Used 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

At relatively accessible pricing, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class may well be the gateway to luxury-car ownership and the beginning of a beautiful brand loyalty for younger buyers. Yet it could just as easily be a smart choice for any members of the Mercedes-Benz faithful looking to downsize (or purchase a second or third vehicle) without sacrificing quality, driving manners and cool technology.

From the exterior design to the optional active safety features, all the right ingredients are in the A-Class to make it a bona-fide Benz. This includes a new generation of infotainment system that has yet to make it into bigger and more expensive 3-pointed-star cars. Called MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User eXperience), it has a digital assistant (like the iPhone’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa) that’s summoned by saying, “Hey, Mercedes.”

It understands natural speech and will respond to things like “I’m cold” and “I’m hungry” or “where’s the nearest Starbucks?” Admittedly, it might also chime in with “how can I help you?” if the word “Mercedes” comes up in conversation, but that’s still a reminder of how far infotainment systems have come.

Thanks to a new platform, the 2020 A-Class has superior driving dynamics compared with the first-generation CLA-Class (based on the previous generation of A-Class that was never sold in the United States).

The setup is composed, well-mannered and fun, whether deploying front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive in the 4Matic version. The fully independent suspension is tuned like a typical European sports sedan — taut, but not punishingly so. The steering is direct; turning into a corner is crisp and precise.

Power from the turbocharged engine is sufficient to make the vehicle feel nimble and responsive. The 221 lb-ft of torque is the crucial factor here, kicking in at low engine speeds for some punch off the line. A 7-speed dual-clutch automated transmission provides well-timed and almost imperceptible shifts, while a sequential manual-shift mode is available whenever the driver is in a sportier frame of mind.

The layout of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A 220 is clean and contemporary, with a dashboard housing standard-issue twin 7-inch screens. The center stack is dominated by three large circular vents, with an additional vent at each end of the dashboard. There’s also a thin row of switches on the dash for the dual-zone automatic climate control.

In common with many Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the gear selector is a column-mounted stalk. The center console has a touch pad to operate the infotainment system. The steering wheel also has some controls. And the buttons for the comfortable power-adjustable front seats are set into their respective doors.

The quality of cabin materials is suitably high. Choices of trim accents range from aluminum to natural grain walnut — an indication of the car’s luxury status.

Rear legroom measures 33.9 inches, which isn’t as good as the Audi A3’s 35.1. Trunk space is a measly 8.6 cubic feet — the A3 enjoys 10 cubic feet.

Once again, the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy takes another evolutionary step with the A-Class, bringing crisp lines, sculpted body panels and a slight “shark-nose” rake to the grille.

The passenger compartment itself is more formal and upright than the coupe-inspired CLA stablemate. While not as sleek, the higher roof of the A-Class makes getting in and out of the rear seats a lot easier.

The AMG Line package includes a chrome diamond-block grille treatment, 18-inch alloy wheels and a lowered ride height. The AMG Line w/Night treatment adds black exterior accents for a sportier look.

TWIN-SCREEN INSTRUMENT PANEL
Considering the Mercedes-Benz A-Class has such a cool infotainment system, it’s a good idea to enhance it with these two bigger optional displays, measuring 10.25 inches each. One is for the driver (with the ability to personalize), the other is for entertainment and other functions.

BURMESTER AUDIO
Whenever Mercedes-Benz decides to fit top audio systems, even in big guns like the flagship S-Class, it looks to Burmester (also found in the Porsche Panamera, for example). This optional setup puts 590 watts of big, clear sound through nine speakers. In a cabin of this size, it’s an immersive experience.

At this humbler level of luxury cars, the 2020 A-Class comes with simulated-leather upholstery rather than the real thing (which is optional), but it’s almost as good.

For greater engagement, the driver can choose to shift gears with paddles mounted below the steering wheel. Among the other standard features are LED headlights/taillights, touch-pad center control, twin 7-inch displays, five USB-C ports and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration. It’s this high-tech bias that makes the A-Class more than merely an entry-level car from a luxury marque.

The MBUX infotainment system is a joy to use — either navigating menus with the touch pad or giving spoken commands.

As mentioned, the MBUX system in the 2020 A-Class can be enhanced with an Interior Assistant, which really means gesture control for functions like raising or lowering the audio volume, or taking a phone call. There’s also the option of navigation with augmented video and a front-facing camera.

We recommend the Driver Assistance package (detailed in the Safety Features section). And although a small car is easier to park than a large SUV, the Parking Assistance package could be useful for many buyers. The AMG Line package also includes sport front seats.

Other choices include multi-contour front seats with heating and ventilation, heated steering wheel, head-up display, wireless charging, and a 64-color ambient LED cabin lighting system.

Propulsion for the 2020 A 220 is provided by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 188 horsepower, which is quite a lively amount in a car this size. The regular A 220 sends that energy to the front wheels (FWD) through a 7-speed dual-clutch automated transmission, while the A 220 4Matic drives all four wheels (AWD).

If you’re looking for more power and performance, consider the 2020 Mercedes-AMG A 35 (covered separately). Its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 302 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard and its 7-speed dual-clutch automated transmission has been tweaked by AMG.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
188 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
221 lb-ft of torque @ 1,250-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/35 mpg (FWD), 24/34 mpg (AWD)