The first individual model in the current-generation A-Class we spoke of was the A 180 CDI, which has the least power in the range. The A 250 has the most - at least for now, though it has already been confirmed that within from July you'll be able to buy the near-360bhp A 45 AMG from UK dealers.Still, the A 250's 208bhp, provided by a two-litre turbo petrol engine, is enough to be getting on with. Driving through a seven-speed automatic gearbox, it gives the A-Class a top speed of 149mph and a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds, and in less strenuous circumstances operates smoothly and quietly.The main business of gear selection is done through what looks like an indicator stalk sprouting from the steering column. If you're not familiar with this typically Mercedes-Benz feature, as many buyers of a car as small as the A-Class may not be, this may seem a curious way of going about things, but you get used to it quickly, and soon realise that it takes less mental or physical effort than almost anything else on the market.Its functions are limited to Park, Drive, Reverse and Neutral. You can leave it at that if you like, but if you want more control over the gearchanging you can force the issue by using the paddle shifts mounted behind the steering wheel.I rarely bothered with them, since the system does a perfectly good job of choosing its own gears in normal circumstances. You might want to use the paddles if you were really pressing on over a twisty country road, but despite the car's name - and indeed its looks, which were the subject of much favourable comment when a local friend went into a petrol station and found the A 250 sitting there - it ain't all that sporty.It's certainly quick, if asked to be, but that isn't quite the same thing. The steering, which feels about the same as Mercedes steering has felt for several decades, is beautifully smooth, but it encourages you to blend into a corner more than to dart into it, and the chassis similarly doesn't feel as if it wants to be rushed.Lovely thing to drive, though, with one proviso. 18" wheels with 225/40 tyres and sports suspension, which lowers the ride height by 15mm compared with that of a regular A-Class, are standard on the AMG Sport, with inevitable results. On very smooth tarmac it was completely at home, but it didn't like rougher surfaces at all. One small bump was enough to make it lose all its composure.I have other concerns about the A-Class in general, but they were all expressed in the A 180 CDI review so I won't trouble you with them again here. One point specific to the car tested here is that, though the third most expensive in the range, it seems reasonably well-priced, considering its performance, at under £27,880.But hold on. For that money you don't get a tremendous amount of equipment. The test car was notably well-stacked, with Active Park Assist, cornering headlights, a panoramic sliding sunroof, heated front seats, extra styling touches, illuminated door sills (very smart, I must say), folding door mirrors, an auto-dimming interior mirror, a rear armrest with two cupholders, various electronic safety aids, a 6-CD autochanger, satellite navigation, DAB digital radio, Harman Kardon surround sound, a media interface and pre-wiring for hands-free phone use, but none of this was included in the standard price.For all of the above, plus a few extra odds and ends, you would have had to pay almost exactly £11,000 more, so if you want a level of equipment to match the undoubtedly high-quality feel of the A-Class bear in mind that the list price may bear little resemblance to the amount you actually spend.You might also find that you're having to buy more petrol than you thought you would. On the EU test the A 250 registers just over 45mpg, but over a week in which I investigated its relaxing qualities far more than its notional sporting ones, I didn't get within 10mpg of that. Engine 1991cc, 4 cylinders Power 208bhp Transmission 7-speed automatic Fuel/CO2 45.6mpg / 145g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 6.6 seconds Top speed 149mph Price £26,880 Details correct at publication date
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