2021 Mercedes-Benz A220 Review

This week, I have the 2021 Mercedes-Benz A220, a compact luxury sedan that some call the baby Benz, but don’t let the size fool you, it is a Mercedes through and through.

Exterior

The A220 is an attractive car.  As you walk around it, you see the forward-leaning grill with the 3-pointed Mercedes star.  Underneath, there is a front spoiler and air intakes.  The 18” 5-spoke wheels look great, and around back there is a slightly raised spoiler and large chrome dual exhaust.

Performance

Under the hood we find a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine that is putting out 188-horses and 221-pound feet of torque.  It is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission.  My review vehicle is the 4MATIC, which is the Mercedes designation for all-wheel drive.   

Interior

As you enter the cabin, the seats are bolstered and there is brushed aluminum running across the dash and on the door panels.  Round chrome air vents complete a very modern look throughout.  The steering wheel will let you configure and change both screens easily.

Two 10.25” screens greet you, but it looks like just one huge screen.  The steering wheel will let you configure and change both screens easily.  The gauges are bright and the screen in the center that operates the sound system, navigation, Bluetooth, rear camera, apps, and settings can be operated by touching the screen, or a touchpad on the center console.  It is much easier than previous versions I’ve tested, but there is still a slight learning curve.   

On the center console, you have a good number of shortcut buttons and this is where you change the drive modes.  You can choose from individual, sport, comfort, and eco.  The pushbutton start button also has a start/stop defeat button, making it easy to start the car and immediately turn start/stop off.

Back seat room was larger than I expected.  Headroom was really good, leg room was a little tight. Back seat passengers get their own air vents and a pull-down armrest with cup holders.

The trunk space is fairly small, but better than you’ll find on most, and the opening to put things in is quite wide.

Standard Equipment

This is a Mercedes, so it comes with a nice list of standard equipment, even considering this is the least expensive Mercedes you can buy.

Most notable standard features include: the navigation system, heated power front seats with memory controls, remote keyless entry, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, Bluetooth, voice activation, a panoramic moon roof, five USB ports and 44-color ambient lighting.

Safety

In the safety department, it has LED headlights and taillights, blind spot monitoring, rear view camera, and active brake assist.

Ride and Drive

Driving characteristics are good, steering is precise with good feedback and the car is incredibly quiet inside.  Acceleration is really good, especially in sport mode.

When you come to a stop, if you push a little harder on the brake, the brake hold will kick in allowing you to take your foot off the brake.  When you touch the gas, the brakes release.  This is a feature you will absolutely love when you get used to using it.

You’ll get 25 miles per gallon in town and 34 on the highway, really good mileage for a luxury car. 

What You'll Pay

MSRP is $42,150 and by today’s standard, that is a great price point.  Although fairly small, the A220 earned the right to wear the coveted Mercedes star in the grill.