CAR.SPACE
A 160 CDI
Mercedes-Benz›A-Class›W168

A 160 CDI

W168 · 2001–2004FWDHatchback

The A 160 CDI is a five-door W168.2 A-Class hatchback built from 2001 to 2004. A 1.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel makes 75 PS and 160 Nm and drives the front wheels through an automatic gearbox. It weighs 1155 kg.

74 hpPower
2001-2004Year
Gallery

Press photos · A-Class Hatchback

A 160 CDIExterior
A 160 CDIExterior
A 160 CDIExterior
A 160 CDIExterior
A 160 CDIExterior
A 160 CDIExterior
A 160 CDIExterior
A 160 CDIExterior
A 160 CDIExterior
A 160 CDIExterior
A 160 CDIExterior
Engineering passport

Specifications

Powertrain
Engineering details
Engine1.7L I4
Displacement1.7 L
Cylinders4
AspirationTurbo
FuelDiesel
TransmissionAutomatic
DrivetrainFWD
Performance
Numbers that matter
Power74 hp
Torque160 Nm
Weight1155 kg
Dimensions & body
Length · 3606 mm
Wheelbase · 2423 mm
Width1719 mm
BodyHatchback
Doors5
Seats5

STORY

The A-Class opened Mercedes-Benz to a new kind of buyer. The first W168 came out in 1997 as an unusual small, tall hatchback with a "sandwich" floor. In a crash the engine slid under the cabin. It was a clever safety idea for the smallest Mercedes ever made. The start was rocky: the car tipped over in Sweden's "moose test", and Mercedes had to redesign it quickly and fit ESP stability control as standard.

Later generations dropped the unusual tall shape for a conventional, sporty hatchback aimed at premium rivals. The A-Class became a real way into the brand for younger buyers. MBUX, Mercedes' infotainment system with its "Hey Mercedes" voice assistant, debuted on it.

For a whole generation, the A-Class was the first car with the three-pointed star.

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