Road Test: Mercedes-Benz A Class A150 Classic 5dr

This is going to be a big year for Mercedes-Benz. Alongside a rash of revisions to the current line-up, expect new models like the luxury R- and budget B-Classes. But first off the bat is this one, the second generation A-Class.

After the Elk Test fiasco that dampened the fires of the first car's launch, it comes as little surprise that Mercedes hasn't done anything too radical to its second 'A'.

The styling is exactly what you'd expect. These sort of sculpted body panels are very now, while a wider and arguably more sporty-looking front end gives the new model a greater sense of purpose.

On board, the slightly alien environment that was an economical Mercedes has been neatly improved upon. Three-pointed badge or not, this isn't an executive ride, but the new car has that real essence of German quality.

And the purity of design is still evident. A less than perfect driving position is offset by fantastic all-round visibility. Low-cut doors and a massive windscreen mean the cabin is totally absent of any infuriating blind spots. The louvred panoramic sunroof is a nice option too, until it rains. Open it after a shower and any residual water is dumped into the cabin.

From launch there will be three petrol and three diesel engines on board, with a top-end turbo petrol coming in the autumn. For this test, we've gone thrifty and driven the base A150 Classic. For £13,655 you get Mercedes build, such as it is, and the A-Class raison d'être, which is compact practicality.

And the 95bhp available from the new 1.5-litre adds up to a capable all-rounder. There's enough power and torque to make brisk work of A- and B-roads, and despite the absence of a sixth gear, even motorways are comfortably within the 150's repertoire. There's a predictable shortage of low-down grunt, but for all its height the A-Class is remarkably refined at speed.

But upping the pace does herald one annoyance with the A150. If you're nudging the national limit, there is a tendency for the car to get fidgety. Every undulation in the road is telegraphed into the body, making both car and driver somewhat nervous. This problem seemed less pronounced in larger engine variants, but was something of an Achilles' heel for the 1.5.

Interior thinking is very much business as usual. The new car is longer and wider than before, but Mercedes has played it straight with the extra space. With a market demanding increasing interior versatility, the A-Class seems surprisingly conventional. More flexible seating is available as an option, but it's really just the boot that sees obvious benefits from the redesign. It's some 70-litres bigger, and with seats down there's now a hefty 1,955-litres to play with.

So the A-Class is all about improving a tried and tested formula. Mercedes invented a niche with this car, and after seven years of comparatively competition-free sales, it looks like sticking with the same basic, and successful, recipe.

A Merc for Astra money will do just fine, but with Ford's C-Max in the frame and the Golf Plus imminent, there are now some adaptable alternatives around that just might strike more of a chord.