Review: Mercedes-Benz A200 Progressive Line – A-ffordable Class?

Introduced last year, the locally assembled (CKD) Mercedes-Benz A200 Progressive Line saw several design tweaks inside and out, plus an updated kit list.

Face-lifted You Say?

Yes, but you’ll have to look closely to see these mild aesthetic tweaks inside and out. Fortunately, much of these styling revisions are welcoming ones for the locally assembled (CKD) V177-gen A-Class Sedan range, even in base A200 Progressive Line form featured.

Other new design tweaks include new LED lead and taillights, front grille, front hood, wheels, and rear diffuser.

With the exterior, the clearest changes can be seen up front thanks to new headlights, redesigned front grille, revised bumper, even a new bonnet with new dual ‘power domes’ too. Down the sides comes new 17-inch twin-spoke wheels, whilst the rear sees revised taillight graphics and new diffuser element in the rear bumper.

Beyond which, little else has changed with the exterior and, predictably, Mercedes-Benz elected to apply the same approach at sprucing up its interior.

Changes are much milder inside the cabin of the face-lifted A200 Progressive Line. It does continue to offer a multi-colour cabin ambient lighting suite.

Okay, What’s New Inside?

Here, the most obvious change is the deletion of the annoying touch-sensitive infotainment trackpad down in the centre console. In its place now is a small tray to place your phone or loose pocket items, and there are essentials control switches and toggles present above which – specifically, it’s the infotainment volume control and drive mode selector.

The trackpad infotainment controls seen in the pre-facelift has been deleted. In its place now is a small tray with the drive mode selector button and infotainment volume control.

The infotainment display is now a proper touchscreen, thus making it easier to operate and manage. Also new is the carbon fibre-look insert trims.

Whilst the dual-10.25-inch digital displays are carried over, these now run on updated MBUX software with new and revised display graphics. Crucially, the infotainment half of this dual-display suite is now a proper touchscreen, thus making it a lot easier to operate and manage than before too.

Lastly, in the case of this entry-level variant specifically, the dash and centre console now wears new carbon fibre-look décor inserts and trimmings which, thankfully, bodes well with the multi-colour ambient lightning suite, altogether elevating an otherwise plain black interior. As noted earlier, welcoming changes indeed.

Yes, the V177-gen A-Class Sedan is undeniable small, but it remains rather posh and comfy thanks to plush Artico man-made leather upholstery donned on the seats, dash, and key touchpoints.

The Cabin Is Kind Of Small, No?

Unless you have a physique befitting of a pro-basketball player, the real estate present in the A-Class Sedan is sufficient, both up front and in the back – even for sub-six-footers such as yours truly. However, we’ll admit that the rear bench is most comfortable seating just two instead of three.

Tall, lanky folks might find the rear seats a tad cramped. Thankfully, both seats up front are primed with power-adjustability plus memory function.

Perhaps the only thing missing in the rear seat is a rear air-cond vent.

Though small, things don’t feel too cramped for the most parts, and the plush Artico man-made leather donned on the seats, dash, and key touchpoints, keeps the affair properly plush and comfy. Apart from the less-than-stellar feel of the materials lining everything below the visual belt-line, perhaps a rear air-cond vent might have made this cabin feel more ‘complete’.

Sure, you can get a tonne more space and kit in other similar-sized offerings that cost way less. Just remember that said alternatives simply lack the luxe and the all-important prestige that the mighty three-point star emblem duly delivers, not forgetting its rather Germanic drive dynamics too.

One thing is certain, and that is the fact that the A200 Progressive Line drives like a proper Merc!

Germanic Drive? Tell Us More…

Yes, this booted A-Class may be the smallest saloon Mercedes makes today, but the German automaker endowed it with enough to ensure it drives just as well as its larger stablemates – the C-Class, E-Class, and S-Class – would.

A lot of this comes from the V177 A-Class Sedan’s sorted powertrain which, in the case of this entry-level variant, is carried over from the pre-facelift version. This is perhaps a classic case of Mercedes practicing the old saying of “If it ain’t broken…”

Retained from the pre-facelift version is the 1.3-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol mill, which delivers respectable pep to the front wheels.

Retained too is the 7-speed DCT automatic box. Altogether, the powertrain also continues to offer four selectable drive modes.

Under the A200’s hood, you’ll find no special electrification like a mild-hybrid (MHEV) system as the refreshed A250 4Matic AMG Line slotted above does. Instead, you’ll find the familiar 1.3-litre 4-cyl turbocharged petrol mill here, which respectably churns out 161 PS and 270 NM.

Said pep drives the front wheels through a slick 7-speed DCT automatic box, allowing 0-100 KM/H dashes in 8.3 seconds. No, not trackday-ready numbers as the hotter AMG A35 variant boasts, but it is certainly sufficient for the daily grind in this base-spec variant.

Said powertrain also translates into a compact sedan that can hit Autobahn-like speeds almost effortlessly with some coaxing. Moreover, thanks to clever modern electronic fuelling and an idling stop-start feature, this mill can be both efficient and green enough for most.

As far and ride and handling go, the A200 Progressive Line has a much comfier ride now, and we reckon the switch to smaller 17-inch wheels played a large role to this newfound comfort.

Adding to this is a sorted chassis that, like the powertrain, has no wizardries like adaptive dampers or trick air suspension system. Instead, it’s the traditional combo of MacPherson struts up front with a rear torsion beam. Despite so, the ride remains respectably balanced.

Clearly, the decision to downsize from 18- to 17-inch wheels in this base-spec variant was a sound one. This grants just enough added travel through the uprights, which softens the ride better too. Sweetening things here is the light yet precise feel of the steering.

Our gripes here are few and far apart. One of which we know isn’t a deal-breaker, that being the comfort-focused chassis’ typical lack of athleticism. That’s easily forgiven, though the slight but noticeable tyre-roar intrusion isn’t – a trait most, if not all, run-flat tyres, are cursed with.

Forward-facing sensor grants both Forward-Collision Warning (FCW) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), which is standard-equipped in this base model offering.

Is It A Safe One?

Yes. Though this base-spec variant covers its basics well, there are jarring omissions to note here as things most would expect at this price point are absent. Simply put, you’ll need to shell out more Ringgits for the higher-specced A250 mentioned earlier if you seek high degree of semi-autonomous driving abilities.

Then again though, we’ll concede that the basics are covered at the very least. On top of seatbelts, airbags, all-round disc brakes with ABS plus traction and stability control, you’’ll be glad to know that Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), and a newly added , are primed as standard too.

'Basic' means no Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) or Lane-Keeping Assist (LKAS), but at least there is a wide-angle parking camera and sensors, both enabling Active Park Assist.

Present as well is a wide-angle reverse camera and parking sensors all around. A 360-degree parking camera might have sweetened things better, but at least there’s Active Park Assist available from the get-go. Otherwise, the A200 Progressive Line doesn’t lack too much on this front if we were honest.

Yes, its all sounds pretty ‘basic’, but there’s arguably enough here to keep this compact saloon safer than most other similar-sized alternatives. And perhaps this, plus the other merits highlighted, might be enough to sway you into its favour should you overcome the next hurdle…

Yes, 'basic' it may be, but there are other key merits that drives the A200 Progressive Line's desirability. Is it worth RM241,888 though?

Is The Price For All This ‘Basic’ Too?

The answer to this greatly depends on which side of the income and wealth divide you fall under. At RM241,888 sans insurance, the A200 Progressive Line will either seem overpriced, or a bit of a bargain, depending on where you are in the divide mentioned.

Yes, said price figure, even if it comes with a four-year, unlimited mileage warranty, does seem a tad excessive, especially given its relatively small stature and seemingly sparse kit-list. One can argue that you can indeed get more for less elsewhere.

However, going down said path means foregoing the high luxury, Germanic drive dynamics and, above all, the image of prestige, that the mighty three-point star emblem effortlessly delivers. As to which is the actual driver to this saloon's desirability, we’ll leave that to you to figure out…

SPECIFICATIONS

MERCEDES-BENZ A200 PROGRESSIVE LINE

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