Torqued-up Tiddler
by Jim Currie (08 Dec 99)

It might look just the job for taking Granny to the supermarket, but Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard have one apiece, all decals and red leather. So don't think the Mercedes-Benz A-class lacks street cred, even if our F1 friends will probably only use theirs after dark.

The sporty 1.9-litre A-class flagship is loosely based on the aforementioned "specials", but does the fastest selling Mercedes-Benz car ever in Britain have what it takes to get us out of our favourite hot hatchbacks?

It takes a little time to spot the difference between the A190 and the lesser cars in the range. The only obvious exterior changes are its chromed tailpipe and bigger, 16-inch alloys. Everything else looks bog standard.

But a little digging in the engineering department reveals a close-ratio gearbox and a hefty increase in torque. The new 125bhp A190 has a top speed of just over 120mph and a 0-62mph acceleration time of 8.8 seconds, which adds up to plenty of muscle.

Figures of 132lb ft at just 4,000rpm mean the Al90 gives relaxed low-revving and high-economy driving, but with plenty of power in reserve for whenever fast overtaking is needed - and it was needed pretty often when I tried the car in Germany.

The A190 Elegance is listed here at a shade under £18,000. That's a lot of money for a tiddler with a profile like a sawn-off Scenic, but it does have that three-pointed star upfront to guarantee top residuals come trade-in time.

And if 120mph seems a little over the top for something so small and tall, there are systems such as anti-lock brakes, acceleration skid control and an electronic stability programme working away to help make sure you don't throw it into the scenery. It needs all this, too - a series of flat-out bursts on the autobahn had it yawing discernibly, even on gentle bends.

Still, small car, big fun.

Price: £17,990
Engine capacity: 1898cc
Power: 125bhp
Maximum speed: 123mph
0-60mph: 8.8 seconds
Economy: 47.1mpg extra urban, 36.7mpg combined
Insurance: Group 7
Mercedes-Benz figures.

Second opinion: 
Yes, top of the range, and all that. But what exactly is the point of a pricey, souped-up version like this of a car which was never intended to be sporty when the original design was being laid down? Excellent use of space, though, and I really admire the A-class's twin-floor idea, the best system so far of keeping the engine of such a short-wheelbase car out of your teeth in the event of a front-end impact. Ross Finlay.

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