Mercedes A-Class 2018 vs Mercedes A-Class 2017 – Should you upgrade? What’s changed?

The three pointed star carries considerable weight in the premium sector and the A-Class is still a great way of getting a Mercedes onto your driveway.

The has refined the previous generation’s styling and in doing so makes the car resemble the other vehicles available in the company’s fleet.

The grille has been reshaped along with the bonnet that is wider and flatter. The bumper and air intakes have also been redesigned along with the lights. The rear has seen a much needed improvement from the previous generation and now has a much more modern look.

The Mercedes A-Class 2017 had issues with practicality offering a narrow boot and lacking ample rear passenger space.

Mercedes addressed these issues and now the A-Class has better head, shoulder and elbow room and improved entry to the rear seats. There is also 29-litres more boot-space – giving you a total of 370-litres now.

Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG said: “The new A-Class embodies the next stage in our design philosophy of Sensual Purity and has the potential to usher in a new design era.

“With clear contours and sensual surfaces, we present high-tech that awakens emotions. Form and body are what remain when creases and lines are reduced to the extreme.

“The interior represents modern luxury at a level previously unattained in this class, and translates intelligent technology into an emotional overall experience.”

The Mercedes A-Class 2018 is also offering drivers a new interface and this is the first Mercedes to have the new MBUX – Mercedes-Benz User Experience – cockpit.

The MBUX is able to be controlled by touch and voice commands with the “Hey Mercedes” keyword and the artificial intelligence software will even be able to learn your preferences.

Britta Seeger, the member of the Daimler AG Board of Management said: “With the fourth generation of the A-Class, we are redefining modern luxury in the compact class. To do this we have opted for a combination of uncompromisingly dynamic design and an intuitive operating concept.

“With MBUX – the new Mercedes-Benz User Experience – we are creating a completely new customer experience.”

Gone is the driver’s instrument cluster on the left and the 2018 A-Class now has a duel display. The touchscreens measure up to 10.25 inches (26 cm) each and displays the driver’s navigation and instruments.

The 2018 A-Class offers a choice of three engines – two petrol and one diesel.

The petrol engines come in 1.4-litres and 2.0-litre displacements offering 160 bhp and 250 Nm and 221 bhp and 350 Nm of power respectively.

Opting for a diesel will give you a 1.4-litre four-cylinder ending with 113 bhp, which comes with AdBlue which is thought to improve exhaust pipe emissions.

There were some issues with the 2017 A-Class suspension being a little too firm and Mercedes addressed this problem at both the front and rear, they also have included active damping assistant with electric control.

Due to the inclusion of several driver assistance and safety systems the 2018 A-Class, unlike its predecessor, is able to drive semi-autonomously in certain situations.

It will have Mercedes highest safety standard due to the inclusions of Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist and the Active Emergency Stop Assist and Active Lane Change Assist.

A notable mention is also the PRE-SAFE PLUS which can recognise an imminent rear-end collision and take action to prevent it.

The entry level cost of owning a Mercedes A-Class has increased. Whereas you would pay just over £20,000 for the entry level A 160 in 2017 this years model is expected to cost from around £24,000.