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Road test: Mercedes A-Class plug-in
The compact model of the Mercedes is joined by a plug-in hybrid version.
For the big sisters of the A-Class this combination has done wonders.
So why does it just not work for the little sister?
Tags
Mercedes
a class
Plug in
Hybrid
Hybrid
Colmobil
Road Test
Keenan Cohen
Saturday, 27 March 2021, 20:04 Updated: 20:05
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The AMG version adds light sporting features (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
It was hard to look at the A250e and not remember the last time we collected an A-Class for the test.
Only then it was the AMG A45S, a compact missile with 421 hp, a roaring engine and a chronic thirst for fuel. This time? 50 km on electric power, before the petrol engine comes to life.
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Putting aside the same A45S that also has a very unobtrusive external appearance, the plug-in version of the A-Class is a pretty modest girl and you really have to pay attention to realize that it is no longer an A-Class.
In fact, the most noticeable external difference is that another "refueling" opening in the C-beam (as opposed to their usual position in a Mercedes in the rear bumper) is less noticeable is the lack of an exhaust outlet hidden under the rear.
Beyond that, even with the AMG package it does not look very different from all its sisters.
Its cabin is not really different either, the first things you notice is the driver environment of the Mercedes MBUX which gives those sitting in this car a much more senior category vehicle feel.
The human engineering is excellent and of course the quality of the materials and assembly.
The control of the multimedia screen (10.25 inches) is easy, simple and accessible by touch, from the touchpad and also in the way I personally prefer - above the steering wheel with a kind of tiny joystick.
A modest girl in her performance (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
The instrumentation is good, and an open panoramic roof impression, front and rear parking sensors (which are a bit hysterical, must note), excellent seats, Android and Apple coupling and the same exterior and interior design additions to the AMG package.
But not everything is perfect, such as a passenger seat in a manual direction, in a vehicle for such an amount?
I could not understand.
The safety equipment is complete and includes automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, correction of deviation from the lane (which is recommended to be switched to the less sensitive situation), vehicle warning in "dead zone", automatic braking in reverse and more.
Lots of equipment and excellent material quality in the cabin, the seats are exceptional (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
The 273 cm wheelbase is one of the best in its category and allows for spacious seating in the back and there is also room for the head. So space is not lacking, but air conditioning outlets are actually lacking, again, because we already expect that from a car that exceeds the 300,000 shekel threshold Premium The volume of the trunk pays the price of the batteries and it drops from 345 liters to 310 liters.
The human engineering is excellent and the feeling is of a car from a higher category (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
As mentioned in the opening, the A250e can travel a distance of several tens of kilometers that will travel between 50 and 60 depending on the nature of the driving and the route of the road when the gasoline engine is off. And when the 1.33-liter engine of Mercedes-Renault wakes up S. and 45.9 kg. These accelerate it to 100 km / h in 6.6 seconds and up to a maximum of 215 km / h. The propulsion is front and the power passes to the road through an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The 15.6 kilowatt-hour battery receives a charging current Of 3.7 kilowatts.The
urban ride comfort combines reasonable damping of the shock absorbers that do their best to handle 18-inch rims with a 455 tire on a 45-inch section. Less noticeable in urban driving, it is very present on a highway and it is really annoying on a road that is not of high quality.
Generous wheelbase leads to excellent space at the rear (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
The performance itself is certainly satisfying, the car is agile, the response to the pedal is quick and the electric reinforcement is reflected in the immediate and excellent power availability.
The levers behind the wheel are used here for a different purpose than usual.
If in a normal car you use them to shift gears, here they determine the degree of regenerative charging.
That is how much "resistance" the electric motor produces to make use of the car deceleration to charge the batteries.
This system in the Mercedes is one of the best I have driven.
And with conscious and correct use, it is possible to cover considerable distances of a mountain road using this system.
In its electric mode it has also been found to be very useful in congested urban or suburban driving as it allows for driving a “single pedal” when most of the deceleration can only be done by removing the foot from the accelerator pedal.
The fuel tank and trunk are reduced to make room for batteries (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
And if in everyday driving the feeling is of a nimble car, on a winding road or for those looking for a driving experience - even with the beautiful power, there is really nothing to expect from exceptional ability.
The A-Class plug-in does not hide the fact that it is a heavier car than the regular model and when this weight is required by changing direction or braking and then changing direction it calls for its help in physics and explains to me that there is a problem here.
But this is not only a result of over 300 kg added to its curb weight, it is also a result of the combination of the "green" tires with the least grip, plus a brake pedal with an inaccurate move and generally suspensions that were faced with a very difficult dilemma of comfort versus support In her weight.
Another loading opening is the main external difference (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
Fuel consumption in a plug-in car is always a trick, the test results can be completely irrelevant to customers whose daily commute is low or close to the real 50 km range. These will refuel the car very rarely. With us anyway, without much use of charging from the outlet and use In a car as a hybrid for most of the 500 km we covered with it, it introduced excellent fuel consumption of 17 km per liter.
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Is the Mercedes A250e worth the money?
So who needs the A-Class plug-in hybrid?
Well, first of all Mercedes needs it.
Not only that, every European manufacturer needs every possible electric shock to keep pollutant emissions low so as not to be fined under CAFE standards.
Why do her customers need her?
Well, here the answer is much less decisive.
Mainly because the A plug-in is outrageously expensive, in the past with the tax benefit for luxury plug-in models, they offered a dizzying deal, but this time ... and sit for a moment or at least lean on a stable object, because this version costs 330,000 shekels.
And that, gentlemen, is a sum that completely disqualifies it from being a deal that is even close to worthwhile, with all due respect to the equipment, its very good hybrid capability, charging from the socket and the potential for savings - as a deal it is simply very bad value for your money.
The fact that its competitors have not yet presented an alternative is only a matter of time, and when these come its problem will be much more serious.
Only Mercedes currently offers such a combination in its group (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
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On the technical side: Mercedes A250e
Engine, Propulsion:
Rechargeable Hybrid Socket, Turbo, Front
Volume (cc):
1,332
Power / RPM (hp):
218
Torque / RPM (kg):
45.9
Transmission:
Dual Clutch, 8 Gears
Dimensions:
Length (cm):
442
Width (cm):
180
Height (cm):
145
Wheelbase (cm):
273
Trunk (liters):
310
Performance:
Acceleration 0-100:
6.6 seconds
Maximum speed:
235 km / h
Competitors:
Direct competitors have not yet been presented
Price:
NIS 330,000
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