New Mercedes Benz A Class (2012)

CaptainRAVE · 6 May 2012 at 19:58

I like it, not a fan of the on board computer though. Very poor effort from Mercedes.

rare · 6 May 2012 at 20:00

Looks great from the outside, the AMG version will be very nice.

GravyMonster · 6 May 2012 at 20:01

That looks fantastic, although the screen is lolworthy. I'm pretty sure it's just stuck on with blu-tack.

Also, what's up with the vents in the first interior pic? They're all at odd angles to each other.

Skeeter · 6 May 2012 at 20:01

Well at least it means they only have to build one dash layout for both the nav and non nav models.

Vegeta · 6 May 2012 at 20:08

Screen looks no worse than the new 3 series one. Infact I prefer it but I really like both rather than the older designs where they go into the dash like a 'cave'. Either have a ipad on your dash or a ipad coming out of your dash your call

mrk · 6 May 2012 at 20:11

The 3 series screen looks a lot better as it actually looks modern and suits the interior.

The new A Class screen looks like someone slapped a cheap chrome bezel tablet on the dash and if you remove it you will find some foreign chewing gum sticking it together.

Ryan-3 · 6 May 2012 at 20:13

Vegeta said:
Screen looks no worse than the new 3 series one.

*snip*

Or the screen in the VW Up, (or the red strip on some 3's dash (ugh)) but I haven't heard anyone criticise either of those. Really like the look of the A class, finally made properly

Vegeta · 6 May 2012 at 20:13

Well that's your opinion. Certainly not mine. Least it's different than copy the rest and keep thing's the same.

Lashout_UK · 6 May 2012 at 20:20

Ryan-3 said:
Or the screen in the VW Up, (or the red strip on some 3's dash (ugh)) but I haven't heard anyone criticise either of those. Really like the look of the A class, finally made properly

The one on the up! you can remove and carry around with you, which is a nice touch. It does some neat virtual dash things as well, like a rev counter and temperature gauge, and it can present a useful combined trip computer.

I don't think you can remove the one in the A-Class. You certainly can't in the B-Class so I'd assume it's the same. When I first drove the B-Class the first thing I thought was "I wonder how long it will be until someone tries to break in to nick that"....

Ricochet J · 6 May 2012 at 20:23

mrk said:
The 3 series screen looks a lot better as it actually looks modern and suits the interior.

The bottom end of the nav screen in that 3 series is blocked by the dash. Hence my thoughts earlier, the A class screen is not obscured by anything fancy - it's there and it works.

Vegeta · 6 May 2012 at 20:29

Lashout_UK said:
The one on the up! you can remove and carry around with you, which is a nice touch. It does some neat virtual dash things as well, like a rev counter and temperature gauge, and it can present a useful combined trip computer.

I don't think you can remove the one in the A-Class. You certainly can't in the B-Class so I'd assume it's the same. When I first drove the B-Class the first thing I thought was "I wonder how long it will be until someone tries to break in to nick that"....

Same could be said about any car or any screen.

GravyMonster · 6 May 2012 at 20:40

Not if it's completely integrated into the dash. This one looks like it's attached with velcro and could be nabbed simply by any passing scrote smashing the window.

Barks · 6 May 2012 at 20:43

It's actually quite funny. Go on their website and hover your mouse over the old A class and the new one. Definite improvement.

I suspect in the flesh it won't look quite as chavvy as it does in those pictures.

tom_nieto · 6 May 2012 at 21:04

This is going to appeal to the younger 1 series and a3 buyers rather than the old a class that was a bit of a shopping trolley. I think it looks quite sporty and they could probably make a decent looking 3 door hot version. On the current photos I don't think I'd be tempted. The A3 or golf would still be where my money would go.

Jonnycoupe · 6 May 2012 at 21:10

Vegeta said:
I doubt that's the reason. If direct sunlight is hittibg a screen then it'll be from the rear mirror. And most screens are decent now sunlight makes very litteke difference. It's just the integrated design of some cars I don't like. typing on iphone excuse typos.

It is the reason. It's part of my job to include those in design consideration. But yes newer screens are less sensitive the bright light/glare.

melbourne720 · 6 May 2012 at 21:47

Nice profile

asim18 · 6 May 2012 at 22:09

Spunkey said:
Also, what's up with the vents in the first interior pic? They're all at odd angles to each other.

Twistable to open/close vents probably.

Barks · 6 May 2012 at 22:09

tom_nieto said:
This is going to appeal to the younger 1 series and a3 buyers rather than the old a class that was a bit of a shopping trolley. I think it looks quite sporty and they could probably make a decent looking 3 door hot version. On the current photos I don't think I'd be tempted. The A3 or golf would still be where my money would go.

100%

I'm about to buy a new car, my choice was originally between the GTI 35 and the JCW but this makes things interesting. The new 125i is technically brilliant but the car looks horrible.

rodenal · 6 May 2012 at 23:19

This is a very interesting little car - vastly better looking than the new 1 which looks as though it has some kind of tooth-gaping sad face grafted onto its front end.

Screen aside the interior at least looks good too - interesting to see the reviews.

Robbo · 6 May 2012 at 23:22

Well, it looks approximately ten million times better than the old A-Class. I like it.

The new B-Class isn't bad either.