Does owning a smaller car from a premium brand take away from the experience? We take Stuttgart’s and Bavarla’s smallest offerings in the country around town to find out
“It feels like a roadster,” I said excitedly as I got behind the wheel of the BMW I Series for the first time. And why not? It’s got the long bonnet, the low seating position and the sporty steering wheel egging me on to grab it – typically BMW. And when you consider the longitudinal engine sending the power to the rear wheels, it isn’t very different than, I daresay, its sibling, the Z4. Although the Z4 in India has two more cylinders and sips on high octance rather than oil, the feel in the 118d is not too different. And it even brings two more seats. The looks, well, let’s just say they’re entirely subjective.
Then there’s the A-Class. Mercedes-Benz actually brought the B-Class in before the A. and if you think about it, they’ve turned the alphabet on its head in India. If I remember correctly, it actually went E, C, S, M, G, R, B, and then, finally, A. And that’s apart from all the Ls, Ks and even Ss thrown about in varying combinations. The A-Class, be that as it may, is a stand-our car. It’s great to look at and is a pleasure to drive. Of course, we would have preferred a more powerful 200 CDI, but we’re glad that it’s here nonetheless.
What is happening here is simple: big brands, small cars. That’s the mantra that automotive giants are adopting globally in their quest for greater numbers across all markets, and now India is opening up to the fact that good things need not necessarily be huge or have massive back ends or boots. Cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Renault Megane are sought after globally, but not here. Well, not so far anyway. The mindset of the market is changing and the result is there for everyone to see. This is a niche segment, even now, but there are customers. Those who wish to wake up to a three-pointed star or a kidney grille in the garage each morning will not think twice before plonking down a load of cash and bringing one of these luxury compacts home.
To come back to the two heroes of our story, both cars were part of the companies’ ranges earlier. The first-generation models were completely different. The earlier 1 Series looked like an E90 3 Series which underwent liposuction and the old A-Class resembled nothing but a mini-minivan. To say they’ve been updated would be an understatement. So what’s new in these compact offerings and why have to of the biggest names in the automotive world decided to bring them in now?
Lines, metal and glass
The designs of both, the 1 and the A, are meant to excite and, boy, do they do that well! Save for the disputed looks of the Bimmer’s front end, the rest of the car does exude its sporty character. The length of the bonnet looks even more pronounced when viewed from the side. The rather elongated lines, slightly flared wheel-arches, concave surfaces and functional panels give the car a look that means business. It’s a compact car meant to be as practical as it is sporty, and it doesn’t hide any of it. And let’s not forget that many would even consider it akin to a roadster, given those proportions.
The A180 CDI, on the other hand, is available only in the ‘Style;’ trim, and that mean a racing red finish for the front lip spoiler and the lower portion of the rear bumper; no, it’s not a diffuser. That apart, there is no shortage of lines and creases all over the body, almost as if the designers caressed the clay model affectionately before it went in for rendering. The front-end looks alive with the LED lighting strips and the sparkling grille with diamond-like accents glints in the sun every chance it gets. Adding to the sport quotient are the rising shoulder-line, dramatically ending window-line and the thick C-pillars, all of which lead to a tight-looking rear. The minimal rear windscreen and wraparound tail-lamp clusters do a good job of rounding off the look. The wheel wells look complete with the sharp-looking 17″ alloy wheels. All in all, a Mercedes by the book, compact and without a boot.
After all’s said and done, the badge speaks louder than numbers, and both the 1 Series and the A-Class grabbed almost every eyeball around. Everyone wants to take a second look at the new stunners from the German giants. And the awareness of their trimmed price-tags makes them even more desirable.
