Mercedes A-class review: better than a BMW 1-series?

A Review of the Mercedes A Class in Comparison to The BMW 1Series.. By Alex Robbin, Consumer Editor, Telegraph Cars


The Mercedes A-class was originally a tall, boxy car. But as practical as this shape was, it simply couldn't cut it in the style stakes.
That's why Mercedes decided to give this latest version of the A-class a sleeker - and more conventional - hatchback body.

The A-class also performed well in independent safety tests. And Mercedes engineers were told to make it the sportiest car of its kind. The A-class was given a midlife makeover in 2015 in an attempt to improve ride comfort and fuel economy.

Space 4/10

Fine in the front, but less impressive farther back

In the front, the A-class is as roomy as rivals. However, the back seats feel slightly cramped compared with those in the Audi A3 Sportback and BMW 1-series, primarily because the small windows make it quite dark.
Small, awkwardly-shaped doors mean you have to be quite flexible to climb in and out of the back, too. And while the boot is big enough to take a large suitcase, you may have trouble manoeuvring it inside due to the boot’s narrow aperture.
At least you get rear seats that fold flat and some useful in-car storage space.

Comfort 5/10

Diesel engines are noisy

The seats are comfortable and supportive, and there’s plenty of adjustment for the driver. Unfortunately, you hear too much engine noise in diesel models, while wind noise is noticeable in every version.
The suspension was revised for the 2015 facelift, and as a result the A-class does offer a smoother ride than before. In addition, it can now be ordered with adaptive suspension that reacts to bumps in the road with the intention of offering smoother progress in comfort mode or a sharper, more driver-focused set up in sport mode. We've yet to try the adaptive suspension in the UK, but can report that on standard suspension and 18-inch wheels the A-class is a much improved car, if still not as smooth as an Audi A3 or Volkswagen Golf.

Dashboard layout 6/10

Looks and feels great, but not as intuitive as it could be

A premium hatchback needs a high-quality dashboard, and here the A-class does well. Solid materials and an attractive design give it an upmarket feel, which is marred only by a tablet-style screen that looks like it was tacked on as an afterthought.
Sadly, useability isn’t as good as it could be. The menus on the screen can be confusing to navigate. And the sheer number of buttons on the dash means it can be difficult to find the one you want without taking your eyes off the road for longer than you'd wish.

Easy to drive 6/10

Light controls and a good forward view

Reverse parking is harder than it should be due to a small rear screen that limits your over-shoulder view. However, there’s a subtle, bowed curve to each side of the A-class’s windscreen, which helps minimise forward blind spots.
You also get light controls and a slick manual gearshift to make driving easy when you’re going forwards. And most versions of the A-class are available with an automatic gearbox, although this can be a bit jerky at times.
Just make sure you avoid the A180 and A200 diesel engines because these feel gutless.

Fun to drive 5/10

Disappointing unless you go for the expensive A45 AMG model

In the second half of 2015, Mercedes installed a Dynamic Select button in the A-class, which when pressed alters the weight of the steering and response of the accelerator to give the car a sportier feel. It works to an extent, but the A-class still isn't the kind of car that will tempt you into taking the long way home.
The A45 AMG, however, is a different story. Sharper steering, fantastic body control and incredible grip make it a truly exhilarating thing to drive fast. It’s a sledgehammer of a car, which uses brute force to smash its way down a fast road.

Reliability 9/10

Mercedes has a good record here
Mercedes has a great record for reliability, finishing as the fifth out of 26 manufacturers in the 2015 JD Power Dependability study.
You also get the reassurance of a warranty that lasts for three years, no matter how many miles you do, whereas Audi and Volkswagen cover you only for the first 60,000 miles.

Fuel economy 8/10

Many rivals are more efficient

The most efficient A-class, the A180d, returned 80mpg in official fuel tests, putting it on a par with rivals. In the real world, expect economy of about 50-55mpg from the diesel A-class models, which again matches what you'll get from rivals.
Petrol models ranged from between 40-50mpg in official tests, but again you should expect to see a drop in real-world driving.

Affordability 7/10

Strong resale values keep leasing costs down
The A-class might have a headline-grabbing model that emits just 89g/km, but as with rivals most versions miss out on a sub-100g/km rating. Still, company car drivers will find that the latest A-class is more appealing than the pre-facelift model.
It's also worth noting that while as a premium model the A-class is expensive to buy outright, strong resale values do help to keep leasing costs down.

Safety 8/10

Not the safest, but still does well

A strong showing in Euro NCAP crash tests proves the A-class is a safe car. True, the rival Audi A3 scored better for both occupant and pedestrian protection, but the Mercedes wasn’t far behind, and it performed slightly higher than the BMW 1-series in most areas.
The long list of standard safety equipment on the A-class includes six airbags, systems to prevent skids and aid braking, and a bonnet that automatically lifts up in a collision with a pedestrian to help cushion the impact.

Standard spec 6/10

No version is too badly equipped

The cheapest, SE models come with front and rear electric windows, air-conditioning, a Bluetooth hands-free phone connection and a socket that lets you connect your iPod to the stereo.
We’d be tempted to upgrade to the Sport specification though, because this brings the Dynamic Select driver controls, and sharper looks, inside and out.

It’s little short of scandalous, however, that Mercedes charges extra for DAB digital radio when rivals include it in the standard price.

Our favourite version

A180 Sport, list price £22,005
Options you should add Metallic Paint (£575) and DAB digital radio (£420)

The verdict 6/10

The Mercedes A-class is one of the most striking hatchbacks around, but rivals such as the Audi A3, BMW 1-series and VW Golf are more capable.