Intro
A few weeks ago I reviewed the hatchback version of Mercedes-Benz's excellent fourth generation A Class, the A250. In my opinion, it is the new entry level luxury car to beat in Canada. While the A250 hatchback is not available to the USA, its sedan twin, the A220 is.
Thanks to Mercedes Canada, I have the opportunity to test drive the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A220 Sedan for one week. Since the two cars are largely identical, this review will be focusing on the differences. For a detailed review of the new A Class, please check out my review for the A250 here.
Exterior
The most significant difference between the A220 and the A250 is the form factor. That is mostly reflected on the side and rear profiles of cars. On the side, the roofline of the A220 follows the same curve as the A250 until the B pillar. It then slopes gently toward the trunk. Aesthetically, the transition in the rear is not sharp enough to my liking, but functionally, it preserves more usable space in the rear cabin.
On the other hand, I prefer the rear of the sedan. The integrated trunk lip spoiler gives the rear profile of the A220 a visual break, making the car look lighter. Interestingly, while taillights of the two cars bear some similarities, the patterns inside are actually different.
Overall, both cars look spectacular on the road. The simple, yet sophisticated exterior of the new A Class is going to be one of its strongest selling points. The choice between the hatchback or the sedan is going to come down to personal preferences.
Interior
The front cabin of the A220 is identical to that of the A250, but our sedan tester comes with the optional two-toned leather seats and door panels that look and feel more premium. The headrests are adjustable, unlike the racing style seats in the A250 that we test drove.
Obviously, being a sedan means there is going to be less headroom compares to a hatchback. But as long as you are not over 6', the rear cabin of the sedan is still a very comfortable place to be.
I find the rear view from the driver side to be slightly limited, but the separated trunk makes the sedan quieter on the road.
As I have said before, the interior of the new A class really elevates the standard for the entry level luxury car segment. It is clean, modern, and tasteful. That holds true for both the sedan and the hatchback.
Infotainment
I wrote and extensive review of the new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) in my A250 review. That same excellent system is in the A220 as well. It is interesting that Mercedes-Benz chooses to implement its latest, and the best infotainment system with its most affordable offerings. But the longer I spend time with the MBUX system the more I realize what a brilliant strategy it is. An entry level luxury car is meant to lure potential buyers into the brand. Once you have gotten used to the excellent MBUX system in a Mercedes, it is hard to go back to a car that is quipped with a mediocre infotainment system. This clever strategy is something that other luxury brands should take notice if they want to stay competitive.
Safety and Driver Assistance
The A220 comes with the same standard safety features:
- Active Brake Assist
- ATTENTION ASSIST
- Adaptive braking technology
- Tire Pressure Loss Warning System
- One-touch SOS calling
- LED Daytime Running Lamps
- MULTIBEAM LED headlamps
- Adaptive Highbeam Assist
- Blind Spot Assist
- Traffic Sign Assist
- Active Parking Assist
- Active Distance Assist
- 360 camera
Driving
Interestingly, the engine in the A220 Sedan is slightly detuned compare to the A250 hatchback. The same 2.0L turbocharged inline-four now produces 188hp of horsepower and 221lb.ft. of torque compare to A250's 221hp of horsepower and 258lb.ft. of torque. The acceleration from 0-100km drops from 6.2 seconds to 7.2 seconds.
The same 7-speed dual clutch transmission is utilized in the A220. Unlike the hatchback, you can choose from a front wheel drive or a 4Matic AWD system. Due to the reduced torque, the transmission actually operates more smoothly at low speed.
On the road, the same excellent handling and the same comfortable ride quality persist. Despite the reduced power, our mostly city test drive returns a 10.1 L/100 km fuel economy rating, only slightly lower than the 10.5L/100km figure from our A250 test drive.
Cargo Space & Storage
The trunk cargo space of the A220 is actually bigger than its hatchback sibling. Without folding the rear seats down, there is 420L of cargo capacity in the A220 compare to the 370L trunk space in the A250.
Of course with the 40/20/40 split folding rear seats down, the hatchback reviles with its 1210L of cargo space. That figure is not provided for the sedan, but obviously the opening is much more restrictive.
Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz A220 sedan, like its hatchback twin is an excellent entry level luxury car. It enjoys the same stylish exterior, quality interior, and class-leading infotainment system. Its biggest competitor is within the family. For $1300CAD more, you get 33 more ponies and a more versatile cargo space. The saving becomes bigger when you opt for the front wheel drive version of the A220. In that case you are saving an additional $2000CAD. Bear in mind, by the time you have selected all the options you want, the sticker price is going to be quite a bit higher. All else being equal, I would pick the A250 over the A220.
Test Vehicle
2019 Mercedes-Benz A220 4MATIC Sedan
Color
Mountain Grey Metallic
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