Ever since Mercedes had a change of heart concerning the A-Class nameplate and made it a traditional C-segment hatchback, the latter has gone from sporty and dramatic to elegant and high-tech.

As most of you probably recall, the A-Class wasn’t always a 5-door compact car able to rival the likes of the BMW 1-Series or the Audi A3. The first two generations were sub-compact and more like a mini MPV, what with that “clever” sandwich platform and all.

However, in 2012, the German automaker launched the third generation, code-named W176, that was previewed by the Concept A-Class unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show a year before. It was an attempt to lure in younger buyers with a dynamic and stylish product, featuring more aggressive design elements than any of its direct rivals.

Three years later, in the summer of 2015, Mercedes came out with the facelifted version, adding a revised engine range, subtly tweaked exterior, an upgraded infotainment system with a larger 8″ display, revamped seats, better materials and so on.

The fourth-generation A-Class that was unveiled last week is quite a bit different. Not only is it a lot more advanced technologically, it’s also simpler in its design, and thus more elegant, at least according to Mercedes. During the launch event, company chairman Dieter Zetsche admitted that the goal for the third-generation car was to stand out as much as possible, whereas this newer model is more grown up.

 

It features a progressive front-end design with a low bonnet and flat LED headlights, larger wheel arches, slimmer taillights and a sharper profile, whereas the interior is a lot more modern thanks to the massive MBUX dual-touchscreen layout, as well as the ambient lighting that’s available and lets you choose between 64 colors.

The new A-Class has also grown in size, boasting a longer wheelbase and a wider track. This results in more shoulder, elbow and head room. Also, the previous car wasn’t particularly known for rear seat roominess or a soft ride for that matter. The new model is supposed to solve all that, even the ride issue, but we’ll have to wait for the first reviews to come in to confirm that.

Since this is a visual comparison, we’re mostly interested in hearing what you think about the new A-Class and if you believe its new interior and exterior styling represent a significant improvement over the older car or not. Voice off in the comments section below.

 

Old Vs New Mercedes-Benz A-Class