Mercedes A-Class car review – now a real premium hatch contender

What’s hot?

• Image. This third generation A-Class has jazzy, sporty looks that lift it well above the understated looks of its precedessor. Would certainly turn heads in the company car park.
• Inside and out, the Mercedes looks and feels a high quality item. Doors close with a reassuringly solid clunk
• The 1.6 turbo engine is smooth, refined and has the best combined economy (52.3 mpg) and lowest CO2 emissions (127g/km) in the A180 petrol camp.
  

  

• Slick, responsive 7-speed dual clutch semi-automatic transmission with steering wheel paddleshift
•  Speed-sensitive steering is pin sharp and beautifully weighted.
• With its extensive security and safety equipment which includes seven airbags, Adaptive Brake Assist, Active Bonnet (for pedestrian protection), Collision Prevention Assist as standard (among other features), the A-Class comes with top level safety.
• Strong, comfortable support from the well-designed A-Class seats.  
• Mercedes residuals traditionally among the best in the industry

What’s not?

• Performance is steady rather than sparkling, despite wide torque band to boost low-range pulling power. 0-62 mph takes a lengthy 9.1 secs.
• Cabin space much better in the front, than back, which feels relatively cramped. From the driver’s seat, rear three-quarter vision also quite poor.
• Despite standard Comfort suspension, A-Class ride is relatively firm and not as supple and absorbent over bumps as, say, a Golf’s.
• Overall, not as involving a drive as some rivals, like the BMW 1-Series and Volvo V40.

Business Car Manager Verdict

After two generations of middling success with the A-Class, Mercedes has achieved a more convincing product this time round. The latest A-Class combines sleek, showbiz looks with all the quality, safety and attention to detail that you’d expect from Mercedes, and all in a compact, convenient package.