Mercedes has unveiled a refreshed version of its A-Class with a small facelift, some new interior options and, more substantially, the arrival of mild-hybrid power to the petrol models.
Hybrid power
The update - which applies to both A-Class hatchback and saloon models - sees mild-hybrid assistance brought to 1.3- and 2.0-litre petrol models that now make use of a 48-volt electrical system employing a belt-driven starter-generator to support the engine, especially under acceleration, to conserve fuel and reduce emissions. For now, the diesel versions remain as they were.
Also seeing electrical updates are the A-Class plug-in hybrid models (the A 250 e saloon and hatch), which get an improved battery with a higher usable energy content to increase the electric-only range very slightly to 80km. An uprated motor brings with it a power boost of 7hp taking the output of the motor to 109hp out of the A 250 e's total of 218hp.
One other useful change for plug-in hybrid drivers is that the electrical system has been improved too meaning that it can now be charged at up to 11kW on an AC charger, as opposed to a maximum of 7kW as before. This means it can better use public chargers.
Styling tweaks
The A-Class's facelift isn't a big one by any stretch and, as tends to be the case with a mid-life refresh, the bulk of the work has taken place at the front.
The radiator grille has been redesigned, as have the headlights, which are now flatter in profile. There are four new alloy wheel designs in the range (up to 19-inch in diameter), while at the back there's a new rear diffuser and small alterations to the lights.
Improved interior
Changes to the interior are similarly minor. As before, there are two main screens at seven and 10.25 inches apiece, with the option of upgrading to two 10.25-inch screen instead. New is embossed "Artico" upholstery, and there are three new material and upholstery combinations added to the range.
With plenty of equipment as standard on the A-Class, it's now a lot simpler for buyers to add more with, Mercedes says, the most commonly grouped options now being bundled together into equipment packages on the basis of previous buyer behaviour. Though Irish specifications have yet to be confirmed, it's expected that some of these packages such as the parking package (a group of parking assistance features) and the mirror package (a package that includes automatically dimming and retracting mirrors) will be included as standard.
As part of the Driver Assistance package, the Lane Keeping Assist function has been improved so that it is now simpler and more comfortable to use in conjunction with Active Steering Control.
Another piece of equipment that Mercedes says is coming down the line is a fingerprint sensor for identification and authorisation of the driver for stronger security.
AMG models
As with the standard models, both of the performance-edged AMG variants of the A-Class have seen some touch-up work.
The A 35 4Matic and its more powerful sibling the A 45 S 4Matic+ both get some of the same styling upgrades as the base model A-Class, albeit with a few AMG-specific details such as an AMG radiator grille, a new front apron, a round AMG bonnet badge replacing the traditional one bearing the Mercedes star (like on the new Mercedes-AMG C 63) and some other small changes at the rear.
The addition of the same mild-hybrid power as its non-AMG counterparts to the A 35's 2.0-litre engine means that 306hp is sent to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, though the 2.0-litre engine in the A 45 remains solely petrol-powered for now, still developing 421hp without hybrid assistance.
Irish pricing for the newly-refreshed A-Class has yet to be confirmed, but don't expect anything too far off the outgoing version's €42,620 starting price.
Alongside the updated A-Class, the larger Mercedes B-Class also gets a similar suite of changes.