Item: 2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Rating: 3.3
Author: Joel Patel

Overview

What's New

With no technical alterations for 2022, the A-Class baby sedan from Mercedes-Benz continues as a one-model range. There’s only a $300 price increase to report over the mechanically-identical 2021 model. The power-packed Mercedes-AMG A35 will reportedly not be offered for 2022.

Mercedes-Benz has reportedly confirmed that the A-Class will be discontinued and that there will be no 2023 model year.

Choosing Your Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Your only buying decision in terms of A-Class ownership relates to the drivetrain, with front-wheel drive models retailing at $35,000 including destination, whereas 4MATIC all-wheel drive vehicles cost $37,000.

Engine Choices

Powered by a two-liter turbocharged gas engine, the A-Class generates 188 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This is supplied to either the front or all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), returning an EPA-estimated 25 miles per gallon city, 35 mpg highway, and 28 combined.

The now-unavailable Mercedes-AMG A35 was powered by a four-cylinder turbo tuned to 302 hp with a special AMG DCT.

Engine Type	Horsepower	Torque	Fuel Economy (Combined)
2.0 turbo	188 hp	221 lb-ft	25/35/28 MPG

Passenger and Cargo Capacity

Cargo capacity for the five-seater A-Class stands at a modest 8.6 cu ft with the rear seats in place.

Safety Features

The A-Class might be a compact sedan, but it’s packed with safety equipment. There are eight airbags throughout the cabin, while traction control and crosswind assistance are among a plethora of driver aids. Adaptive braking technology with active brake assistance, rain-sensing wipers, and blind-spot detection are all standard, as are cruise control and LED exterior lighting. Even so, it’ll cost $1,700 to add the ten safety elements of the Driver Assistance Package, which introduces active inputs for the steering, brakes, and lane changes.

Connectivity

Mercedes-Benz’s familiar MBUX multimedia system is standard on the A-Class, with voice control and a seven-inch touchscreen alongside a touchpad and separate steering wheel buttons. This collectively powers an infotainment system including smartphone integration, HD radio, Bluetooth, and a total of five USB-C ports. You can spend thousands of dollars improving this setup to include twin 10.25-inch digital screens, navigation, and gesture control, all of which are separate upgrades.

2022 Mercedes-Benz A220 – MSRP From $35,000

Settling into the A-Class’s powered front seats (with three-position memory settings) reveals a cabin illuminated by a panoramic roof and 64-color LED ambient lighting which even extends to the air vents. Dual-zone climate cools, keyless entry simplifies, and five USB ports offer both power and connectivity. Comfort suspension and a start/stop system are under-the-skin features, and cruise control takes the sting out of long freeway journeys.

Available packages include the $1,750 Premium Package, combining twin 10.25-inch digital displays with power-folding and auto-dimming outside mirrors. Spending $1,300 secures the Multimedia pack’s navigation with augmented video content and speed limit assistance. It’s possible to spend $1,090 on a surround-view system with active parking assist or $1,700 for the ten-feature Driver Assistance Package. This encompasses everything from lane-keeping and emergency braking support to active steering assistance and route-based speed adaptation.

Compare A-Class Trims Side-By-Side

CarsDirect Tip

With a single trim level on sale, your only buying decision relates to optional extras. Specifying the Driver Assistance Package hugely improves the A-Class’s safety, while navigation and an improved infotainment interface represent other tempting upgrades.

Neil Cumins

Automotive Editor - January 14, 2022

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Expert Review

Pros

Pros:
- Looks expensive
- High-tech features
- Peppy performance
- Affordable for a luxury car

Cons

Cons:
- AMG model is gone
- Tiny trunk
- Tight rear seats
- Ride can be harsh

Expert Rating

3.3

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Joel Patel

Automotive Editor - January 05, 2022

Feels And Looks Like A Mercedes. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class may be the most affordable way to get the automaker’s three-pointed star, but it doesn’t feel like it. The A-Class draws people in with its high-end design that borrows similar lines from the CLA and CLS. The slim headlights, sleek grille, and rakish roofline help the A-Class look every bit as high-end as Mercedes-Benz’s other vehicles.

It’s a similar story on the inside where the A-Class features an upscale design and premium materials. The A-Class’ cabin looks nearly identical to the brand’s far more expensive sedans with circular air vents, a streamlined dashboard, and large screens. For an entry-level car, the A-Class certainly doesn't have any entry-level qualities.

The main issues with the A-Class are its small size, interior space, and cargo space. While the small Mercedes has seating for up to five people, adults will be cramped in the rear with just 33.9 inches of rear legroom. Additionally, fitting three people next to one another in the back is a squeeze. Cargo capacity is the larger disappointment in the A-Class. The sedan offers just 8.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which is behind the majority of its competitors.

First-Class Technology. Mercedes offers the A-Class with the same high-tech features that you’ll find in the brand’s larger offerings. Seeing the A-Class with the latest MBUX infotainment system and screen-heavy dashboard is surprising, given its affordable starting price.

The A-Class comes standard with a seven-inch digital instrument cluster and a seven-inch touchscreen that dominates the dashboard. In addition to being high-tech, the screens also give the A-Class a modern design. Additional standard features on the sedan include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, “Hey, Mercedes” voice recognition, and an HD Radio.

While Mercedes’ smallest car comes with an impressive list of standard tech features, its list of available features is even more eye-opening. The A-Class is available with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, navigation, a 12-speaker Burmester audio system, a wireless charging pad, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and augmented video for the navigation system. The technology may seem daunting at first, but it’s intuitive and easy to use.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Acceptable Performance. For 2022, the AMG A35 model has been put on hold for the model year. That means the A-Class will only be available in an A220 trim. The trim comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 188 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is available for an additional $2,000.

The A220 accelerates smoothly but is slower to 60 mph than a few of its competitors. Oddly, the FWD A-Class handles and rides better than models with AWD that can feel firm and harsh over rough roads. Precise steering, a poised ride, and non-existent turbo lag result in a sedan that’s enjoyable to drive.

The lack of a high-performance model means the A-Class doesn’t have a direct competitor to sporty offerings like the BMW M2, Audi S3, and the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35. We hope to see the AMG A35 return in the future, as the extra power adds another level to the sedan.

True Luxury Car Price Tag. While the A-Class is priced affordably for a Mercedes, it’s a pricey vehicle with a starting price tag of $35,000 (with destination). With AWD, the A-Class starts at $37,000. And that’s before you start looking at packages. A fully-loaded A-Class with all the bells and whistles costs just shy of $55,000. That’s a lot of money for a subcompact sedan.

With the sedan’s large price tag, one would assume that it comes with a long list of standard safety features, but that’s not the case. Automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, a driver drowsiness monitor, and crosswind assist are standard.

A lot of safety features are locked behind the $1,700 Driver Assistance Package that adds adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, evasive steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, active blind-spot monitoring, and lane change assist. A surround-view parking camera and park assist are available as part of a $1,090 package.

Final Thoughts. For consumers looking to get into a Mercedes-Benz, the A-Class is the ideal vehicle to cater to a younger group of shoppers. While it’s the most affordable car in the lineup, it offers the same level of luxury and technology found in larger, more expensive cars. It’s not the most spacious vehicle, nor does it offer blistering performance, but it has the prestige of a three-pointed star in a smaller package.

In comparison, the BMW 2-Series is available in a sedan and coupe body style. It’s also offered with punchy engines, has sharp handling, and nearly the same tech features as the A-Class. The Audi A3 is another one of the A-Class’ competitors. It comes with a 201-hp mild-hybrid powertrain, a modern design, a high-tech interior, and 10.9 cubic feet of cargo space.

Check prices for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

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Specs & Features

Highlights

Overall Crash Safety Rating

Not Available

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque

2.0L I-4 / 188 HP / 221 ft.lbs.

Transmission

Standard: 7-spd sequential shift control auto-shift man w/OD

Drive Type

Front-wheel

Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined

24 / 35 / 29 Mpg

Passenger Capacity

Bumper to Bumper Warranty

48 Months / 50,000 Miles

Mechanical Specs

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque	2.0L I-4 / 188 HP / 221 ft.lbs.
Drive Type	Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined	24 / 35 / 29 Mpg
Brakes	4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension	Strut
Rear Suspension	Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Fuel Tank	13.5 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type	Premium Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank	$51

Dimensions & Capabilities

Maximum Cargo Volume
Passenger Volume
Exterior Length	179.1 "
Exterior Width	70.7 "
Exterior Height	56.9 "
Front Headroom	40.3 "
Rear Headroom	37.2 "
Front Legroom	41.8 "
Rear Legroom	33.9 "
Front Shoulder Room	55.1 "
Rear Shoulder Room	54.0 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight	3,285 Lbs.
Wheel Base	107 "
Turning Radius	18.1 '

Exterior Features

Door Count	4 Doors
Wheels	17.0 " Silver W/painted Accents Aluminum / 18.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Aluminum / 18.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Amg Aluminum / 19.0 " Silver W/painted Accents Amg Aluminum / 19.0 " Black Amg Aluminum / 19.0 "
Paint	Clearcoat Monotone / Metallic Monotone
Exterior Mirrors	Dual Heated, Power Remote Driver, Power Remote W/tilt Down Passenger / Power Remote Heated Driver
Bumpers	Body-colored / Body-colored With Black Insert / Body-colored With Chrome Insert
Grille Moldings	With Chrome Bar / Chrome
Rear Spoiler	Lip
Exhaust	Stainless Steel With Chrome Tailpipe Finish

Interior Features

Seating

Passenger Capacity	5
Seat Trim	Mb-tex Leatherette / Leather / Dinamica/mb-tex Simulated Suede/leatherette
Front Seat Type	Bucket / Sport Bucket
Heated Front Seats	Driver And Front Passenger Heated-cushion, Heated-seatback
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls	10-way (8-way Power)
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls	10-way (8-way Power)
Front Armrests	10-way (8-way Power)
Rear Armrests	Center
Rear Seats	40-20-40 Bench

Radio & Infotainment

Radio	Mbux Am/fm/hd, Seek-scan / Mbux Siriusxm Am/fm/hd/satellite, Seek-scan
Speakers	8 / 12 Burmester
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity

Convenience Features

Steering Wheel Type	Telescopic Tilt / Telescopic Tilt Style
Climate Control	Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control	With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof	Express Open/close
Rearview Mirror	Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window	Front And Rear
Tinted Windows	Light
Vanity Mirrors	Dual Illuminated
Remote Keyless Entry	Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets	1

Safety Features

Overall Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Rollover Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Front Impact Airbags	Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags	Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag	Driver And Passenger
Passenger Side Impact Airbag	Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag	Rear Side-impact Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Front
Anti-Lock Brakes	4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning	Active Brake Assist Forward Collision Mitigation / Pre-safe Plus Forward Collision Mitigation
Blind Spot Sensor	Blind Spot Assist Blind Spot / Active Blind Spot Assist Blind Spot
Lane Departure Warning	Lane Departure / Active Lane Keeping Assist Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection	Active Brake Assist Front Pedestrian Detection Prevention
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams	Adaptive Highbeam Assist (aha) Auto High-beam
Adaptive Headlights	Directionally Adaptive
Parking Sensors	Active Parking Assist Automated
Security Systems	Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable	Immobilizer

Warranty

Bumper To Bumper Months Miles	48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Major Components Months	48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months	48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation	48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class for Sale