For some cars, a model change means a form of design evolution. Just look at the likes of the Volkswagen Golf or the Ford Focus - the change is there, but not always that obvious. Mercedes-Benz, a German car company with a tradition of conservatism, has thrown that principle out with the introduction of the new A-Class. This is an entirely different car to the model it replaces. The look is different, the driving style is different and the appeal is so much better.

For comparison purposes, I've pitched the A-Class against the Audi A3 Sportback, which I tested recently. They are similar in terms of price and specification, except that the Audi I drove was a 2.0-litre model.

In performance terms, the A-Class is nothing special, with a 0 to 100km/hr acceleration figure of 11.3 seconds. That's not that poor relative to a 1.6-litre Audi A3, and neither is the economy figure for the new A-Class, which is rated officially at 25km/litre (4.0l/100km or 70 mpg). I've never achieved the official economy rating in any car that I've driven and the A-Class is no different. My figure was 20km/litre (5.0 litres/100km) - 25% lower.

I've been reading about similar economy figures in the British What Car? magazine. They have shown through almost 200 test reports that drivers are achieving economy figures which are on average 18% lower than the official figures. My experience is similar. The A-Class is not the worst culprit; so achieving an economy figure of 20km/litre or 56mpg is probably not a bad deal for a car of this size. And in terms of range, I did get close to 900km on the full 50-litre diesel tank, which is reasonable too.

The car comes with a stop-start system and a six-speed gearbox. Both were smooth in operation and the clutch was easy. The Mercedes-Benz electronic handbrake is included and I found it easy to get used to after a day or so. There is plenty of safety gear in the car, including the radar-based Collision Prevention Assist system that alerts you to prevent you rear-ending a car in front. I found this very useful and not in any way annoying. The car also includes the Mercedes-Benz Attention Assist system to monitor driver behaviour and warn of signs of tiredness with audible and visual alerts to take a break.

The seating was sporty and comfortable. There was reasonable rear passenger headroom and the boot is a good size, and feels bigger than that of the A3.

The A-Class was a car that I found easy to get comfortable with. The centre dash unit mimics an iPad in terms of design, so it was easy to use. Getting the Bluetooth connection was also fast and allowed multiple users.

Prices start at €29,885 or £21,200 in Northern Ireland, so this is a car that's at least 30% more expensive than equivalent powered cars that don't carry a "luxury" tag. Cars like the new and stylish Toyota Auris and the Ford Focus will do all of the practical bits just as well and they are 30% cheaper - and tow much more.

The price equivalent cars include the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo V40, all of which are equally too expensive to buy. This A-Class is the lowest powered of these, slowest on acceleration while on par when it comes to fuel economy. We have no handle on the reliability or the resale value of a car like the A-Class. It will take some time for these important features to emerge. So while the A-Class is still nice to own, it's expensive to buy, especially when you consider equivalent offerings that are widely available, come with longer warranty and are much more affordable.

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