Used Mercedes A-Class 2018-present review

To give a car like the Mercedes A-Class all the qualities of the three-pointed star and wrap that up in a smaller and more affordable package sounds like a recipe for success, but the first and second-generation A-Class's never seemed to capture the public’s imagination, and the third wasn't a critical success either.

This fourth-generation Mercedes A-Class is by some margin the best yet, and used examples with a few years of depreciation are the greatest value of them all.

There’s a good choice of engines, particularly for petrol fans since there's three to choose from: the 134bhp 1.3-litre A180, the punchier 161bhp A200, and a 221bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine in the A250. On top of that, there are also two Tarmac-ripping hot hatches in the form of the 302bhp A35 AMG and 421bhp A45 AMG. Meanwhile, diesel lovers can choose the extremely economical 114bhp A180d, torquey 148bhp A200d or potent 187bhp A220d.

From 2020 onwards, a petrol and electric plug-in hybrid A250e became available with a combined output of 212bhp and an electric-only range of 44 miles. Gearboxes range from either a six-speed manual or seven-speed auto on most models, with an eight-speed auto reserved for the A200d, A220d and A250e.

Trim-wise, entry-level SE gets you most of the basics, including (relatively small) 16in alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control and keyless start. The next-level Sport gets you more attractive 17in wheels, more powerful LED headlights, dual-zone climate control and various styling enhancements. Range-topping AMG Line adds sportier touches and the availability of the more powerful engines., The Executive package can be found on Sport and AMG Line cars which gets you the larger 10.3in infotainment screen, front and rear parking sensors and heated front seats.

If you’re feeling flush, look out for the AMG Line Premium that adds all of that and more, including a 10.3in instrument cluster, keyless entry, an upgraded stereo and cool-looking ambient lighting, while the Premium Plus pack has matrix LED headlights, a panoramic glass roof and electrically adjustable front seats with lumbar support.

On the road, there’s just a hint, with the lower-powered petrol and diesel units under the bonnet, of gruffness. Certainly, the entry-level A180, but all the rest offer decent performance. What's more of a disappointment is that there is more road and wind noise than you’d want for a posh hatch.

Both the seven and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox can be slightly hesitant when pulling away from a standstill, and it can occasionally change down rather abruptly at higher speeds, too. For most of the time, it changes gear smoothly and quietly, but the equivalent DSG-equipped Audi A3 has a better automatic 'box.

The steering is quick and responsive, too, and well-weighted, and the car handles corners with aplomb, with good body control and reasonable levels of grip. It might not be outright fun, but it is stable and secure.

Whereas the previous A-Class was often criticised for its firm ride, the newer car rides well, most of the time. It’s quite supple over patchy roads, and generally nicely fluid and compliant over bigger bumps. The downside is that things start to get floaty at higher speeds, and potentially bouncy over more challenging, undulating country roads. Both the A3 and Volkswagen Golf provide a more composed ride than the A-Class.

Inside is an interior of rare quality. It’s easy to find the right driving position, with plenty of manual adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, and the seats are supportive. All versions of the A-Class come with a 7.0in digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and a 7.0in infotainment screen in the centre of the dashboard. Tech-lovers may prefer the Premium package for the larger screens, which, when combined together, look like one giant widescreen that stretches across the dashboard. It’s impressive, as is the design of the interior, and with its lashings of shiny piano black plastic, leather, and metal-effect finishes in all the important places.

There’s plenty of space up front, too, although lanky passengers might find it a bit tighter in the rear, especially if sat behind a taller driver.

The rear seats fold in a 60/40 split, and the boot is big enough for a large weekly shop or a holiday away for two. Fold the rear seats and the floor is nice and flat, although there is quite a high lip at the entrance to the boot that you’ll have to haul things over. Be warned though: The additional batteries in the A250e encroach into the cargo area and reduce it in capacity to that of a small car from the class below.

If you're interested in finding a used A-Class, or any of the other family cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

The earliest A-Class from 2018 should cost you around £15,000 to £18,000 for a late-2018 example with average mileage from a franchised dealer. You’ll need £19,000 or more for the A200 models from 2019, while an A200d from 2019 or 2020 are more likely to be around £19,500 to £23,000. Spend upwards of £25,000 to £30,000 on a late 2021 or 2022 car, a little more on a 2023 example.

The plug-in hybrid A250e will still need around £25,000. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, the A35 AMG starts at £30,000. Good luck finding an A45 AMG at the moment.

Check the value of a used Mercedes-Benz A-Class with What Car? Valuations

MPG

On paper the most abstemious A-Class is the A180d, which can return an official WLTP combined figure of 62.8mpg. The other diesel models do less than that, but not by much. Expect 57.7mpg from the A200d and 55.4mpg from the A220d.

The best performing petrol-engined A-Class' are the A180 and A200 because these get a figure of 47.9mpg. The A250 isn't quite so good at 41.5mpg.

All of this pails into insignificance against the plug-in hybrid's 256.8mpg. However, you'll regularly have to charge it up (which takes just over 1.5hrs using a 7.4kWh charger from flat) to get anything like that number.

Road tax

All A-Classes will have their annual car tax (VED) charged at a flat rate. This is currently £180 a year. And while none of them had an on-the-road price over £40,000 when new (except for some versions of the A35 and the A45 AMG), at which point a supplementary luxury car tax is payable, it’s worth checking that a highly optioned car didn’t go over that limit when new. The luxury tax is £390 a year from years two to six. You can find out more about road tax costs here.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups vary from 17 to 31, depending on the power output and trim of the car. All new A-Classes will get an unlimited mileage and three years’ free servicing plan, while a flexible servicing plan called ServiceCare allows buyers to spread the cost of servicing across a series of payments, or simply make a one-off payment, although it's worth noting that Audi offers a similar plan for a lot less money.

Engine

We’d keep it simple and go for the A200 petrol-engined car if you don’t do a lot of miles, or the A180d diesel if you do.

The plug-in hybrid A250e is a nice idea, but only if you can regularly plug it in.

Specification

Sport trim is nicely equipped but if you can find a car that’s had the Executive pack added, so much the better. There are a lot more AMG Line examples out there, though, so if you plan to go for one of those, also make that an Executive pack car for a bit more equipment.

Our favourite Mercedes-Benz A-Class: A200 Sport or AMG Line (Executive)

The Audi A3 is one of our very favourite family cars. It has a range of punchy yet economical engines, a high-quality interior and an excellent infotainment system, but above all, it's great to drive.

The BMW 1 Series gives you all the equipment you could want, never mind need, and it’s surprisingly cheap to run. It’s not the roomiest family car, but it’s good to drive and comes with a class-leading infotainment system.

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