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as opposed to how the momentum is delivered and to the acoustics that accompany that delivery. In this regard, the benefits of turbocharging, as applied in particular to small displacement engines, come to the fore as the A200 always feels lively and is mostly free of lag. It just doesn’t sound especially convincing, producing what I would call a “reedy” tone that morphs into a mildly frantic note in the upper reaches. But having said that, the decibel count on the cruise is pleasantly subdued and there is the option of selecting a Dynamic driving mode that adds some substance to the tonal values of the engine, not to mention a mild “exhaust pop” and a propensity to hang onto gears for much longer. Truth is that this is not a charismatic power unit notwithstanding the claims made for it in the factory promotional blurb, but let it be known that it’s certainly assisted by the responsiveness and shift speed of the 7-speed DCT box, with paddles, that keeps cruise revs down while dismissing slip under acceleration. The steering, most especially in “normal” driving mode, is very light and a tag vague, being most suitable in town where the ease of twirling facilitates parking chores. As for ride, the Merc is endowed with an underlying firmness, but regardless of mode, there’s sufficient pliancy on hand to ensure that acceptable comfort levels are there to be experienced, even on broken surfaces. As you’d expect, braking is effected courtesy of an all-disc system backed up by a full array of safety aids. Pedal feel is perfectly judged and the system as a whole could best be described as peerless. In this AMG guise, the A200 is equipped with what is called a lowered comfort suspension, but as already alluded to, that term comfort is relative, most especially given the presence of shallow 225/45R18 rubber mounted on slick 5-spoke AMG polished alloys. All that rubber can set up a din on old coarse tar chippings, but on smoother tar, refinement levels are good as double door seals keep wind noise in check, and at cruising speed at least, the engine keeps its workings to itself. If you were paying due attention earlier in this article you will have noted my reference to a “refreshed” model line but note that the changes are minor and are made up primarily of a fancy star

encrusted grille and revised lighting systems. The test model featured revised bumper designs as part of the AMG Line enhancements, but it was also decked out in the most expensive “package” varietal (one of four) dubbed Premium Plus which is costed in RSA at R119 000 as at September 2023. There are so many bits and pieces that are added to the standard spec (selling in RSA at R824 009) via the various packages and which are already included in the Premium Plus offer that it’s absolutely necessary to visit the configurator at www.mecedes-benz.co.za. Be aware though that the most important additions specific to this package are a panoramic sunroof, memory seats, HUD, Highbeam Assist Plus, Parking Package and MBUX Interior Assistant. If you follow up on line, you’ll note that M-B even charges extra for a rear armrest, but more of that in a moment. For now, let me declare that the decidedly compact cabin of this Merc Hatch is something of a mixed bag in terms of tactile appeal. The front seats, swathed in a mix of alcantara and vinyl (Artico as M-B grandly declares), are really comfy even if they are on the firm side, but rear space is not generous with the low-set, folding seat forcing a knees-up position. And note that hefty roof pillars seriously impair all-round vision. quality carpeting and a nice fabric roof lining most obvious, but the squishy mouldings of the upper regions don’t extend too far downwards which is not quite what you’d expect of a car awash with three-pointed stars. By contrast, the expandable +/- 350L luggage area with its inconvenient high sill is quite beautifully trimmed in cut pile carpet but despite being rather shallow, there’s no spare wheel hidden under the floor! You will, though, be pleased to know that no less than seven airbags do hidden service throughout the cabin. Without any doubt, the large digital display that sweeps across half the dashboard is the highlight of the interior presentation. This display incorporates what is known as the MBUX operating system and is well honed and endowed with a measure of logic that’s not present in some rival systems. The displays are large and clear and super At first glance, the cabin’s overall ambience is appealing with good

informative, and the icing on the cake is the integration of wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. Otherwise, all the mod cons you’d expect in an expensive modern hatch are present even if some of them shrink your bank balance beyond expectations. So, talk of bank balances brings me back to where we started, and that long time M-B slogan: “The best or nothing.” Bearing in mind this statement and the fact that this car, as tested, cost R943 000, there are a number of issues at hand. Firstly, and notwithstanding the minor cosmetic upgrades recently applied to this model, the A200 is not endowed with a class leading chassis in terms of feedback, handling prowess or ride. Be under no illusions though, that for everyday use, what the M-B engineers have served up is fine in terms of comfort, ease of control and general feeling of solidity, but it is not the best. And while the panel alignment and fit of add-on components proved to be very good, close inspection of detail finishes reveals issues that fussier buyers would surely be disappointed by. For example, the paintwork, although superficially fine, lacks depth of gloss (what happened to M-B’s much vaunted nano clear coat?) and is marred by lots of orange peel which varies in texture even on a single panel such as the bonnet. And please don’t look too closely in the depths of the door jambs or around the inner reaches of the tailgate. There are more spot welds on show than might be expected and the application of seam sealant is plain untidy. Finally, and as alluded to earlier, there are also rather more hard plastics on show inside than might be expected, and the maker asks potential owners to cough up for many options that are standard on recent Chinese-sourced cars. Finally, it seems that the A-Class model range will disappear from around 2025, so you’ll need to hurry if the idea of a compact Merc hatch appeals to you, but bear in mind that this model is at its best in an unhurried mode. ■ RICHARD WILEY WARRANTY: 2yr/unlimited km MAINTENANCE PLAN: 5yr/100 000km

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