Mercedes unveils the new facelifted A-Class and B-Class

Mid-life refreshments are no stranger in automobile businesses. Automakers worldwide have dealt with the practice of offering new body kits and what-nots for the sake of staying relevant to the ever-changing market (and also making some bucks, obviously).

However, brands often get caught red-handed for offering a mere software update and barely noticeable touch-ups but label it as a facelift. And Mercedes might've just placed themselves onto that guilty list.

Mercedes-Benz have recently unveiled the facelifted A-Class and B-Class models, poised for its debut in the UK market later this year. The lightly refreshed models boast minor exterior styling changes, with new headlights and the stylish AMG line trimmings offered as options.

Similar to its preceding models, the 2023 A-Class will also feature in both sedan and hatchback body styles. Both facelifted models are due for new refreshments in the interior department. Spanking new Nappa leather steering wheels, additional USB-C fast charging ports as well as reverse cameras, now standard across all models.

The facelift also includes a refresh in Mercedes’s proprietary Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) operating systems, now including a new fingerprint sensor as options for both 2023 models. The driver identification feature via the fingerprint sensor is poised to debut next year.

Performance-wise, both facelifted models are now electrified, alongside the standard 4-cyl ICE across the board. The front-wheel drive A180 and B180 will sport the 1.3 L turbocharged engine, producing 134 HP with an additional 14 HP, thanks to the electrified belt-driven starter motor. The German brand claimed the new powertrain will offer roughly 18 to 20 KM per litre, with emissions between 133 to 145 G/KM (WLTP).

The mid-tier A200 and B200 will boast the same ICE as their low-spec siblings, with a slight increased power of 161 HP and also an additional 14 HP from the electric motor.

For the plug-in hybrid models, the front-wheel drive A250e and B250e share its engine with the 200s, paired with the newly revised electric motor powered by a 15.6 KWH power plant. The combo spits out 215 HP and its electric-only range now goes around 70 to 80 KM (WLTP).

The range topper A35 and A45 4Matic now comes standard with a 2.0 L 4-cyl engine, exclusively developed by the AMG. With the new ICE, both A35 sedan and hatchback models now yield 300 HP, with the far superior A45 hatchback outputting 415 HP.