By DERRICK NDZAVI
The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class is here. The popular compact car ticks all the boxes for being a modern youth car. Just like its older siblings, the A-Class is connected. Safety and technology have improved from the outgoing model. For someone like me who loves technology, my fascination was with the voice command feature. MBUX, the new multimedia system, offers the best experience for the user. It learns and adapts to suit the user through artificial intelligence so the more a user interacts with it, the more the new A-Class becomes just like them. In addition, MBUX offers intelligent voice control with natural language comprehension. By using the phrase “Hey Mercedes”, users can adjust the air-conditioning, send a text message, or find the quickest route out of the city centre on a Friday afternoon. This feature took the driving experience to new dimension as one kept on making demands such as “Hey Mercedes, Please close the sunroof” and within a few moments the sunroof was closed without touching any button. The new A-Class is specious compared to its predecessor with enough room vertically for tall drivers. The car has digitized dashboard that allows the driver to make changes according to mood and preference. Driving through the popular Franschhoek Pass it became apparent that the A-Class was made to quench the thirst of those who thirsty for a good engine power. The A-Class did not disappoint as it tackled every curve with ease. It is clear that safety forms a big part of the new A-Class DNA.
MODEL RANGE AND PRICING
• A200 R499 000
• A250 R593 300
