Skip advert
Advertisement

New Mercedes A 220 d 2020 review

Diesel still sells well, which stands this latest Mercedes A 220 d hatchback in good stead

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Mercedes A-Class
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Verdict

The Mercedes A 220 d delivers that big-car feel of power and comfort better than the rest of the A-Class range – but it comes at a price. While it’s only £1,500 more than the A 200 d in AMG Line trim, the lower-powered engine can be had for around £3,000 less if you forego some sporty bits. For many, the choice will be between the 220 d’s more potent engine, or a cheaper 200 d with some enticing options.

Advertisement - Article continues below

For all the talk of electrification, diesel is still big news in the UK market – and not only in terms of mpg, either. It’s a mark of how far things have come that this, the Mercedes A 220 d, offers up not only a claimed 50mpg-plus, but also performance that’s not far from hot-hatch territory.

That final point was maybe a deciding factor in the brand offering the A 220 d only in AMG Line and related trims. It gives a warm-hatch look and feel, providing decent comfort and as much performance as most drivers really need. In fact, the A 220 d’s seven-second 0-62mph time is the second quickest in the range – plug-in hybrid and proper AMG versions aside.

Accelerate in the A 220 d, and you feel a huge swell of torque that peaks at 1,600rpm and plateaus at 2,600rpm. For most drivers, in most conditions, this means the engine is often in its most effective operating zone. The standard eight-speed auto box really helps here, shuffling between ratios quickly and decisively.

Press on beyond that zone and, despite the A-Class’s otherwise good refinement, the engine does get a little coarse and rattly. It’s one of the very few areas where the car blots its copybook.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

A Class

2021 Mercedes

A Class

61,830 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L

Cash £15,316
View A Class
A Class

2023 Mercedes

A Class

26,356 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L

Cash £22,826
View A Class
A Class

2018 Mercedes

A Class

74,375 milesManualPetrol1.6L

Cash £10,495
View A Class
A Class

2021 Mercedes

A Class

42,050 milesAutomaticDiesel1.5L

Cash £14,400
View A Class

The best way to approach the A 220 d is as a quick family hatch that’s easy to live with. The ride is good on the whole, as you might expect – although big bumps do unsettle things. It’s eager to turn in, and feels reasonably darty in Sport mode, even if the steering is a little more removed in its Eco and Comfort settings.

It feels more secure than lower-spec A-Class variants, with the cheaper torsion-bar configuration of those cars being replaced by a multi-link set-up. At speed, there’s a real sophistication in the balance of ride and handling; it all seems very ‘Mercedes’ indeed.

The A 220 d offers that big-car feel, and the various AMG Line trims in which it’s available provide a decent amount of big-car tech. Highlights are mainly cosmetic, and include Artico leather with racy red stitching, an AMG bodykit and 18-inch alloys. The design of the last of these makes them look smaller than they actually are.

Elsewhere, the A 220 d AMG Line shares the brilliance of the rest of the A-Class range. Chief of these is its stunning interior, which is generally pretty spacious and comfortable. Nothing in the sector matches its look, feel and general upmarket ambience. The solidity is at least the equal of an Audi’s, with various knurled dials and touchpads working to control the many features easily and intuitively.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Special mentions must go, once again, to the MBUX infotainment system, with its truly excellent “Hey Mercedes” speech-recognition function. It’s only a shame that some of the other tech isn’t fitted as standard. If you want Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – and you probably do – that’ll cost you another £495.

The wonderful 10.25-inch instrument cluster is an extra £1,500, although in our test car it was bundled as part of a budget-busting £3,595 pack that also includes matrix LED headlights, self-parking and a panoramic sunroof. All of these options are also available on the lower-powered A 200 d, so is the 220 d worth the extra outlay?

Both share the same rear suspension, so the biggest difference is, predictably, performance. The A 220 d shaves 1.1 seconds off the 0-62mph time, and with a top speed of 146mph, betters the lesser car by 9mph. Yet it’s the in-gear flexibility that impresses most of all. With a difference in list price of £1,550, the monthly payments won’t be that far apart, either.

Model:Mercedes A 220 d AMG Line
Price:£31,575
Engine:2.0-litre 4cyl diesel
Power/torque:187bhp/400Nm
Transmission:Eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive 
0-62mph:7.0 seconds
Top speed:146mph
Economy:52.3mpg
CO2:129g/km
On saleNow
Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Mercedes A Class

Mercedes A Class

RRP £31,300Used from £19,248
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,513 off RRP*Used from £5,500
Mercedes C Class
Audi A4

Audi A4

RRP £34,385Used from £14,824
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

New Citroen e-C4 2025 review: updated EV is more appealing than ever
Citroen e-C4 Max - front

New Citroen e-C4 2025 review: updated EV is more appealing than ever

Road tests
1 Apr 2025
Cupra Leon review
Cupra Leon - front action

Cupra Leon review

In-depth reviews
10 Mar 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025