Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The A-Class is hard to recommend unless you need compact MPV space.

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Rating:
On the road price: £15,025 - £18,645
For : Solid build, practical
Against : Lacks expected quality, wooden to drive, unappealing looks

Driving
The A-Class driving experience lacks character. While it’s relatively secure in corners, the short wheelbase and relatively tall body mean it displays fair amounts of roll. It also surrenders to understeer easily. The steering is light and devoid of feedback, and while the ride isn’t firm, it’s let down by damping that allows the car to fidget over uneven surfaces, which means the traction control cuts in frequently. And while the A-Class recorded decent stopping distances, the brake pedal lacks bite. Petrol engines are also weak – much better is the 2.0-litre diesel, which comes with three power outputs. It’s punchy and easy-going, though it is also somewhat noisy.

Marketplace
There’s no doubt that a car wearing the three-pointed star still has a certain kudos. However, due to its unique MPV-style concept, the A-Class doesn’t quite carry off the premium image. The styling is fairly conservative, and the short wheelbase gives it a less sleek, more frumpy appearance than lower, longer rivals such as the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series. It is offered in three and five-door guise, in Classic, Elegance SE and Avantgarde SE trims. Engines include a 1.5-litre, 1.7-litre, 2.0-litre and 2.0-litre turbo, plus a 2.0-litre CDI diesel in 82bhp 160, 109bhp 180 and 140bhp 200 form.

Owning
Surprisingly, while it’s functional and robust, the cabin doesn’t seem particularly luxurious. In fact, the most noticeable thing about sitting in the A-Class is the raised view of the road. This high seating position is a strong point, but the driving position is compromised by firm seats and a lack of steering reach adjustment. There’s an excellent feeling of space though, and with impressive head and legroom, it’s a similar story in the back. The versatile 435-litre load area is also another point in the A-class’s favour; it’s wide, the lip is low and the tailgate is large. We were surprised by the A-Class’ running costs, though. Economy is only average compared to the excellent results from BMW’s faster 1-Series, while retained values weigh in at under 40 per cent – that’s below par, particularly for a premium model such as this.