If you want a mid-size hatchback or saloon that’s stylish, comfortable and full of tech, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class could be just what you’re looking for. On top of all that, the A-Class has a premium look and feel and you can choose from a wide range of engines and trim levels.
The current version of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class has been on sale in the UK since 2018 – the previous model was on sale new from 2012 to 2018. The current A-Class is available as a five-door hatchback or a four-door saloon; with petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power; a manual or automatic gearbox and front- or four-wheel drive. There are lots of trim levels to choose from including the very popular AMG Line models. The older version is much the same though it’s only available as a hatchback and there’s no plug-in hybrid option.
In the current Mercedes-Benz A-Class, every model has a display screen that stretches across almost half of the dashboard. It looks sleek and modern and among the many features included as standard in the infotainment system are Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone support and sat nav. You also get air con, heated front seats, cruise control and a reversing camera. Previous-generation A-Class models have similar features but they don’t look as premium or as high-tech inside.
The latest Mercedes-Benz A-Class is available with a petrol or diesel engine or as a plug-in hybrid. According to official figures, petrol A-Class models can give average fuel economy of 30mpg to 47mpg and diesels can give 44mpg to 64mpg – about average for this type of car. Older versions post similar numbers. Being a premium-brand car, the A-Class costs more than similar cars made by the likes of Ford or Peugeot, but you may feel the A-Class’s quality and tech are worth it.
There are two other premium mid-size hatchbacks you might want to consider – the Audi A3 and the BMW 1 Series. You may also want to check out similar cars such as the Mazda 3 and the Volkswagen Golf. The premium look and feel of the A-Class may be enough to swing your decision in its favour, but it’s also among the quietest and most comfortable cars of this type and its interior has a real ‘wow’ factor.
There’s pretty generous leg, head and shoulder room in the front of the current Mercedes-Benz A-Class, with enough space for someone well over six feet tall to get comfortable. In the back, there’s sufficient space for a couple of average-size adults to sit behind someone of similar height.
The A-Class hatchback has 370 litres of boot space, which is a touch less than in most other mid-size hatchbacks but still enough room for half a dozen large ‘bags for life’ or a couple of big suitcases. The A-Class saloon has a slightly bigger boot with 405 litres of space, but the smaller opening makes it harder to load in big things. Note that plug-in hybrid models lose some boot space to their batteries.
Older versions of the A-Class aren’t quite as spacious or as practical. Boot space is similar but back-seat space is quite tight and the small rear-door openings aren’t especially family-friendly.
The A-Class is the smallest car Mercedes-Benz makes. Bigger Mercedes models include the B-Class, C-Class, E-Class and S-Class. The CLA is similar in shape and size to equivalent A-Class saloon models, but it’s lower and sleeker. The GLA SUV, on the other hand, is about the same size as the A-Class but is taller and sits higher off the ground.
The current Mercedes-Benz A-Class is one of the safest mid-size hatchbacks you can get. When it was assessed by safety experts Euro NCAP, it scored more than 90% for protecting adults, children and pedestrians in a crash, earning a full five-star safety rating. Driver-safety features fitted as standard include automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and blindspot monitoring.
The current version of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is available with plug-in hybrid power. The A250e, which uses a combination of a petrol engine and an electric motor, can give average fuel economy of 282mpg, according to the official figures, with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of just 24g/km. Driving on battery power alone, the car has an official range of 46 miles.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2016 (66) - 1.5 A180d SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2018 (18) - A200 Sport Edition Plus 5dr
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2019 - A180 Sport Executive 5dr
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2014 - 1.5 A180 CDI SE Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2015 (15) - 1.5 A180 CDI AMG Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2016 - A180d AMG Line 5dr
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2020 (20) - 1.3 A180 AMG Line (Executive) Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2019 (19) - 1.3 A200 Sport (Premium) Saloon 4dr Petrol 7G-DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (163 ps)
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2014 - 1.6 A180 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2018 - A200 AMG LINE 4DR AUTO