Mercedes A-Class review
If you want a high-tech, posh family hatchback then the Mercedes A-Class should be on your shortlist – just be prepared to pay for that extra luxury
- Cash
- £28,197
- Monthly
- £299*
- Used
- £18,499
What's good
What's not so good
Find out more about the Mercedes A-Class
Is the Mercedes A-Class a good car?
If you’re after a small(ish) car that promises big-money levels of tech and luxury but don’t want to pay, well, big money to get it, then allow us to introduce you to the Mercedes A Class.
Put simply, it’s a posh family hatchback that goes up against the likes of the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3, as well as cheaper alternatives such as the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus.
True, it’s the most affordable new Mercedes on the market, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on the toys or prestige appeal that you’ll find in the firm’s bigger cars.
For starters, it’s a rather handsome-looking thing. Its sharp, narrow headlights, large grille and sculpted bodywork combine to lend it an appearance that’s both subtly sporty and obviously upmarket. Compared with the previous A-Class, this is a far more convincing show of just how smart a small Mercedes can be – and it’s a similar story on the inside too.
Even next to the likes of the latest BMW 1 Series and Audi A3, the Mercedes A-Class’ cabin looks impressively classy. Its stepped dashtop is crowned by two high-resolution digital screens, which merge together to form an almost seamless widescreen display. These are easy to configure and swift to respond to your inputs, too.
Then there’s the eye-catching turbine-styled air vents, plenty of brushed metal surfacing and ambient mood lighting with up to 64 different colours to choose from. It really does look properly futuristic in here – even if some surfaces might not feel quite as sturdy as they appear.
I’d be inclined to go for one of the A 250 models. Not only do you get a punchier engine than cheaper ones, you get a more sophisticated suspension set-up too.
But it’s not all form over function. There’s good adjustability up front, so it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position. The second row is usefully spacious too, so adult passengers won’t feel squashed in when sitting back there. That said, a Volkswagen Golf, BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 are all slightly roomier. Those cars all have slightly larger boots than the Mercedes too, and they’re easier to load as a result.
Still, there’s nothing difficult about driving the Mercedes A-Class. Its suspension is a bit softer than the Audi’s and the BMW’s, and it doesn’t make too much wind or tyre noise at speed – so it’s a surprisingly comfortable motorway cruiser for a smaller car. It smoothes over the majority of lumps and bumps around town too, but larger ones can send a bit of a jolt through the cabin.
A line-up of 1.3- and 2.0-litre petrol engines all offer reasonable performance and are decently economical, but they’re not quite as refined as what you’ll find in an Audi A3 or a Volkswagen Golf. If you’re planning on spending a lot of time on the motorway, one of the diesel engines would be a good shout. There’s also an economical plug-in hybrid version available.
Regardless of which A-Class you go for (barring the full-fat AMG models, of course), you won’t find it quite as entertaining on a twisty road as a BMW 1 Series or a Ford Focus – but it can certainly hold its own. Its steering is accurate, and even though it wallows in the corners a bit more than those cars there is a good amount of grip to keep things safe and steady.
Not that a comparative lack of fun factor should put you off shortlisting the Mercedes A-Class. Ultimately this is still an impressively plush, comfortable and tech-rich family hatch that really does justice to the Mercedes badge on its bootlid. There’s plenty of safety features as standard too, such as automatic emergency braking, active lane-keep assist and a driver attention monitoring system.
So if the Mercedes A-Class sounds like it’s the posh family hatch for you, head on over to our deals page to see how much money you can save through carwow. You can also watch our group test review by clicking the video below.
Common Mercedes A-Class questions:
What is a Mercedes A-Class?
The Mercedes A-Class is an upmarket five-door family hatchback. It’s similar to cars like the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Volkswagen Golf.
Which is the best Mercedes A-Class?
The best A-Class depends on what you need it for. If you regularly cover long distances on the motorway then a diesel model will be the best bet – such as the A 180d or A 200d. If your trips are often short and in town, you’ll want a petrol like the A 180 or A 200. For those who want much more performance, there are the AMG models called the 35 and 45.
Is the Mercedes A-Class rear-wheel drive?
No, the Mercedes A-Class is front-wheel drive. However, you can also have all-wheel-drive with the A 220 petrol and AMG 35 and 45 models.
Do Mercedes A-Class wing mirrors fold?
Yes, you can manually fold them as standard. However, if you want electrically-folding mirrors, you’ll need to add Mercedes’ Executive Equipment Line to SE Sport and AMG Line models.
How practical is it?
The Mercedes A-Class has enough room for four people and their luggage, but it’s still not as big or as practical as a Volkswagen Golf.
It’s great to see that Mercedes has listened to some of the criticism of the old A-Class and made this model much more spacious and practical
What's it like to drive?
The Mercedes A-Class is perfectly decent to drive, but you don’t have to try too hard to find alternatives that are better
Yes, the Golf is a little better to drive, but to be second best to the VW is no bad thing. In fact, the A-Class is a very decent car to get around in.
What's it like inside?
The Mercedes A-Class interior is an amazing piece of design, but not only does it all work, it’s all very easy to use. It doesn’t come cheap, though
Mercedes A-Class colours
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- Free
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- From £625
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- From £625
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- From £625
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- From £825
- Cash
- £28,197
- Monthly
- £299*
- Used
- £18,499
Build your own A-Class on carwow
Save on average £1,144 off RRP
*Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term and 8000 miles annually, VAT included.