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By Jonathan Crouch

The fourth generation Mercedes A-Class gets useful improvements that enhance the appeal of this mid-range A 200 variant. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 51

The fourth generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class is at its most popular in A 200 petrol form. Now revised with mild hybrid tech, this car offers an even stronger proposition to buyers in the premium compact hatch segment. If you define luxury in terms of technology, you're going to like it a lot.

Backgroundword count: 93

This fourth generation A-Class model, according to its maker, 'completely refines modern luxury in the compact class' - quite a claim. The brand thinks that this 'modern luxury' is now partly defined by technology, so that got a key focus when this MK4 model was first introduced back in 2017. And that same focus continues with this, the updated version which arrived in late 2022, complete with improved mild hybrid tech for all the available mainstream engines, including the one in the variant we look at here, the mid-level A 200 petrol model.

Driving Experienceword count: 248

With this updated A 200, probably the most significant change is the addition of the brand's 48V mild hybrid system including the usual MHEV belt-driven starter-generator: that'll give you a 13hp boost when moving off. As before, the A 200 uses the 163hp version of the brand's Renault-derived 1.4-litre four cylinder petrol powerplant, a unit also available in de-tuned 136hp form in the cheaper A 180 derivative. Both versions of this powerplant must be had with 7-speed 7G-DCT auto transmission. The alternative is the A 200 diesel, which uses a 2.0-litre powerplant in a 150hp state of tune and must be had with 8-speed 8G-DCT auto transmission. What else do you need to know? Well there's the brand's familiar 'DYNAMIC SELECT' driving modes system as standard, as usual enabling you to tweak steering feel and throttle response. Some of the autonomous driving capability from larger Mercedes models has been built into this one, meaning that, in certain situations, your A-Class, if appropriately equipped, will effectively be able to drive itself on dual carriageways at cruising speeds. Through the turns, body roll's kept well in check and you're favoured with prodigious grip that's impressively untroubled by mid-corner bumps. Thanks partly to this model's sophisticated MFA2 platform, ride quality is a match for the premium segment competition - but could be better. And would have been had Mercedes not decided to equip all mainstream A-Class variants with low-cost torsion beam rear suspension rather than a more sophisticated multi-link rear set-up.

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