The good-looking Mercedes-Benz A-Class has won the 2019 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year competition.
The beast came out tops against the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai Kona, Lexus ES, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Nissan Micra, Porsche Cayenne, Renault Duster, Suzuki Jimny, Suzuki Swift and Volvo XC40.
The finalists were put through their paces at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and they went through rigorous tests before the decision was made by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) judges.
The slick A-Class’s striking sporty exterior is bigger than its predecessor – 120mm longer, 16mm higher and 6mm wider – but 20kg lighter.
The interior is redefined with its modern, avantgarde look. The feeling of spaciousness is accentuated by the increased shoulder, elbow and headroom.
The capacity of the luggage compartment behind the rear seats is 370L – 29L more than in the preceding model.
The A-Class also offers a number of functions that were previously the preserve of the luxury class: real-time parking and the ability to drive semi-autonomously.
To do this, it keeps a close eye on the traffic, as the improved camera and radar systems allow it to see up to 500m ahead.
It comes with extended active brake assist as standard. Depending on the circumstances, this can help mitigate the consequences of rear-end collisions with slow-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles.
A 250 Sport models benefit from new engines.
The A 200 is powered by a 1.33L engine, kicking out 120kW and 250Nm with a 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission. The claimed fuel consumption is 5.2L/100km.
The 2L engine of the A 250 Sport generates 165kW and 350Nm, and is available with the 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission and a claimed fuel consumption of 6.2L/100km.