Mercedes A220 AMG Line 2019 UK Review

Mercedes A220 AMG Line 2019 UK Review

Cover up the badge on the bootlid and you simply can鈥檛 tell an A220 from any other A-Class AMG Line. The car鈥檚 two-tone 18in wheels offer the road a wider-section, lower profile tyre than you get on lesser-trim A-Classes, but the suspension tune is the same as you鈥檇 find on any other all-independent, AMG Line-trim example of the car. The A220 is a fine case in point. It has a ride that鈥檚 comfortable enough, but slightly busier over smaller lumps and bumps than you might expect it to be, and a touch noisier over coarser surfaces too. Handling is good, without being so good that it really stands out for praise. Compared with the A-Class鈥檚 1.3-litre petrol options, the engine does indeed seem much stouter and more flexible in the middle of the range - and it also revs beyond 4500rpm much more freely and willingly. It鈥檚 not the most cultured engine to listen to at work, lacking some of the audible appeal even of other 2.0-litre turbo motors you might compare it with, and sounding slightly prickly and thin at times. It鈥檚 far from noisy or unrefined, though, and will also allow the car to return a real-world 40mpg on an averagely lengthy, unhurried trip. The rest of the car鈥檚 package is much as we鈥檝e reported of other A-Classes. The car鈥檚 cabin is an undoubted selling point, with perceived quality that鈥檚 more about impactful showiness than close-inspection substance but is nonetheless impressive, and a ritzy technology ambience. Practicality is good, except for what seemed to this tester unnecessarily bulky interior doorhandles and their surrounding consoles which eat into outboard knee-room a little.

Winning both Le Mans and the famed Carrera Panamericana that year made the 300SL race car's debut season a sensation. To the surprise of many, the company began production of the road-going SL with a directfuel- injection engine in 1954, debuting the production 300SL Gullwing not in Frankfurt, Paris or even in Europe, but in New York. This started a lasting legacy of exciting SL sports cars from Mercedes-Benz. Based on the 300SL Gullwing coupe, the convertible 300SL roadster was launched in 1957. These two cars are sometimes compared to the modern-day SLS AMG gullwing and roadster models. Based on its highly successful 5.5-liter predecessor, the new 4.6-liter V8 engine has 20 percent smaller displacement but generates more horsepower and torque - 429 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. Its smaller displacement is more than offset by the power boost of its twin turbochargers and an air-water intercooler. The new SL550 engine comes with an innovative ECO stop-start system. Whenever the car stops with the brake pedal depressed, the engine is automatically turned off to save fuel.

Inside the new SL, a standard harman/kardon Logic 7 digital surround-sound system features the new FrontBass, in which the bass speakers are mounted in the front firewall so the two front frame members also serve as large bass boxes. This natural amplification makes the system one of the best in its class, and saves weight in the process, since separate bass boxes are no longer necessary. The harman/kardon audio system comes with Dolby Surround 5.1 and uses two amplifiers with a total of 600 watts to power 14 speakers. All amplifier channels have individually tuned frequency response, and the system includes speed-dependent volume control. The wiper arms and blades in the new SL feature laser-cut passages along the entire length of each blade, distributing washer fluid directly in front of the moving wiper blades. A separate electronic control unit ensures that washer fluid changes its flow each time the wipers change direction. This targeted washer fluid improves cleaning without impairing driver visibility during the spray process, and the control unit also changes the amount of washer fluid as vehicle speed and outside temperature change.

Finally, the volume of washer fluid is reduced automatically when the top is down, so occupants can clean the windshield without getting sprayed. A standard Panorama sunroof consists of a see-through polycarbonate roof panel with a manually operated roller blind. Optional MAGIC SKY CONTROL features a glass roof panel, in which the tinting of the panel can be controlled by the driver or passenger. In an instant, a button above the rear-view mirror can change the roof panel from transparent to heavily tinted, using technology similar to automatic dimming mirrors. Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. For more than forty years, MBUSA has taken pride in providing superior quality luxury vehicles coupled with its commitment to outstanding customer support. A division of Daimler AG, MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans in the US.