Check Out Mercedes-Benz's Most Affordable Car

Admit it -- you've once dreamt of owning a luxury car like the Mercedes-Benz at one stage in your life. Of course dreaming it is not the same as affording it, so maybe you eventually settled to a much cheaper car that does its job.

So yes -- it's not a Benz -- but hey, at least it moves you from point A to point B, right?

Well not anymore. There's actually a Mercedes-Benz model that can make owning one "almost a reality". We say 'almost' because it's still in the million pesos bracket, but it's way affordable than the rest of the models.

Still skeptical? Then it's high time you meet the Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 180 Urban. And it's price? Less than P1.8 million (or exactly P1,790,000).

Now, don't go complaining to us that it's still expensive. It's definitely not if you'll compare it with the other classes. For instance, a typical Mercedes-Benz E-Class costs around P5.3 million, an M-Class CDI Sport at P6.5 million, and an SLS-Class at around P18.5 million. Compared to all of them, the A180 Urban is way cheaper than the rest.

Don't let the A 180 Urban fool you, though -- this entry-level hatchback is a Mercedes-Benz through and through. And don't assume that just because it's an "entry-level" car then it means that it lacks great features. Of course, it doesn't. What it does lack, however, are the more advanced options that come with the more high-end models. But this won't matter too much if you're just looking for a more straightforward vehicle you can drive around.

Now let's focus on what this car does have.

The extroverted A180 Urban has a more upbeat design that's not often seen with the other more "serious" Mercedes Benz Classes. The interior is functional and quite stylish, with an infotainment system and easy-to-operate buttons on the dashboard. What's more, it has Bluetooth and iPod connectivity to help you stay connected at all times.

Equipped with a stop-start system, this vehicle's engine is an in-line four 1.6-liter gasoline engine joined to a seven-speed 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission. This car can churn out 122hp and 200Nm of torque on the road.

The cabin is cozy and comfortable, although it feels a bit cramped. The A180 is ideal for those with small to average heights. It will be a problem if you're on the very tall side, though. The quality of the interiors are also not as luxurious as the more high-end classes, but still, they're posh in their own right.

Fuel-efficiency is satisfactory, as well. The A180 has a drag co-efficient of 0.27, so it can save quite a lot of fuel, averaging at around 17.24 km/l when driven in city roads.

Of all the features we've mentioned, we think that A180 Urban's main strength is its safety features.  It has seven airbags plus a radar collision prevention system (with adaptive brake assist) that are all good to have around. Its other standard safety features include active parking assist and parking sensors.

Engine   Engine capacity 1,595 cc Engine type 4-cylinder in-line 16-valve Turbocharged Compression ratio 10.3 Bore x Stroke unknown Fuel type Petrol   Performance Power 91kW (122 bhp) Torque 200 Nm Acceleration 8.6s (0-100 km/h) Top speed 202 km/h Fuel consumption 18.5 km/L CO2 emission 126 g/km (As tested by LTA)   Misc technical data Transmission 7G-DCT (A) Drive type Front-wheel drive   Measurements Vehicle type Hatchback Dimensions (L x W x H) (4299 x 1780 x 1433) mm Wheelbase 2,699 mm Min turning radius 5,500 mm Kerb weight 1,395 kg Fuel tank capacity 50 L Boot/Cargo Capacity 341 L   Brakes Brakes (Front) Ventilated disc Brakes (Rear) Disc   Suspension Suspension (Front) Spring strut and control arm Suspension (Rear) Multi-link