Mercedes A-Class

The older Mercedes A-class' were never pretty cars, with their wedge-y shape, and high center of gravity, that meant they fell over a lot in the EURO NCAP tests (Something every new car has to do to be deemed safe on the road for those who don't know) I have also noticed that the wing-mirrors on them are strangely low, due to the wierdly low front windows (In proportion to the driving position) Another thing I dislike about them is the fact that you didn't sit IN them, you sat ON them; when getting into the car, you stepped up, and the floor was above the door sills, which is stupid unless the car's an SUV. For me, there was no redeeming factors. 

Old A-class. Stupid.

 The new one, however is majestic. I can clearly see that the design team have spent a lot longer making this car look nice, and it worked. The new A-class has learnt from its rivals (Golf, 1-Series and A3) and is now a good-looking car, whilst still going well (apparently) and being practical, whilst retaining the Mercedes luxury that a driver would expect. It also follows the curve with what engines and driving characteristics with its rivals, FF (Front-engine, Front-drive) for most variants, FA (Front-engine, All-Wheel-Drive) for the range-toppers, which I think is commendable, as this allows the A-class to truly compete with its rivals

New A-class. Not stupid.

 Although the new A class is a good car, it does have some down-points: When in AMG or one of the AMG-impersonation specs, the only roofliner you can have is a black one, which makes the car very claustrophobic. It also has the sunvisors too close to the driver's and passenger's heads, to make room for the long, sloping windscreen. The A-class also suffers from the same disease that all newer Mercedes' seem to be suffering from; a foot-operated parking brake. Now, that's not too bad, some drivers prefer a proper handbrake, others prefer the electronic ones, and Mercedes drivers must like the foot-operated handbrake, but what I think is the worst thing about these foot-handbrakes, is their positioning: right where the footrest should be. I think this is a bad decision because it puts drivers in danger. Say someone were travelling along the motorway at 70, and they were to put their foot on the footrest. In a normal car, that would be fine, but in a Mercedes, doing so will apply the parking brake, which can endanger lives on the road.