Oh Lord won't you buy me, a cheap Mercedes Benz. (Mercedes-Benz A190 Elegance)

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Product:	Mercedes-Benz A190 Elegance
Date:	16/06/01 (864 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: SEE

Disadvantages: Look

Doesn't this sound crazy? A car the same size in length as a Fiat Punto but still with as much space as anything but the biggest BMW?

Somehow, Mercedes have managed to do so. Around 20cm shorter that Nissan's smallest offering and obviously bigger than a Ford Mondeo inside, the Mercedes A-Class is the smallest, and least expensive Mercedes car ever. Starting at around £14,000 cheaper than a Ford Foocus, it is fantastic value considering the quality of car you are buying. All seats can be removed (except the driver), giving a huge, flat loadspace that can easily swallow many mountain bikes. Also, wouldn't you rather be driving a Mercedes than a Ford and still save some money?

Some people love the way it looks, some hate it. It's a matter of opinion, but colour choice plays a large part. Purple is one colour I love, and black and silver give the A Class a sort of upmarket look to it. There are three trim levels, Classic (spartan), Elegance (luxurious) and Avantgarde (sporty).

Engine choice isn't huge, but varied enough to ensure there's something for everyone. The 1.4 litre provides ample performance for such a small car (0-60mph 12.6s), the 1.6 is a little more energentic (around 10s) and the range topping 1.9, although expencive, is rather nippy (8.8s). There is also a 1.7 diesel, offering around 55mpg. Petrol engined models are around 36mpg, so overall it is an economical motor.

There is no substitute for going to a Mercedes garage and having a look at one. Look in the boot, get in the back, whatever. You'll find that although slightly more expensive (the better models) , it's a lot better than a Focus.

The only real rival is the Audi A2 which really is a stunner made of solid aluminium (the first ever). However, if you have more money, I would opt for the new Mercedes C-Class top of the range. It is certainly not for the poor ones out there.

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