During the launch of the locally assembled GLA, Mercedes Benz Malaysia also unveiled the CKD version of the A-class sedan.. The A-class sedan is the entry level sedan that allows new Mercedes Benz buyers a chance to experience the Mercedes Benz lifestyle. This time round, I’ll be taking a closer look at the Mercedes Benz A250 sedan, and see why you should consider this over the GLA or GLB.

Staying with the Mercedes Benz ethos, the A250 sedan is an elegant looking vehicle. It comes with a sporty proportion, where there is a long hood and short boot. Similar to the other 250 model, the A250 also comes with the 3D patterned front grille. All around the vehicle, the A250 does come with full LED headlights and taillights to continue the modern look of the vehicle. The A250 also comes with 18-inch rims that have the similar design to the GLA 250 and the GLB 250. The A250 rims are wrapped in the 225/45 R18 tyres to complete the look of the vehicle.

Sitting inside the A250, it’s literally the same dashboard design as the GLA and the GLB. The interior is so similar, that the only difference here is the height of the vehicle. Sitting inside the A250, I much prefer this sporty seating position, and it makes me feel like I have more control of the vehicle. The only thing that could be improved for the seats is the side bolster, where I prefer a more body hugging seat to provide even better side support.

As for the rear seats, rear passengers provided a good amount of legroom and headroom. Two adults can definitely seat comfortably at the back, but 3 adults can be a tight squeeze as the A250 is not a very wide vehicle. Behind the rear seats, the A250 also comes with a decently sized boot that measured in at 420L. This can be further increased by folding the rear seats down to create a flat floor to slide things forward.

In the A250, the turbocharged 2.0L 4 cylinder engine is a rather familiar engine by now. It’s the same engine that is powering the GLA 250 and the GLB 250, and power is sent to the front wheels through the 7-speed dual clutch transmission. This powertrain can produce a maximum power of 224hp at 5,500rpm, and a peak torque of 350Nm at 1,800rpm. The A250 can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a decent 6.3 seconds, and to a limited top speed of 250km/h.

Even though this is the same engine as the GLA 250, and the GLB 250, the difference in weight does change the driving feel in the A250. In the A250, the engine feels lighter and it’s more eager to pick up speed. This is also helped out by the gear change, where it felt much faster in the A250. Fuel economy was also better in the A250, but for a 2.0L turbocharged engine, the 8.0L/100km figure is quite acceptable, but I won’t consider it impressive.

For something that looks sporty, the suspension on the A250 feels rather comfortable. It does a great job in soaking up all the road imperfections, and body roll is also kept well within control. The steering is precise on the A250, but it’s not as sharp as the steering found on the Golfs. On the limit, the A250 has the ability to slide progressively. Being a progressive slide, the driver has the opportunity to react to the slide.

Brakes on the A250 are strong, and it produces good stopping performance even on spirited drives. With the A250, Mercedes Benz Malaysia does add some entry level driver assistance system to add a layer of protection for the driver. The safety and driver assistance systems available on the A250 include 7 Airbags, Blind spot assist, Active Parking Assist, Active Brake Assist, Exit Warning Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Tyre pressure monitoring system, and Adaptive Highbeam Assist.

Comparing the GLA, GLB and the A-class sedan, I would actually choose the sedan over the SUVs due to the much stable and lighter platform. This makes the A250 a much nicer car to drive, and with a price of RM 253,888.00, it’s also slightly cheaper than the GLA250 and the GLB250. While it may not be as practical as the SUV variants, the sedan is sufficient for my needs as I don’t need a SUV at this point of life.

Check out full photo album here.