Mercedes A250 Sport 4MATIC - off the chain
The life of car enthusiasts would be sad if it were not for the sporty versions of everyday cars. How much you hear about downsizing, emissions restrictions and muzzles for cars born to receive fines. Although the A250 Sport 4MATIC is not an AMG, it seems to be a song about a dog "breaking its chain in the dark at night."
Just as life would be boring if we were surrounded only by blondes, so would the variety of cars. We need both cars with a displacement barely equal to a carton of milk, and "killers" that can cause trouble in inexperienced hands. The Mercedes A250 Sport 4MATIC is somewhere in the middle, definitely choosing the surroundings of the second group. The dynamic silhouette, sporty suspension and promising specs mean most riders will start changing legs when they see this. First things first…
As for the exterior, the new A-Class is unlikely to please anyone, and the previous version was not very pretty either. However, here the situation is completely different. The low and massive body perfectly reflects the character of this car. A slightly rough, flattened front end, a chunky silhouette with five-spoke 18-inch wheels, and a squat rear end with a large black spoiler. All together looks like a sculpture of an outstanding artist. You know, tastes are different. But the appearance of the smallest Mercedes in the lineup simply cannot be faulted. The embossing on the sides of the car is not subtle, but reminiscent of stretched tendons, it fits perfectly into the image of this car. We also find a few details that from the first meeting suggest that we are dealing with a sporty version of the A-Class. We are talking about red calipers with perforated brake discs, two longitudinal exhaust pipes or a front spoiler that stands out in bloody color from the body color. Surprisingly, all this looks easy and dynamic, although it may seem that all this will be too much. Metallic graphite lacquer is the ideal complement. All these features together make this car not only interesting, but also extremely photogenic.
The interior also features sporty details. In addition to the steering wheel flattened to the bottom, attention is drawn to the shape of the seats, reminiscent of racing buckets. This impression is enhanced by the headrests built into the backrests. Both the seats and all upholstery elements are made of soft-touch artificial leather with red thread. This color is the leitmotif of the salon. From the deflectors around the perimeter through the backlight to the seat belts. The latter, although the color further warms up the feeling that we are sitting in a sports car, are probably too ostentatious. The interior would have been more elegant and less conspicuous if the stripes had traditionally remained black. Speaking of flashy details, it's worth mentioning that the only AMG symbol that can be found on this car adorns the rims. And good! As you can see, Mercedes is not following the example of its Bavarian neighbors. After all, it has long been said that there is more M-Power on the streets than has ever left the factory.
As for the control panel, if someone has ever had the pleasure of driving some new Mercedes, they will not be surprised. Familiar buttons, the same "add-on" display and ventilation holes with transverse ribs make you feel almost at home. The instrument panel is topped with leather, while the front is finished in a matte carbon effect material. It is this type of finish that is far from brilliant and makes the interior, although not modest, but far from “colorful”. The A-class also deserves a huge plus for the panoramic roof. At first it seems that this is just an additional window to the world, but it is a fully opening hatch.
Under the hood of the tested model is a 2-liter gasoline engine with 218 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. It is easy to guess how such parameters, combined with a weight of 1515 kilograms and permanent all-wheel drive, affect performance. We will see the first hundred on the counter in 6,3 seconds, and the speedometer needle will stop only at around 240 km / h. Regardless of the weather and, accordingly, the condition of the surface, the liberated A-Class rushes forward without the slightest skidding of any of the wheels.
The driving style is typical of premium sports cars. The low and stiff suspension, designed with AMG in mind, while not making it easy to ride over bumps, is ideal for fast cornering. The sport steering is also great for cornering, which doesn't give the impression that there's a pot of pasta on the other side. The steering wheel provides a pleasant resistance, and when exiting a turn, it literally pulls the car out by itself. In dynamic driving, this duo works in such a way that it does not take much effort to make everything happen the way the driver wants. The madness of the new A-Class Sport does not resemble the struggle with the elements, but rather a pleasant game of tag.
In the standard A250 Sport model, we can choose whether we want to deal daily with a manual transmission or a comfortable seven-speed "automatic". However, the 4MATIC model is only available in the second variant. It is interesting that this box "thinks" very quickly. It doesn't even need a kickdown or paddle manipulation to awaken the engine's potential and quickly transfer it to the wheels. All you have to do is press hard on the accelerator pedal. The box does not go astray and does not think for half a day: “I am reducing by one gear. Oooh ... Or not, but for two. This car just knows what it wants and communication with it is simple and doesn't require any further ado.
Adapting the A Class character to your needs is possible thanks to 4 modes, which, in principle, are not much different from each other. Only Eco with its unbearable sailing mode (after releasing the gas pedal, neutral gear is engaged and the car rolls sluggishly), surprisingly increasing fuel consumption. In addition, it takes a lot of skill and patience to make the A-Class more economical. In addition to the customizable individual option, we naturally have the well-known and loved sports mode. It immediately raises the engine, making the suspension and steering even stiffer. It is the quintessence of sportiness as standard, but it does not fundamentally change the look of the A-Class. It's still the same car, only with a large dose of caffeine.
No need to deceive that city traffic is the element of the A250 Sport 4MATIC. Of course, the scenery of the metropolis suits him best, but this criminal feels best when he is the first. And this is not only because of its sportiness and constant desire to be a leader, but, unfortunately, because of fuel consumption. Standing in traffic jams, he does not consume it. He consumes them! And in quantities for which the Wawel dragon would not be ashamed. At a distance of 25 km at the Warsaw peak, the range decreased by 150 km. Fortunately, after leaving the crowded streets and the release of the A-class into the open space, the contents of the stomach are quickly recalculated and the range no longer causes the driver to have a heart attack. A person who decides to buy such a car does not drive like a pensioner. So you need to be prepared for frequent visits to the gas station.
The manufacturer estimates the average fuel consumption at 6 liters per 100 kilometers, but from the first meeting with this car, we can put this information into fairy tales. When driving around the city with a brush, instead of a leg, it may be possible to go down to 8 liters with a hook, but I still congratulate the daredevil who does it. Rather, you need to be ready for 10-11 l / 100 km. On the road, where the A250 Sport can be economical is another matter. By the way, with its sporty character, it will not tire us on a further trip. Only the quiet rumble of the motor can eventually get bored. However, there is no need to complain about the soundproofing of the car. When driving faster, the gearbox is again commendable. At an illegal speed of 160 km / h, the tachometer shows a stable 3 revolutions, which makes driving a real pleasure. The engine is not overloaded, the vortex in the tank is a memory of previous trips, and the driver can safely drive, wondering if he accidentally hit the ill-fated segment of the speed measurement.
You can talk about the Mercedes A250 Sport 4MATIC for a long time and passionately. Although it sounds strange from the lips of someone who has never loved star machines, it is difficult to find any flaw in this machine. Except the price. The test sample cost PLN 261 thousand (gross price without additional equipment). For comparison, the price list of the basic model A152 starts at PLN 200. Although the Sport 250MATIC version is a sports car, it's still just a sturdy hatchback, built with typically German precision. However, the lucky ones are those who are willing to spend more than a quarter of a million zlotys on this type of car. Rather, no one will regret such a decision. This is a car with an amazing and non-obvious claw. It's the perfect companion for your everyday commute, able to instantly transform into the toy you don't want to keep in check.
