THE seventies were characterised by many things, such as glam rock and flares but also soap operas where established characters were subjected to entire body transplants.

You know the kind of thing I'm sure - a character would go into the shower and emerge as a different person, or some strange dream sequence would conclude with the unveiling of a new actor playing a familiar role.

If you're wondering what on earth this has to do with the new Mercedes A-Class there is a connection.

This latest incarnation of Mercedes-Benz's entry level car is like one of those soap characters that has been transformed beyond all recognition.

Earlier versions of the A-Class adhered to the concept of a quirky and quite individual mini-MPV. Out there on its own, it bore little if any resemblance to anything else on offer.

But the latest version has undergone a pretty radical makeover, to the point where it's nothing whatsoever like its predecessors.

This is a premium hatchback full stop and clearly a vehicle that's designed to compete directly with the likes of the Audi A3 or the BMW 1 Series.

Space and practicality might have been sacrificed for style but very stylish it is too with a profile that combines some sporty and muscular design lines with echoes or the company's larger executive saloons.

It's unmistakably a Mercedes, even if it is far smaller than most and the look works well it has to be said.

It's only slight downside is limited space and it's hard to not continually compare it to its more open and airy predecessor.

That said the cabin itself is well laid out and given its relatively compact dimensions rear seat passengers are pretty comfortably catered for.

The boot is a bit on the small side, though I did actually manage to cram a fair bit of musical equipment in there, despite fearing I might struggle.

Fit and finish are exemplary, with all the hallmarks of Mercedes quality throughout, with switchgear and instrumentation characterised by familiar Germanic precision and attention to detail.

Overall pretty much everything is imbued with an intuitive and easy to use feel.

Unlike larger cars in the Mercedes line-up the A-Class is front-wheel-drive, though this in no way detracts from its driving manners, which are decidedly decent.

Okay, so I was driving a pretty top of the range, Engineered by AMG diesel, which offered rather thrilling performance but this really was a car that could give some established sporty premium competitors a real run for their money.

And best of all it didn't come with the kind of thirstiness that might leave you grimacing every time you put your foot down and make the most of the power at your disposal.

With a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.6 seconds and a combined economy figure of 44.1mpg this really is a car that really does combine the best of both worlds.

It was certainly a car I loved driving every time I got behind the wheel and the icing on the cake was the fact that even though this was a model at the sportier end of the scale the ride quality was still sublime.

It features MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear and it's a combination that works particularly well.

The only downside - at least as far as this model is concerned - is the price.

Before you start adding an array of bells and whistles £28,000 is a sizeable sum to shell out for a small hatchback.

And as far as this car was concerned a lengthy list of gizmos and creature comforts would see that price spiral to more than £40,000, which is serious money in anyone's book.

That said an entry level A180 BlueEFFICIENCY model would set you back just under £19,000, a figure that's certainly not in the price stratosphere so to speak.

As an alternative to other premium hatches the A-Class is certainly a decent contender and a tempting option.

Yes, it's a different car to its predecessor but it looks good, drives well and offers the kind of quality one has come to expect from the brand.