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A-Class Hatchback

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Hatchback A180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 5dr Review

For Officially, the 1.5-litre A180CDI will average 74.3 mpg, and with a CO2 output of just 98g/km, it’s sure to win big brownie points from company car drivers.

Against The engine is distinctly clattery at tickover and at low speeds, and a good deal of vibration can be felt through the pedals. Even the comfort suspension is very firm.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Hatchback

What Car? says

2 out of 5 stars

The engine is not particularly cultured, but once you get it singing along it’s relatively hushed, providing decent pulling power and a fair turn of speed. CO2 and fuel economy is extremely impressive, too.

What Car? readers say

4


Key facts

0–60mph
11.3 secs
Top speed
118 mph
Average mpg
74.3
Tank range
miles
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The full Mercedes-Benz A-Class review


Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

There are three choices of suspension on the A-Class; Comfort, AMG Sport and Engineered by AMG.

Even the Comfort suspension will be too firm for many tastes, feeling jittery on any road that isn’t perfectly smooth. The AMG Sport is even less comfortable, but it does provide better body control to complement the car’s strong grip. Don’t even think about the Engineered by AMG arrangement; it’s so firm, you’d have to be a masochist.

The diesel engines are disappointing because they’re noisy and generate too much vibration. The petrols are better, being smooth and happy to rev, but they’re also relatively underpowered compared with key rivals.

The standard six-speed manual gearbox is fine, although the twin-clutch gearbox is also worth considering. This is standard with the 1.8 diesel and 2.0 petrol, and a cost-option across the range.

We reckon a A180 petrol car, on Comfort suspension with 16-inch wheels and a manual gearbox represents the best compromise.

Reader test team says:

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Hatchback A180 BlueEFFICIENCY 5dr

I ordered my car prior to it being officially launched in the UK and I have to say I took a bit of a flyer on it as the available information was…

Andrew Bathie

4 out of 5 stars

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Hatchback A180 CDI BlueEFF. AMG Sport 5dr

Well I don't know what road testers smoke these days but the banality of the 1-Series and A3 didnt attract me one bit. The A-Class is a very classy…

Brian Robertson

4 out of 5 stars

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Hatchback A200 CDI BlueEFF. AMG Sport 5dr

I wanted to put in a review here after test driving an A class C200D auto, and reading What car knock it. Let's get the negatives out first. Yep, the…

Matthew Soul

4 out of 5 stars
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