I have the 163bhp engine in my A-Class and it is really nippy when it needs to be. Only very rarely have I noticed any apparent difference from coming down from a 2.0 diesel in my last car. Whilst I’d go up to the 220 given a chance, I would have another 200. The only time I notice it really having to pull hard is sudden acceleration to have to overtake on a motorway or the alike, but it soon hits its stride.
The fact that the GLA is only available in higher trims with the 180 engine (the lower powered 1.3) is putting me off going to a GLA this time because I think it would struggle with that engine doing a lot of motorway miles etc. The only GLA 200 (the higher powered 1.3) is in Sport trim. It’s really poor that they will not allow us to have the higher trim 200’s when the same are available on the 180’s.