Third time lucky? Or maybe it’s just listening to its customers. Whatever it was needs to be applauded as the third generation of the A-Class is easily the best looking iteration that the German carmaker has ever built. This hatchback is now a credible rival to the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3. 

No longer is it a bulky MPV, this A-Class has style and underneath its skin there’s plenty of substance. It’s 18mm lower in stance than the previous iteration meaning that there is much less drag – this in turn has boosted the fuel economy figures and lowered the CO2 emissions – the new A-Class is certainly greener and leaner.

Performance

We drove the A220 CDI producing 170bhp and mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox. This means the A-Class was no slouch when it came to performance. It will get from zero to 62mph in 8.2 seconds and it has a top speed of 137mph. These figures are reasonable for a family hatchback, especially given that this is a diesel model. The A180 CDI is significantly slower, taking 11.3 seconds to reach 62mph.

Choose a petrol and there’s the A180, with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine good for 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds and the A200 capable of the same sprint in 8.4 seconds. The A250 2.0-litre takes around 6.5 seconds, making it quicker than a Golf GTI.

Ride and Handling

It grips fairly well but rivals including the BMW 1 Series will still be the option for purists. The A-Class is good, it’s just not great through the corners.

To drive, the A-Class is competent but it’s never what you could call exciting. The A220 CDI is a smooth engine giving unflustered power delivery. It grips fairly well but rivals including the BMW 1 Series will still be the option for purists. The A-Class is good, it’s just not great through the corners. The large 2.2-litre diesel engine is also not as quiet as you might expect from the three-pointed badge, particularly when started from cold. If you want excellent refinement, the petrol engines are a better bet, only sounding vocal at high revs. It’s also worth test driving the A-Class with differently sized alloy wheels and suspension packs before making a final decision. While large AMG wheels and lowered suspension undoubtedly look great, they do make the ride very firm.

Interior and Equipment

The A 45 AMG hot hatch version of the A-Class features a hand-built 2.0-litre engine with 350bhp and four-wheel drive.

The cabin of the A-Class is a great place to spend time, with luxurious materials, chrome-ringed air vents and tactile leather steering wheels. The front seats are supportive and offer plenty of adjustment for taller drivers, but the A-Class’ coupe-like roofline does make the rear seats feel quite claustrophobic and limit headroom. Boot space is also limited, with 340 litres less than you get in a BMW 1 Series (360 litres) or Volkswagen Golf (380 litres).   Plenty of kit comes as standard. Highlights include air-con, ambient lighting, electric mirrors, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, rear fog lamp, cruise control, stop/start technology and a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Plenty of gadgets are available on the A-Class from iPhone connectivity to safety systems including fatigue detection, active parking assist and blindspot monitors. One of the best things on the A-Class is the standard-fit collision prevention assistance system that warns the driver if it thinks an accident is imminent. If the driver fails to react the electronics will take over and perform an emergency stop.

Cost

When it comes to fuel economy, the A220CDI has a claimed figure of 64.2mpg and emits 115g/km of CO2. Even accounting for real-world driving, this version of the A-Class should achieve around the high fifties mark.

Costing between £20k and £30k, the A-Class is not exactly cheap, but it is competitively priced against its upmarket rivals. Add the options (£9,200) fitted to our test car and this increases the price tag to an eye-watering figure. When it comes to fuel economy, the A220CDI has a claimed figure of 64.2mpg and emits 115g/km of CO2. Even accounting for real-world driving, this version of the A-Class should achieve around the high fifties mark – that will rival almost anything in the sector while the low CO2 mean it’s in an affordable tax band. Choose a petrol and both the A180 and A200 return 51mpg, while the A250 still manages a respectable 47mpg.

Our Verdict

You will buy the Mercedes A-Class because you want the badge cachet. In that respect the A-Class is a great option for drivers who want a classy and comfortable car. Its drive is far from exhilarating, but for many, the prestige of the Mercedes badge will overrule this.