Ratings: Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line sedan - Performs as good as it looks

In this week's edition of the WapCar Ratings we have the 2021 Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line sedan. Priced from RM 259,255, this fully-imported (CBU Germany) compact executive sedan goes against the BMW 218i Gran Coupe in Malaysia.

Per our recent similar articles, all photos and measurements were taken before MCO. Keep in mind too that the scores here are relative to cars in the A250's segment, and not the new-car market as a whole.

Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line: Driving Performance - 35/50, Shining star on the road

For what it's worth, the M260 mill is a sweet engine. Whether it's filling in gaps in traffic, overtaking, or just building up speed, it does so with much gusto. There's more than enough poke to it and it's happy to rev. A respectable century-sprint time is proof of that.

The smooth-shifting 7-speed DCT complements it nicely too. For most of the time, it's well-calibrated and smooth, which means one won't really be using the paddle shifters much.

However, there's a few caveats to its powertrain. For one, the engine seemingly runs out of puff beyond 5,000 rpm, which means you best stick to the middle of the rev range for best performance.

The dual-clutch transmission, meanwhile, can be lurchy and slow to react in some situations - most notably when its not warmed up yet and in low-speed applications like traffic jams.

The Merc' however claws back points in driving dynamics. It's got a playful nature to it, happily using its tail (but not super slippy, mind you) to help take sweeping corners. It's not one to understeer much, and it'll elicit a couple of smiles on the twisties.

Which goes without saying then that the A250 offers good visibility, and an accurate, well-weighted steering. 

That said, braking performance could've been better. Granted the comfort-biased tyres on our test car could've played a part, but the 43 metres it needs to stop from 100 km/h is slightly below average.

Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line: Ride Comfort - 34.5/50, Could be quieter

Another element that impressed us is the A250's ride quality. If you've been in its predecessor, you'll certainly find the suppleness of this new car to be a night and day difference.

Imperfections and road ruts are nicely absorbed, and despite its fun nature in B-roads, the A250 AMG Line provides a ride those at the back won't complain about.

Unfortunately, road noise and tyre roar makes itself very apparent. Again, this could be due to the tyres as the rest of the car is generally well-insulated.

Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line: Quality and Features – 38/50, Much to play with

Like most modern cars, one will find nothing much to complain about in terms of panel fitment and paint quality.

Its athletic look is complemented by 7 colour choices - this press car is in stately Polar White.

In the cabin is where Mercedes-Benz does its best work, and the A250 lives up to that reputation. Commanding your attention is a one-piece, dual screen display (10.25-inches each), which is a joy to look at thanks to its clear, crisp, and sharp calibration.

Giving off the sporty yet luxurious ambience is the mix of Artico leather and Dinamica suede. The leather-wrapped, AMG design steering wheel is just as nice to hold as it is to look.

One won't be lacking in toys to play with as well, as the A250 comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support as well as MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) functions.

In addition to 7 airbags, the A250 AMG Line also bundles along Active Brake Assist (essentially autonomous emergency braking), Active Parking Assist with a reverse camera, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line: Interior space – 30.5/50, Compact cabin

The exterior is a hint and...yes, rear-seat passengers might groan a bit about the tightness.

Practicality-wise, the A250 offers 8 cupholders, and adequately-sized door pockets and various spaces inside to store your gubbins.

Although front passengers won't have much to complain, taller passengers sitting at the back might find the one tennis ball worth of head- and legroom to be a bit too compact.

Boot space is 405 litres with the rear seats up, but should you need more the rear seats can be folded too.

Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line: Fuel consumption – 14/20, Good despite the power

Split rather equally between highway and town driving over a 105 km distance, the A250 AMG Line yielded a fuel efficiency figure of 8.7 l/100km - a rather respectable figure considering how punchy and full-bodied the powertrain felt.

That said, a more restrained driver could probably wring out much better fuel efficiency figures.

Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line: Purchase and cost – 19.5/30, Pricier than main rival

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line is priced from RM 259,255 in Malaysia. For the money, there's lots of options in the market, even some from a segment above.

This price tag not only makes it dearer than BMW 218i Gran Coupe (RM 211,367), it's also more expensive than the recently-updated BMW 320i M Sport, which goes for RM 243,884. However, recall that both of these are locally-assembled (CKD), which helps in their pricing.

Maintenance costs are par for the course for other Mercedes-Benz models. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) doesn't outline them in a schedule, but the A250 AMG Line comes with four-year service and maintenance package that starts from RM 5,838.

Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line: Conclusion – 171.5/250 pts overall

Truth be told, the A250 is a bag of fun. It's a fresh product, and as we said in our review, it's a car that encapsulates the Mercedes-Benz essence very well.

Also read: Review: Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line sedan - is it RM 48k better than the 218i GC

However good it may be, its RM 259k price tag might make a few reconsider. But there's a silver lining, as locally-assembled (CKD) versions of the model are in the pipeline, albeit delayed by the Covid-19 situation. Upon its arrival, it should make the 218i GC furrow its brows.

Full Ratings list: https://www.wapcar.my/car-ranking

Also read: Malaysia to launch CKD 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan, GLA, GLE - 5 new CKD models coming