2020 Mercedes Benz A Class Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

Mercedes-Benz has long been a leader in the world of luxury autos, and they are still holding onto that title. One of their biggest hits for the 2019 model year was the A-Class, and the 2020 line-up follows suit.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class is the perfect blend of a powerful performance and luscious comfort. The cabin's style looks upscale and expensive, but it so high-tech that it loses its sense of class. After all, what would a MB vehicle be without a healthy dose of class served to you on a silver platter?

Let's also not forget to mention just how superb the technology is inside of the A-Class. Its infotainment system is one of the best there is on the market right now, and it is setting the bar extremely high for competitors. Everything functions just like how it is supposed to and is easy for even the non-tech savvy among us to use.

The only real downside with this vehicle is that you will hear a little bit of wind noise when you take the vehicle up to speed on the highway. It is not the most intrusive thing ever, but you will notice it. Still, for only being in its second model year ever, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class is getting way more things right than it does wrong.

Is it even possible to go wrong with picking a trim level on this vehicle? Not really. There are only two trim levels to pick from: the A 220 and the AMG A 35. There are some important differences between them, and you will most likely want to be a little bit conscientious of keeping to a budget. It is all about the optional packages that you can equip here.

So, which trim level and packages should you go for? Let's examine each one and, at the end of this trim level comparison review, name which one we feel is the best fit for the average driver's wants and needs.

Compare the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 220 vs AMG A 35 Trims. What is the difference?

As we have already mentioned above, there are only two trim levels that come with the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: the A 220 and the AMG A 35. The AMG A 35 is all new for the model year, as the only option last year was the A 220 (which can still be bought as a standard front-wheel drive or as the 4MATIC all-wheel drive). The AMG A 35 is so new that, as of February 2020, MB still has not released too many details about it.

Let us start things off with what we do know, and that is the A 220. The front-wheel drive and 4MATIC only have a $2,000-ish price difference between them, and the drivetrain is really the only significant difference going on between them. The A 220 is a five-seater with 8.6 cubic f cargo space available when all seats are left in place. The rear seats can be folded down in order to create more space if needed though.

The A 220 is powered by a 2.0-L inline-4 cylinder engine that gets paired up with a 7-speed automatic transmission. Together, this powertrain musters up 188 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. As far as fuel goes, this trim level has an EPA rating of 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, which is decent enough for this segment. It takes the vehicle 7.1 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph, which is also fairly average. Some real-world tests have clocked it as going even faster, getting to 60 mph in about 6.4 seconds, which makes it quite quick. But that does also depend on how you drive the vehicle.

As far as the other mechanical features go on the A 220, you get a rack and pinion steering system, multi-link front and rear suspensions, 4-wheel disc brakes (with 12.6 inch brake rotors in the front and 11.6 inch brake rotors for the rear), and 17 x 6.5 inch aluminum wheels with chic silver accents. There is a 62-amp battery with run down protection as well as a 115-amp alternator. The vehicle also comes with gas pressurized shock absorbers. The front and rear each have anti-roll bars. The A-Class has electric power assist steering with with speed sensing capability, which basically just uses input from different sensors on the vehicle to adjust how much power assist needs to be given to the steering input. Overall, it works at improving the handling and steering performance. Finally, in the back, you will find a quasi dual stainless steel exhaust with a sleek chrome tailpipe finisher.

On the exterior of the A 220, you will see that the vehicle has a sliding and tilting panoramic sunroof, which goes over the first and second row of seats inside the cabin. The door handles and front and rear bumpers are all body-colored, as are the power-folding heated side mirrors with integrated turn indicators. The A 220 has a fixed rear window with a defroster on it, light tinted glass, rain-detecting front windshield wipers, fully galvanized steel panels, a chic front grille with a chrome bar, perimeter lights, fully automatic projector beam LED headlights with low and high beams and daytime running lights, and LED brake lights.

Of course, you will find a lot of luxurious features on the interior, starting with the A 220's impressive list of standard infotainment features. The A 220 comes equipped with the MBUX infotainment system and a 7-inch touchscreen display, 5 USB-C ports in all, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control (with the "Hey Mercedes" keyword activation and natural voice recognition), and the Mercedes me connected services (which has a free trial period). There is also a radio with seek-scan, a clock, multiple audio controls mounted onto the steering wheel, and speed compensated volume control. Add to that smartphone app integration via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD radio, two LCD screens up front, and the 8-speaker sound system, and you've got a pretty well-stocked base trim.

The A 220's luxury absolutely extends to its seating and cabin decor. (Would you really expect anything else of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle? Probably not.) Both of the front seats are 8-way power adjustable and have 3-position memory. These are bucket seats, and there is a 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench seat. The steering column is manually tilting and telescoping, and the steering wheel does get clad in some lovely and expensive-looking leather. You also get a proximity key for push button start, remote keyless entry with an integrated key transmitter, remote release for the trunk, cruise control with controls for it mounted onto the steering wheel, and voice activated dual zone automatic climate control. Additionally, the A 220 comes with a full cloth headliner, leatherette door trim inserts, stunning MB-Tex upholstery, a 12-volt DC power outlet, map lights for both the front and rear of the cabin, fade-to-off interior lighting, concealed storage in the cargo area, power door locks with an automatic locking mechanism, and a perimeter alarm for the vehicle.

As far as safety features go, the A 220 is somewhat light on standard driver aids but has everything else that is required. There is a standard rear view camera and active brake assist with automatic emergency braking.

You will have to go with some of the package options if you decide to buy the A 220. Packages that can be equipped include the Premium Package, the Multimedia package, the Driver Assistance package, and the Parking Assistance package. The Premium package will give the vehicle a larger 10-inch touchscreen monitor, blind-spot monitoring, and remote keyless entry. The Multimedia package has upgrades that include an advanced built-in navigation system, and the Driver Assistance package gives you features like lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. You can also nab some stand alone options like upgraded leather seats, a head-up display, and a super cool 12-speaker Burmester surround sound system that pumps out concert-quality audio.

Of course, we do have to discuss what little we know right now about the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class's big addition, the AMG A 35 trim level. This trim comes with a turbocharged version of the 2.0-L inline-4 cylinder that comes in the A 220, and MB has clocked this trim level as being able to get from 0 to 60 mph in a snappy 4.7 seconds. The powertrain garners a solid 302 hp, and the AMG-tuned suspension helps the 7-speed automatic transmission get the best driving dynamics possible. There is also an aluminum plate beneath the engine (called a shearing plate) that boosts the front end's torsional rigidity. There is an option for and AMG Ride Control suspension, which has adaptable adjustive damping. AMG DYNAMIC SELECT is standard and gives the vehicle Slippery, Sport, Comfort, Sport+, and Individual drive settings, which definitely gives you a lot of options for which drive mode you want to flip the car into.

There is a KEYLESS-GO comfort package that has hands-free access to the cargo area. Also, on the outside, there is a lot of silver chrome trim to add even more chic detailing. The AMG A 35 rides atop 18-inch twin spoke light alloy wheels that make the vehicle really stand out. You can opt to get an AMG Aerodynamics package added on if you want the vehicle to have an even more poised and aerodynamic driving performance. Oh, and if you love to have everything be black, go for the optional Night package. It really makes the AMG A 35 look futuristic and cool without being flashy. It really works well at enhancing the vehicle's overall next-gen vibe.

2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Which Trim to Choose?

While the AMG A 35 is bound to be one amazing vehicle, we anticipate the price being a lot higher than what you would pay for the A 220. And, to be quite honest, there really are a lot of good things that come equipped on the A 220. Its MBUX infotainment system is superior to basically all other systems that automakers are using at the moment, never once losing its user-friendly appeal despite being high-tech. The optional 10-inch touchscreen is something a lot of drivers will likely want to add on, too.

The degree to which you can customize the A 220 is pretty broad, so you will have to make sure you select the right packages. We would recommend grabbing the Driver Assistance package as well as the Premium package (so that you can get the upgraded display - it's so worth the cost).

The AMG A 35 is something that you should get only if your budget is expansive. If you can swing the price jump, go for it. There probably is not a more exciting new trim level being released this year. It should brilliantly mesh performance with comfort to an even greater degree than the A 220.

But, for the average buyer, the A 220 with a few optional packages tacked on should do just fine. It is a fun vehicle that will have your friends fighting over who gets to ride shotgun.