Mercedes A 200 d AMG Line Executive (2022 - )

Mercedes’ highly-popular A-Class has been given a mid-life refresh for 2023 with some fairly subtle cosmetic changes and an improved in-car infotainment set-up across the range.

The car is available as a four-door saloon or five-door hatchback and, although the engine line-up has been reduced, there is still plenty of choice for customers with a selection of mild-hybrid petrol units or a diesel option. 

All cars have either a seven or eight-speed automatic gearbox. And, if you fancy a little more edge, there are the hotter AMG models that really ramp up the performance.

Customers can choose from five trim levels called Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus and a new Exclusive Launch edition.

All grades now gain the latest generation MBUX infotainment set-up as standard, which brings features such as the ‘Hey Mercedes’ virtual assistant to the mix.

The A-Class secured a maximum five stars when tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating in 2018 with a 96 per cent score for adult protection, 91 per cent for child occupants and 92 per cent for the protection of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians.

We opted for the hatchback model powered by the 2.0-litre diesel engine in AMG Line Executive specification.

The fourth-generation Mercedes A-Class boasts a dynamic design, especially in hatchback guise. Factor in the Sun Yellow paintwork on our test car and it’s guaranteed to turn heads.

The 2023 model features a number of new design cues for its mid-life upgrade. For example, there are new front LED headlights with adaptive highbeam assist and rear LEDs, a fresh grille design housing the large Mercedes badge and snazzy alloy wheels.

The test car also had some AMG-specific features in the bodystyling, along with privacy glass, body coloured bumpers and twin tail pipes. 

It’s a car that looks dynamic when approached from any angle and the interior continues with the wow factor thanks to beautifully crafted fixtures and fitting throughout.

The sports seats feature integrated headrests and are created from a dark-coloured, man-made leather microfibre material that is very high-end and finished with red contrast stitching.

The main focal point within the cabin are the two 10.25-inch digital information screens that are situated behind a single pane of glass. One screen offers access to all things entertainment, while the other displays all the vital driving data.

On-board tech includes the impressive Mercedes infotainment system, called MBUX, and this introduces the likes of navigation, smartphone connectivity, DAB radio, Bluetooth and access to the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assist system.

This can help with all manner of tasks, such as reducing the temperature, changing the radio station, plotting navigation routes and much more besides.

The separate panel for all things climate related is a great feature and all control, dials and readouts are simple to operate on the fly inside this exceptionally driver-focused cockpit.

We tested the Mercedes A 200 d AMG Line Executive hatchback powered by a 1,950cc, four-cylinder diesel engine mated to a new eight-speed DCT automatic gearbox. With 150hp of power along with 320Nm of torque, this five-door hatch could sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 8.3 seconds and topped out at 137mph. While that’s not exactly hot-hatch performance, the A-Class does offer sublime refinement in the process rather than the bone-juddering handling experience of some rivals.

The acceleration through the new gearbox is well-timed and nicely responsive with plenty of power on tap for short bursts of pace when needed. There are paddles so the driver can change gear manually for added engagement and drive modes called Comfort, Eco, Sport and Individual alter the characteristics of the vehicle. No extra marks for guessing Sport is the most fun.

With its fairly low-slung design, the A-Class boasts a low centre of gravity and that is apparent when put to the test along twisting country lanes. The grip is ultra-confident with accurate steering and any body movement is kept to a minimum no matter how hard bends are attacked.

The other side to the A-Class is discovered when motorway cruising. It becomes more grown up and sits with ease at 70mph eating up the miles with barely a sound filtering through into the cabin. And special mention to the highly effective suspension system that somehow smooths out the uneven road surfaces.

The Mercedes A-Class is available in saloon or hatchback body-styling. The hatchback, as tested, is 4,428mm in length, 1,992mm wide and 1,423mm high with a kerbweight of 1,530kg and a turning circle of 11 metres. 

The seats and steering wheel are adjusted manually, but it is quite straightforward finding a comfortable driving position and the seats can also be heated to stay warm in colder months.

Up front, there is ample room for a couple of tall adults to stretch out, but rear legroom is not quite so impressive, especially if the front seats are pushed well back. There is plenty of space for three children though.

The boot on the hatchback is accessed via a manual tailgate and can accommodate 345 litres of goodies, increasing to 1,185 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped down. Those opting for the saloon model have a boot capacity that ranges from 395 to 1,200 litres.

There are plenty of additional storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin and these include practical door pockets with space for a bottle, a glovebox, central cubby bin with USB-C charge ports, seat back nets, front cup holders and some trays.

Prices for the 2023 A-Class start from £31,880 for the entry-level A 180 petrol hatchback model. Our test car, the diesel-powered A 200 d AMG Line Executive hatchback, cost £36,640, increasing to £37,265 with Sun Yellow paint that looked really eye-catching.

While many manufacturers are ditching diesel engines from their range, it’s great to see Mercedes still offers its A-Class with that option. It is often the go-to powertrain for anyone clocking up high mileage and with combined fuel efficiency of 53.3-57.7mpg this A-Class is a great choice.

The carbon emissions figure of 132g/km would result in a first-year road tax bill of £255 which would drop down to the standard charge of £180 after 12 months.

There are other options customers can choose to fully personalise their car, but be careful not to exceed a total cost of £40,000. That’s the cut-off point before vehicles fall into a government premium car levy which adds a further £390 to the annual charge from years two to six.

For any fleet drivers considering the A 200 d AMG Line Executive as a company car, it has a Benefit in Kind tax rating of 31 per cent and the vehicle sits in insurance group 23. 

The Mercedes A-Class really looks the business, especially in more dynamic hatchback guise. It may not be the fastest hatch out there, but when you also factor in the generous levels of high-end technology, wealth of safety features and great reputation for reliability, it is a very tempting all-rounder in the premium sector.