Following the Australian launch of the new
Mercedes-Benz A-Class in August, with the A 200, the local arm is now expanding
the range to include the new A 250 hatch. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz A 250
comes in as the new flagship variant, before the A 35 and A 45 AMG
performance versions come along. Power comes from a new ‘M260’ 2.0-litre
turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that produces 224 Hp and 350 Nm.
All of this is sent through a seven-speed
dual-clutch automatic transmission with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Across the
usual 0-100 km/h sprint, Mercedes claims it takes just 6.2 seconds. Despite the
brisk performance, average fuel consumption on the combined test cycle is rated
at 6.6L/100km.
Unlike the outgoing model’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive
system, the new model switches from an electro-hydraulic differential to an
electro-mechanical unit. Torque distribution between the front and rear axles
is fully variable, with 100 per cent of the torque potentially sent to the
front axle or up to 50 per cent to the rear, depending on the demands and the
conditions.
The new variant comes extensively packaged as
standard, coming equipped with highlights such as 18-inch alloy wheels, the
latest MBUX in-car multimedia with dual 10.25-inch digital screens, sat-nav,
LED headlights with adaptive high beams, wireless phone charging, and ‘Dynamic
Select’ drive modes.
Safety is also kept in check with a heap of advanced
systems, including active parking assist, autonomous emergency braking, active
lane keep assist, a plethora of airbags, and traffic sign recognition. A
rear-view camera is of course standard as well.
The new model will be available from November, with
prices starting from AUD 49,500. It will join the A 200 as mentioned, which starts
from AUD 47,200 (excluding on-road costs).
