Everything has a price but if it's a toff-rating, mini-MPV carrying a Mercedes three-pointed star you want then expect to dig very deep to own one.
How deep? Well, at the UK launch, Mercedes gladly told us that the new, entry-level 1.5 petrol is actually cheaper than the old A-Class entry model, at ¯¿½13,655. But they were rather more coy about the rest of the range.
Yes, there's a price premium over the old version but, because the engines are bigger and there's more standard kit now, that's ok. Isn't it?
Perhaps but apart from the A160 CDI - the cheapest diesel - I also found myself behind the leather-clad wheel of the A200 CDI Elegance. It comes in at ¯¿½19,995 and is, I would suggest, rather expensive. Even more so if you are in this particular car, fully loaded with enough equipment to take it to a heady ¯¿½25,755!
Imagine that - a supermini-sized car that costs more than an Audi TT, lots more than a full-size MPV and still boasts barely adequate space for five passengers and their luggage.
To be fair, this particular A200 CDI was loaded with all sorts of nonsense. Like cockpit management navigation (¯¿½1,630), black leather seats (¯¿½980), plus some very smart AMG alloy wheels (¯¿½1,250).
So what of the A160 CDI. At the budget end of the derv line up, it's still not cheap at over ¯¿½15,000 for the five-door but remains ¯¿½1,300 less than the A180 CDI. They all sport the same 2.0-litre, four cylinder 16-valve unit but offer different power outputs, starting at 82bhp for the A160, 109bhp in the A180 and 140bhp for the A200.
Quite frankly, the A160 is very sluggish. It's slower than an apology from a Cabinet minister and will grumble almost as much, as you are forced to rev the engine hard to reach 62mph in 15 painfully slow seconds.
It's not a car I'd recommend but if you must, if you really must have a Mercedes badge to boast about AND insist on diesel, then this is where Merc ownership starts.
Combined with a plodding five-speed gearbox, the A160 is no fun around town or on country roads. It only measures up to the price tag when you make it on to a motorway, breath a sigh of relief and achieve a decent cruising speed.
Then you can marvel at over 50mpg and low noise levels, plus that posh badge on the bonnet, of course.
It's not all bad, though. Despite the lacklustre engine, the A160 Classic has many of the features seen in the top end cars, like lots of airbags, a single slot CD, speed sensitive steering and disc brakes front and rear. If you want air con and alloy wheels then open your wallet and upgrade to the Classic SE.
While old A-Class came in standard and long wheelbase size, LWB has been dropped for this new model. Instead, the latest version is bigger all round and comes with around 20 per cent extra luggage space. The back seats now tumble forward, as well as being removable, and there's extra knee, elbow and shoulder room too.
New supportive seats are a major plus and this version really is starting to feel like a proper Mercedes for the first time. The doors shut with a decent 'clunk' and even the buttons and controls now feel up to the job. All the good things about the A-Class are tempered by price. While it drives well enough and is very safe, a top spec Vauxhall Zafira or Ford Focus C-Max represents much better value.
