2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Gallery

Entry-point to new three-star ownership, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class may be the smallest of the automaker's sedans, but don't confuse that with disappointing. Unwilling to accept that the markets are skewing to SUVs and crossovers, the A-Class distills a little of what makes bigger models like the E-Class and S-Class special into a smaller footprint. That means handsome styling and some rakish angles.

Under the hood there's Mercedes' familiar 2.0-liter inline-4 turbocharged gas engine, here putting out 188 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. A 7G-DCT 7-speed automatic transmission is standard, while 4MATIC all-wheel drive is optional. More eager drivers can also get dynamic dampers to go with the available AMG styling kit.

Inside, there's MBUX with its capable voice control system on dual displays, plus a panoramic glass roof and dual-zone HVAC as standard. Expect to pay more for leather upholstery, bigger infotainment screens, and fancier features like augmented reality navigation. Still, with pricing kicking off under $34k (plus destination), a few options are probably still in the budget.