TESTDRIVE: 2006 Mercedes-Benz A160 CDI (W169)

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Reviewer: Christian A. Wimmer
Weather Conditions: Dry and sunny
Photo Shoot Location: Mößling, Germany

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2006 Mercedes-Benz A160 CDI (W169)



At the time of this review, our 2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 was over three years old and in Germany that means, TÜV and AU (enforced car condition check up and emissions control). New cars have to visit the TÜV after three years, after that, they need to go to a mandatory inspection every two years. Aside from that, there was also a letter from DCX telling E-Class owners to have the SBC brake checked. This meant that the E320 would be out for 5 hours+, and I had no form of transportation to get back home.

So I got a loaner car, a 2006 Mercedes-Benz A160 CDI 2-door, the base model diesel A-Class in Europe (I didn't choose, they gave it to me). And what a base model it was. It was a Classic trim level model which meant black plastics on exterior parts that on higher end models were body colored, plastic hubcaps etc. Even the interior materials appeared cheaper than on upscale A-Class models. The engine started and surprisingly, the diesel motor was smooth and vibration poor, hardly audible as well. Impressive for a base model diesel A-Class: a cold engine at that.



Despite this, it was still a great car. I really love the new A-Class, even the gimmicky design is growing on me. But it's the driving experience which makes the A-Class so much fun. Mercedes really injected a little sportiness into this car, more than in the B-Class. The steering feel is weighted and very responsive: the complete opposite of the B-Class. Despite the FWD setup, I felt the A160 CDI was well balanced for adquate sporty driving. The nice steering feel really helped too. You could really drive this car in curves, something I feared with the B-Class.


The engine displaced 1991cc and burned fuel in 4-cylinders. Power was rated at 82-horsepower and torque was a useful 180 Nm (133 lb/ft) at an early 1,400 RPM. Yeah, I know it won't do 0-60 in 3 seconds or burn rubber at the 1/4 strip but that's not the point of the A-Class. 0-62 mph for the A160 CDI is rated at 15 seconds incidentally. It felt a little quicker and probably was since MB tends to be conservative with their figures.



This model had a 5-speed manual transmission: not bad at all for a Mercedes manual. Shifts were precise and short, a very un-characteristic trait of traditional MB manuals. You could really speed-shift nicely on this thing. Don't let the name A160 CDI turn you off. It may not smoke a Corvette, but that diesel torque really helps. 1st gear was a little slow out in the country (fine in the city), but in 2nd gear, it really pulls quite hard. Shift into 3rd and it slows down considerably. This means that the A160 CDI is an agile city car, but isn't ideal for quick out-in-the-country driving. I didn't have a problem with the engine at all though I wish for more power out in the open.



Overall, I liked the car. I didn't expect a racing machine but it was fun to drive because of the way it handled. Solid and safe, much better than the B-Class. If I was in the market for a diesel A-Class, I'd realistically opt for an A180 CDI 6-speed, or if I could afford it, an A200 CDI 6-speed. The A160 CDI does a good job of being a city car, but out in the open, it's too slow to be really fun in the sense of quick acceleration etc. But this latest drive in an A-Class reinforces my belief that MB worked really hard on this car. Build quality felt top notch and solid, the car handled very confidantly (none of the last generation A-Classes I drove gave me that feeling) and was fun to drive.

END OF REVIEW