Don't mention the moose. They don't like it, you know. What Mercedes-Benz would prefer you to mention when talking about this second-generation A-Class is the "Spherical Parabolic-Spring rear axle". Good, eh? And there - I've mentioned it.Seven years ago, when the company put a bottom shelf in its range with this entry-level small car, its fame initially centred on a Scandinavian journalist's claim about stability problems. He suggested, more or less, that if you came upon a moose in the road and sawed on the steering wheel to avoid the ruminating jaywalker, you'd end up lying on your side in the road with the beast salivating thoughtfully from its pendulous muzzle into your left ear. The resultant remedial work probably put a better suspension system into the car than was originally budgeted for so that the marque's hard-earned reputation for safety remained intact.This year, the second-generation A-Class was launched with four petrol engines, three diesels, two body styles and those Spherical Parabolic-Spring rear axles with "new selective damping systems" across the range. And you know what? They're great. No, honestly - one of the first things to strike me after I picked up the A 160 CDI Elegance SE was how good the suspension system really was.Pressing out smartly along rolling open A-roads and tighter-turning unclassifieds, I was impressed by the way it felt pliant on the straight and yet kept the upright single-box design car pretty flat though the long, sweeping curves. In comparison to the overtly aggressive Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch I'd just dropped off, it actually felt less swimmy on the fast curves. It was only later that I was let down when it grounded out on a particularly humpy, yumpy bit of back-road which nowadays rarely catches my test cars out. Nothing alarming you understand - just a disconcerting graunch.This was a five-door version of the mini-MPV with middle-of-the-range equipment specification. The 160 CDI engine is the base diesel unit with two litres, four cylinders and 16 valves, and turning out 82bhp and 132lb/ft of torque. It's nothing startling on the road, taking 15 seconds to reach 62mph and topping out eventually at a claimed 106mph. The upside is that it's officially capable of wringing an average 57.6 miles of motoring from one gallon of fuel. That means if you fill up the 54-litre tank at Plymouth you'll be well past Inverness before you run out.This year's update of the A-Class works well visually and the little car looks a bit more purposeful than it used to. A narrower gaze from the headlamps, a steeper rake on the bonnet and windscreen, a corporate radiator grille and a few folds and creases to suggest a hint of bonnet bring it in from the chirpy school of mini-MPV design to the more conventional road-car look.Stepping inside feels odd at first because despite having conventional road-car ground clearance, the floor of the cabin is as high off the road as in some 4x4s. This is because the engine and cogs are slotted back under your feet. I got used to that quickly but I wasn't convinced by the seating position. I played with the chair for a while to get something I could live with and even then it didn't feel quite right. Something to do with the relative distances and angles between feet, knees, butt, gearstick and steering wheel, I think. You may be better-proportioned than I am and therefore feel differently.As I've said, the driving experience is, well, okay. It's not inspiring by anyone's standards, but not everyone wants to be inspired behind the wheel. The suspension's mainly good, the engine's smooth and quiet, the gearchange through the standard five-speed manual box is solid and secure, the adjustable-weight steering does the job alright, and although there was a bit of wind rush from the driver's door top on my test car, it was a quiet and refined enough drive.The accommodation is reasonable. There's plenty of head and knee room front and back, and while the boot's a bit small the rear seats split asymmetrically and tumble out of the way to improve flexibility, and there's an underfloor storage bucket if you opt for the tyre repair kit over space-saver spare. Sitting surrounded by black seats, black carpet and black plastic with knobs and switches all laid out in sensible orderly fashion, there's little to moan about, I suppose.The surprising thing is that Mercedes-Benz actually has a TAF (touch and feel) research centre which, we're told, has been focused on developing a vehicle with "class-leading ergonomics and design". To be honest, though, I can't see anything that sets it apart from the herd of Japanese and Western European family cars. The strongest thing I can say about the interior is that I can't complain.So why would you buy one - particularly this one which will cost you £16,845 without the metallic paint (£330), mobile phone pre-wiring set-up (£390) and what's called Easy-Vario Plus seating (£250) which allows you to take out the rear and front passenger seats completely or fold the front seats down to form little table tops? Well, I'm not sure.The mini-MPV market is well fought over at the moment with everyone offering their take on the theme from the Chrysler's funky PT Cruiser, through cleverly flexible trend-setters like Renault's Megane Scenic, Toyota's Yaris Verso and van conversions like Citroen's Berlingo Multispace, to the boxy and boring Meriva and C-MAX from Vauxhall and Ford respectively. On top of that, many hatchbacks are just as flexible - some are even more so.The truth is it won't come down to flexibility, road manners or specification because there's just as good or better available for less. It'll simply come down to the badge on the nose. Personally I don't think the magic three-pointed star attracts much kudos when pinned on this little utilitarian car - it certainly doesn’t turn many heads - but if the prospect of first-step Mercedes-Benz ownership makes you smile enough to separate you from your cash, who am I to argue? Engine 1991cc, 4 cylinders Power 82bhp Transmission 5-speed manual Fuel/CO2 57.6mpg / 128g/km Acceleration 0-60mph: 15.0 seconds Top speed 106mph Price £16,845 Details correct at publication date
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