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Old Mercedes Class A: all the details and engines

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Old Mercedes Class A: all the details and engines

Below we show you all the details and engines of the old Mercedes A-Class, from its launch in 1997 to the last generation.

The Mercedes A-Class is a car that did not begin life as the vehicle it is today. The premium compact emerged as a small minivan designed for city driving that was far from the best-seller it is today. Even so, we are going to make a brief review of all the old Mercedes Class A, from its launch in 1997 to the last generation.

The current Mercedes A-Class, which corresponds to the fourth generation, is a highly successful compact and one of the fundamental pillars on which the high sales records that Mercedes is achieving in recent years are harvested. This is because it has positioned itself as a benchmark premium compact within the C segment.

And it has done so based on an elegant design that has been able to perfectly convey the essence of Mercedes-Benz, a varied range of engines and competitive prices despite its positioning, something that has allowed the A-Class to position itself as the door of access to Mercedes for many drivers who aspired to acquire a model of the German brand at some point.

But it hasn’t always been that way. Today we review the history of the Mercedes Class A, a story that officially began 25 years ago.

First generation

old mercedes a class

It was in 1997 when Mercedes officially launched the first A-Class in history. However, it had been three years ago when the German company confirmed that it would launch a compact car with a length shorter than the average for the segment (it was only 3.6 meters long), but with a spacious interior. Thus was born a premium minivan with the Mercedes star on the front.

Created by designer Steve Mattin, who had already been involved in the design of the E-Class W210 and the S-Class W220, the A-Class was first presented at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show under the internal code W168. With a front-wheel drive configuration and an unusually tall body, the A-Class is finally launched on the market, where it was in operation until 2004.

A-Class W168 engines

The engine range of the first generation Mercedes A-Class W168 was made up of in-line four-cylinder gasoline and diesel units. These included the 1.4-litre A 140 with 82 hp, the 1.6-litre A 160 with 102 hp, the 1.9-litre A 190 with 125 hp, and the 2.1-litre A 210 with up to 140 hp.

There were also diesel versions. All of them were based on the 1.7-litre diesel block that, in the A 160 CDI model, produced 60 CV (later 75 CV) and in the A 170 CDI it reached up to 90 CV (95 CV). There were also versions with a five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic gearbox.

As a curiosity, the first generation had two AMG versions. The first was called A 32K AMG and was equipped with a 354 hp supercharged 3.2 liter engine. The second was a prototype also with the name A 38 AMG, and equipped with two 1.9-liter engines (one on each axle) with a combined power of 253 hp and all-wheel drive.

Second generation

old mercedes a class

The second generation of the Mercedes A-Class, which would carry the internal code W169, was launched in 2005. It retained the same vehicle concept as its predecessor, an urban minivan with a raised driving position and reduced dimensions. However, this new model is presented for the first time with a 3-door body, in addition to the 5-door version.

It would also serve as the basis for launching a new model in the Mercedes range, the Mercedes B-Class, a somewhat larger compact minivan and, also, with a higher price. The second generation was active until 2012, although in 2008 it received a facelift that affected aesthetics, equipment and engines.

A-Class W169 engines

In the engine section, the range of the Class A W169 was made up of several in-line four-cylinder propellers. The offer included the 1.5-litre A 150 with 95 hp, the 1.7-litre A 170 with 118 hp, the 2.0-litre A 200 with 136 hp and the 2.0-litre A 200 Turbo with 196 hp.

Of course, there were diesel versions too, all based on the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Thus, the range included the A 160 CDI with 82 hp, the A 180 CDI with 111 hp and the A 200 CDI with 142 hp. Based on the second generation of the A-Class, the fully electric A-Class E-Cell was developed, with 67 HP of power, a 36 kWh battery and a range of 200 km.

Third generation

old mercedes a class

The third generation was a revolution for Mercedes. The firm of the star understands that, in 2012, the minivan segment was no longer going to offer the performance of previous years, so it decided to enter the most competitive segment of the time in Europe, that of compacts.

To do this, it develops the third generation of the Mercedes A-Class and creates a C-segment vehicle that fits in with everything we understand as a compact. The model, which receives the internal code W176, had previously been seen as a concept car, but it was not officially presented until 2012, coinciding with the Geneva Motor Show.

In this way, Mercedes already has a worthy rival with which to compete against its two great rivals, Audi and BMW, which until then filled the premium C segment with its A3 and 1 Series, respectively.

The car quickly became a sales success and, from it, other models were derived, such as the Class B, the CLA or the GLA. All of them make up the current range of compact Mercedes models, which account for most of the company’s sales.

A-Class W176 engines

The Mercedes A-Class W176 not only triumphs for being an attractive premium segment compact, but also for its varied range of engines. The offer included the A 160 with 102 hp, the A 180 with 122 hp, and the A 200 with 156 hp, all based on the 1.6-litre engine, as well as the 2.0-litre A 220 with 180 hp, the A 250 of 211 CV and the A 45 of 360 CV (later it would reach 381 CV).

Diesel continued to be the protagonist in the A-Class engine range. Mercedes the A 160 CDI and the A 180 CDI, both based on the 1.5-liter K9 of Renault origin with 90 and 109 hp, respectively. The 136 hp A 200 CDI and the 170 hp A 220 CDI would also arrive, both with 2.1 liters. There were versions with manual or seven-speed automatic transmission, even models with all-wheel drive.

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