It was no surprise to us that the A170 beat Mercedes’ claims of a 10.9sec 0-60mph time. With the merest chirp from the front tyres, the A170 turns in a decent 10.2sec 0-60mph dash and strolls on to 113mph on the high-speed bowl. Whereas the old A-class’s petrol engines gnashed their way to the red line, this one’s a sweetie, staying vibration-free to the 6250rpm cut-out.
Even though it offers a good spread of flexibility with sensible gear ratios, the limitations of a normally aspirated petrol unit compared to a modern turbodiesel are all too apparent. The stopwatch will tell you that 50-70mph in top takes 10.8sec, but the reality is that any type of A-road overtake requires a hefty blast in third gear, and you’ll often dip into fourth gear on the motorway. The A180 CDI will probably be the pick of the range.
Time was when the words A-class and fun would not have existed comfortably in the same sentence. Those days are over. This new version steers accurately, rides well on the standard 15in wheels and Continental tyres and, best of all, has a dose of composure that means it can cover ground with real fluency.
Integral to this success is the driving position. You sit high, but with legs outstretched – like a go-kart on stilts. The electric power steering doesn’t provide as much feel as the best hydraulic racks, but it’s wonderfully accurate, meaning you can take even grater advantage of those compact dimensions.
Ride quality is good in town: firm but well-damped, and on the motorway the car settles well. But what really surprises is the way it can sustain such a pleasant rhythm over challenging roads. That clever rear axle set-up really does work, because even the most severe mid-corner bumps hardly register. Wet and dry grip are both excellent, and if you do reach the limits of adhesion, you’re either clever enough to have fooled the permanent stability control into a tea-break, or you’re driving in a manner unsuited to the public roads.