First Look: 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Preview

First Look: 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Preview

Luxury brands attract and, ultimately, hope to keep younger customers by luring them into entry-level models at relatively affordable prices. After all, J.D. Power research has shown that about half of all new-vehicle buyers choose the same brand of vehicle. Mercedes-Benz data also shows the effectiveness of such strategies. Last year, half of CLA 250 buyers were new to the Mercedes brand, either as first-timers or as conquests from other luxury marques. Hey new 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, no pressure. What is a Mercedes A-Class? That鈥檚 the company鈥檚 new entry-level 4-door sedan, designed and engineered to attract young, upwardly mobile people with bright career prospects who might otherwise shop for an Acura ILX, Audi A3, BMW 2 Series, or Infiniti QX30. The new 2019 Mercedes-Benz A220 is designed to capture younger customers earlier in their lives, with the intention of keeping them loyal to the brand as they age and earn more income.

The A-Class isn鈥檛 new. It first debuted 22 years ago in Europe. With this 2019 redesign, the A-Class is going global, and it鈥檚 available for the time as a sedan. Mercedes employs its current 鈥楽ensual Purity鈥?design language for the new A-Class. The automaker cites short overhangs, clean lines, and a low and long hood fronted by a diamond grille design with chrome pins as examples of the approach. Slim LED headlights lead the way, and 2-part LED taillights emphasize the car鈥檚 width in the back. Dimensionally, the A-Class splits the difference between the Audi A3 and Audi A4 in terms of wheelbase, length, and width, but is taller than both Audis. Mercedes says that rear headroom is particularly generous, and that the car鈥檚 trunk is specifically designed to offer a large opening for easy loading and unloading. Hands-free access to the trunk is also an option. Styling upgrades include Progressive and AMG Line design packages, as well as a Night Package treatment that blacks stuff out. A set of 17-inch aluminum wheels is standard, with designs measuring up to 19 inches in diameter available as options.

The new A-Class employs two display screens to convey instrumentation and infotainment functions. For the first time, a touchscreen infotainment system is available in a Mercedes model. Describing the A220 sedan鈥檚 interior as 鈥渕odern鈥?and 鈥渁vant garde,鈥?Mercedes paints a picture of minimalism thanks to a wing-shaped dashboard, freestanding digital displays, turbine-style air vents, and a lower section designed to appear as if it is floating. A standard panoramic glass roof bathes the cabin in natural light, and every A220 sedan is equipped with dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry with push-button starting, and dual 7-inch screens conveying instrumentation and infotainment system functions. Options include a 64-color ambient lighting system, along with multi-contour power adjustable front seats. A heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and ventilated front seats are also on the menu, along with larger 10.25-inch displays with 3D maximum resolution graphics. Regardless of how the A220 is specified, it has a Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with artificial intelligence learning capability. This is a new system for the automaker, replacing the old COMAND setup. The touchscreen approach is a first-ever feature in a Benz, and the system employs intelligent voice control with a familiar 鈥淗ey, Mercedes鈥?command.

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a touchpad, and touch control steering wheel buttons are along for the ride as well. Tech-savvy options include wireless device charging, a navigation system, a Burmester premium sound system, a head-up display, Car-to-X communication, a vehicle tracking car finder service, and an LED intelligent light system. Mercedes also confirms that MBUX will be available with Augmented Reality video capability, but in advance of the car鈥檚 debut in Brooklyn the automaker did not define this feature. Safety is a key goal with the new A-Class, which is the first Mercedes engineered at the company鈥檚 new Technology Center for Vehicle Safety. As the first Mercedes-Benz engineered at the company鈥檚 new Technology Center for Vehicle Safety, the A-Class has safety baked right into it. In particular, the passenger cell is especially robust, according to Mercedes, developed to provide maximum occupant protection in frontal, lateral, and rear collisions as well as rollover accidents.

Standard equipment includes Active Brake Assist, a low-speed automatic emergency braking system with pedestrian and cyclist detection. Options include rear side-impact airbags as well as a Parking Assistance Package. For maximum driver assistance and collision avoidance technology, you鈥檒l need the Driver Assistance Package. This package also equips the A220 with Pre-Safe Plus, a rear-collision preparation system that readies the car鈥檚 cabin and occupants for a crash coming from behind the car. The new Mercedes-Benz A220 is powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, a 7-speed transmission, and front-wheel or all-wheel drive. A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine powers the A220, and it makes 188 horsepower and 221 lb.-ft. 1,250 rpm all the way to 4,000 rpm. A 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission delivers the power to the A220鈥檚 front wheels. A 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is an option. Either way, the driver can manually control the transmission using the shift paddles on the steering wheel. A MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear axle suspension is standard. With 4Motion, the rear axle suspension is a 4-link independent design. Dynamic Select technology allows the driver to switch between various driving modes. Typically, they include Eco, Comfort, and Sport. As an option, the A-Class can be fitted with Dynamic Body Control, a fully active suspension designed to eliminate unwanted body motions. Built in Mexico, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class will go on sale by the end of the year. 33,100, it is a safe bet that the A220 will cost less than that. Did you find this article helpful? If so, please share it using the "Join the Conversation" buttons below, and thank you for visiting Daily News Autos.