Intro
The unconventional Mercedes Benz A250 AMG Line is a new type of Mercedes Benz. Geared towards a younger target audience that lead a much active lifestyle, there’s quite a bit the Mercedes must deliver to justify its RM263,888 price tag. We are going to see if Mercedes Benz’s take on what a sporty luxury hatch should be is worth the spend, and how far is the gap in terms of performance to the brilliant Volkswagen Golf GTi.
Dimensions
The Mercedes Benz A250 AMG Line is quite similarly proportioned to the Mk7.5 Volkswagen Golf GTi, with similar width and height. Its actually 5 mm taller than the current G20 BMW 3 series. However its a whopping 151mm longer than the Golf GTi, freeing some much needed legroom for both the front and rear passengers.
This makes the Mercedes feel like it’s got tonnes of space yet still feels snug on the inside. The additional AMG Line touches like the crossed drilled brakes, the AMG Alloys, those lovely Alcantara-leather seats add a sporting accent to the car’s image.
Interior
Where the Mercedes Benz A250 AMG Line really stands out from the Golf GTi is in terms of interior ambiance. With the MBUX infotainment system integrating everything from car, navigation, entertainment and connectivity systems to one interface, its relatively easy to manage each function once you get the hang of it.
The fact that all these is displayed on a 10.25 inch screen that runs from the driver’s door to the center of the dashboard truly revolutionizes the way you access the car’s info and functions.
For the current A class, you can navigate the functions using either a touchpad or the heptic sensors on the steering wheel. Not to mention the voice command system which can be activated by just uttering “Hi Mercedes”
In comparison to all of this, the Volkswagen Golf GTi feels dated, like its lagging by 2 generations behind the A250.
Engine
Under the hood though both the Mercedes and the Golf GTi share similar outputs. Both cars put out over 220bhp, and both produce identical 350Nm of torque. However unlike the 6 speed Golf, the Mercedes comes with a 7 speed double clutch gearbox. Therefore it gets to 100kph in 0.2 seconds faster than the Golf GTi while returning similar claimed consumption figures.
Ride and Handling
Here’s where we test if the Mercedes Benz A250 AMG Line is a luxury hatch that’s been dressed up with AMG products or does it truly has any sporting potential. We bench marked it against the Golf GTi since its the undisputed class leader in terms of blending sporting performance and refinement.
We would like to see just how close the Mercedes can get to the driving dynamics of the Volkswagen Golf GTi, and that would tell us if the Mercedes is an AMG on pure cosmetic levels or does it do justice to the AMG Line badge.
For that, we headed out to the Berjaya Bukit Tinggi road and handed the keys of the Mercedes to Malaysian Rally Legend and Rock and Roll Enthusiast, Karamjit Singh.
Based on Karamjit Singh’s feedback, it’s not an out-and-out performance car, or specifically built to tackle the demanding twists of the Bukit Tinggi road. However, in the hands of Karamjit Singh it did get up and down the mountain at an unbelievable pace.
The 2 liter engine provides plenty of power and the chassis keeps everything safe and predictable. There’s special praise for the brakes on their stopping power too!
Conclusion
The Mercedes Benz A250 AMG Line may not be a purpose built performance hatch despite sharing similar performance figures with the Golf GTi.
However it does everything else so much better than any of its class rivals that you get a whole lot more car for your money.
Despite being priced RM20,000 more than the Volkswagen Golf GTi at RM263,888, we would whole heartedly recommend the Mercedes Benz A250 AMG Line for its MBUX user interface, accessible performance, and its brand image. And that’s why for about 8% extra over the Golf GTi’s price, the Mercedes looks like a bargain.
