The Mercedes-Benz A220 4MATIC sedan, an all-new entry-level model from the German luxury manufacturer, turns heads and invites comments about its striking styling.
It’s as if this small car, which is a couple of inches shorter than the new economy Nissan Versa and has less interior room, surprises onlookers with its presence.
Well, it should, if for nothing else than its price tag. While you can buy a satisfactory top-line Versa SR for about 20 grand, the A220 has a starting price of $35,495. With the customary European luxury-car list of expensive options, the test car topped out at $49,785 — although you can save $2,000 by skipping the 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
Though marketed as subcompacts, both cars just sneak into the compact class by the U.S. government’s definition: a car with interior space of 100 to 109 cubic feet, including the trunk. The A220 4MATIC has 102, with 93 cubic feet for passengers and shy of 9 cubic feet in the trunk. The Versa has 104 cubic feet, divided at 89 for people and with a large trunk of 15 cubic feet.
But enough of size comparisons. The A220 and the Versa do not circulate in the same company. Though either will get you to where you are going, the valets who park the Mercedes will expect a way bigger tip. Versa owners likely will self-park or seek out a street space.
Of course, few Mercedes customers would even deign to look at a Versa, much less drive one, and it’s likely most Versa customers would not have pockets deep enough to venture into a Mercedes showroom.
The new A220 should not be confused with the CLA, another compact sedan that Mercedes calls a “four-door coupe.” Though both cars are built off the same front-drive architecture, the CLA is 3 inches longer and boasts sleeker down-low styling with slightly less passenger space — 91.5 cubic feet compared to 93 for the A220. However, it has a larger trunk, 13 cubic feet.
The test car also had a curious intervention. On some cars, when you shut down the engine and open the door, the driver’s seat automatically moves back to facilitate exit and reentry. On the A220, it does the opposite. The seatback pushes forward, as if to squash your chest into the steering wheel. It does not, fortunately.
Other fluffs: the shade for the panoramic sunroof is not opaque but made from a flimsy material that admits heat and sunlight. Sun visors do not slide to block sun from the sides. And there are no inside assist handles — only coat hooks combined with reading lights.
Specifications
Model: 2019 Mercedes-Benz A220 4MATIC four-door sedan
Engine: 2.0-liter four-cylinder, turbocharged; 188 hp, 221 lb-ft torque
Transmission: Seven-speed twin-clutch automatic with manual shift mode and all-wheel drive
Overall length: 14 feet, 11 inches
EPA passenger/trunk volume: 93/9 cubic feet
Weight: 3,417 pounds
EPA city/highway/combined fuel consumption: 25/33/28 mpg
Base price, including destination charge: $35,495
Price as tested: $49,785
