Three of the Latest Compact Hatchbacks Currently Drawing Attention: Part 1 | Mercedes-Benz A180

Mercedes-Benz A180 Style

The Mercedes You Can Talk To

This is a quick drive report from the test drive event held annually in February for the press by the Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA). As the first installment of our compact hatchback series, we present a short impression of the Mercedes-Benz A180 Style, equipped with the interactive infotainment system familiar from the TV commercial saying, "Hey, Mercedes!"

Text & Photographs by HARA Akira

Recognition Capabilities Improve as Individual Users Nurture Them

The TV commercial is incredibly effective. By simply saying, "Hey, Mercedes!" the coveted Mercedes-Benz becomes an approachable entity that listens. It's said that many customers visit "Mercedes me," the Mercedes brand's information hub in Roppongi, Tokyo, eager to experience this.

The Mercedes-Benz A180 Style, the entry-level hatchback from Mercedes-Benz that we test drove, is equipped with this interactive infotainment system, "MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience)."

I immediately got into the driver's seat to try out MBUX. Come to think of it, the voice recognition function powered by AI, found in smartphones and smart speakers, is already becoming commonplace in our daily lives, so it's not surprising that it's available as an in-car service.

While the commercial suggests that "Hey, Mercedes" is the trigger for the voice control system, in actual use, the word "Mercedes" itself seems to act as the trigger. For example, even if you're just having a conversation in the car like, "BMW and Mercedes are...", it might earnestly respond with "How can I help you?"

Checking the weather or time, or setting destinations and cabin temperature are child's play. Saying "It's hot" will lower the temperature via the climate control, and saying "I want to eat ramen" will suggest nearby ramen restaurants.

According to the person in charge, the MBUX logic is the same as Apple's "Siri," featuring learning and personalized response capabilities. The idea is that individual users will nurture its recognition abilities and functions, so its usability is bound to improve once you become an owner.

However, it is set not to respond to critical driving functions; even if you say, "Turn the steering wheel" or "Apply the brakes suddenly," MBUX remains silent.

Page02.Smooth Bodywork Free of Unnecessary Character Lines

Mercedes-Benz A180 Style

The Mercedes You Can Talk To (2)

Smooth Bodywork Free of Unnecessary Character Lines

The body of the new A-Class, which debuted in Japan in October 2018, has manageable dimensions of 4,420mm long, 1,800mm wide, and 1,420mm high. Its style, 120mm longer, 15mm wider, and 15mm lower than the previous model, has become sportier, complemented by the sharp, squinting headlights adopted by the latest Mercedes models.

When viewed through a telephoto lens, it becomes clear that the bodywork, free of unnecessary character lines, is smooth and rounded, designed for low aerodynamic resistance (Cd value of 0.25).

The engine in the A180 is the "M282" type 1.33-liter inline 4-cylinder gasoline turbo, further downsized from the previous model's 1.6-liter. With a compact design featuring a delta-shaped cylinder head and optimal boost pressure settings in low-load ranges via an electronically controlled wastegate, it produces a maximum output of 136ps (100kW) at 5,500rpm and a maximum torque of 200Nm between 1,400-4,000rpm, driving the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The driving performance can be described as a practical engine with good responsiveness at low RPMs; it's not meant for high-revving. Regarding road noise, measures have been taken after thoroughly analyzing vibration input points, resulting in a very quiet ride on good roads. However, it was unexpected that on rough surfaces, despite being equipped with 16-inch tires with high sidewalls, the car transmitted the jarring shocks of the road.

The interior features a two-tiered instrument panel with four large, circular air vents, topped by two wide screens similar to those in the S-Class, creating a more impressive appearance. The Adaptive Distance Assist DISTRONIC (with automatic restart function), which can be set with a single switch on the steering wheel, is also practical, just like in the higher-end models, allowing for confident follow driving.

The A180 Style is strategically priced at 3.69 million yen, under 4 million yen. However, the "Radar Safety Package" (245,000 yen) and "Navigation Package" (184,000 yen), which users would likely want, are optional extras. Including the metallic paint (69,000 yen), the price of the test car was 4,461,240 yen.