Published:
22 August 2023Having arrived in 2018, the fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class is now a familiar enough sight on Britain’s roads that we needn’t dwell on its appearance in any great detail, although the mid-life facelift as part of this update helps ensure it looks as desirable in 2023 as it did at launch.
There's a new 'star' pattern to the radiator grille, the addition of notable bulges on the bonnet and a revised bumper. The headlights have also been flattened in appearance, although it's LED lights are optional, and do not come as standard. Still, the total effect is to keep a familiar but decent looking car feeling fresh.
In terms of powertrain, for this A250e PHEV Mercedes has paired a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (which it developed with the Renault-Nissan Alliance) with a small electric motor, and they combine to drive the front wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Together, these two sources of propulsion endow the A250e with a system output of 215bhp, while the electric motor’s 243lb ft of instantly available torque complements the 170lb ft the petrol engine develops at 1620-4000rpm.
Power for the permanently excited synchronous electric motor is stored in a 16kWh (gross capacity) lithium ion battery that has been squeezed in beneath the rear seats. Mercedes has had to shuffle various bits and pieces around to make way for the battery, so the fuel tank has been shifted backwards – taking up a bit of that boot space – and shrunk slightly to 35 litres. Meanwhile, the exhaust system ends at the centre of the car rather than at the rear bumper, while the silencer is housed in the transmission tunnel.
