uses cameras in all four directions to compose a single image of the car's surroundings) Front and rear parking sensors Automated self-parking system (can self-park in, and leave, parallel and perpendicular parking spaces) Premium package 10.25-inch infotainment display and bigger driver information display (A 220) Auto-dimming rearview and side mirrors Power-folding side mirrors Keyless entry Multimedia package Navigation system MBUX Interior Assistant (controls various menu functions with touchless hand and arm gestures performed near the display) Multicontour front seats with adjustable lumbar, side and shoulder support Sport front seats (AMG A 35) Leather upholstery Heated and ventilated front seats Heated steering wheel Wireless charging pad Head-up display Upgraded Burmester sound system

　　

2021 A-Class Highlights

Type: SedanAMG A 35Sedan

　　Trim: A 220A 220 4MATICAMG A 35A 220

　　

Base MSRP	$33,650
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$158/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	8.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles