Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 160 CDI Classic SE Autotronic 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The ride for the A-class is comfortable enough, although large bumps in the road are clearly felt in the cabin. The handling isn’t particularly responsive, and although the grip is fine it doesn’t give too much feedback to the driver and the steering is very light, which won’t be too everyone’s taste. The driving position is fine, and visibility is good to the front and rear.

One of the main quibbles with this version of the A-class is that the engine really doesn’t deliver much in terms of performance, but for many people this won’t be a big problem. The acceleration from 0-62mph is a ponderous 15.3 seconds, but the top speed of 102mph is not too bad, although it may take some time to reach that speed. This wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but there are many more fuel efficient diesels on the market too.

This is the second generation of the A-class, and the larger design has improved the look as well as the safety of the vehicle. The big Mercedes badge still takes pride of place in the centre of the grille, but it also has the air intakes that are commonly seen on the bottom of the bumper. The interior has an efficient look, but doesn’t give the car the luxury premium feel of a Mercedes.

The fact that alloy wheels aren’t available as standard on the A-Class doesn’t help the overall image of the car, and the number of features that have to be included as optional extras definitely make the A-class feel like a Mercedes-Benz on a budget. However, it is delivered with air conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity as standard, but cruise control, heated seats and steering adjustment reach will all add to the price.

German engineering has often been lauded as the best in the world, and Mercedes-Benz has often been hailed as a leader in this respect, which means that the A-class is certainly a reliable car. It does come with six airbags included as standard, and there are also important driving aids which will help the driver to remain safe and in control while travelling. It was given the top five star rating in the Euro NCAP safety test.

The A-class is referred to as an MPV, and while it is a little smaller and closer in size to a medium hatchback, the flat rear door does give a little more space in the boot. Legroom and headroom in the back of the car is also quite good, meaning that it can take five people, which is good for such a small car. Despite an increase in size since the first generation of the A-class, it is still able to be parked fairly easily, and is good around the city.

This particular version of the Mercedes A-class has a list price of £18,280, which puts it firmly in competition with cars such as the VW Golf and the Ford Focus. The problem is that these cars are often filled with more features and have a better performance than the A-class.

The diesel engine with the automatic gearbox is able to achieve fuel performance of an average 52.3mpg, but compared with the class leaders this is fairly average. The low insurance group does mean that premiums for cars should be quite low, and Mercedes-Benz cars do have a reasonably good resale value. The A-class is also supplied with a three year warranty, which is typical of the offers available from the competition.