Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 180 Avantgarde SE Autotronic 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The petrol engine produces 116 bhp of power with 114 lb-ft of torque, giving it acceleration capable of travelling from 0-62mph in 11.5 seconds and a top speed of 106 mph. The car's power is transferred to the front wheels with the aid of Mercedes classic Autotronic automatic gearbox and this means the drive is smooth and fluid. Unfortunately, the gearbox can cause some noise disturbance which can be unsettling for drivers unaccustomed to it.

The A-Class’ ride and handling is pretty good despite the lofty driving position. The steering is full of life providing a lot of response and body roll is absent thanks to a clever rear axle and a 'selective damping system' which adjusts the suspension depending on how the car is driven. When driven normally it optimises the set-up for comfort but stiffens to stabilise the car during high speed cornering.

This is the second generation of the A-Class and it has improved from its predecessor. It has a much sportier look, although this is more evident in the three-door model. The headlights sweep nicely up the front of the car with flowing lines along the sides giving a nice sleek look. The taillights also look great, with the rear screen flowing nicely into the side of them. The grille is much bolder than before and the boot has a low seal which is practical for loading luggage.

The interior has a high quality finish, using good quality materials although a faux wood trim on the centre console does cheapen the look slightly. The controls are all in good reach and are labelled nicely and the stalk control on the left of the steering wheel will need practice to use comfortably.

Kit wise you get: air conditioning, alloy wheels, electric rear windows (five door only), a cooled glovebox, a 12v socket in the rear, automatic headlights and wipers with a bulb failure indicator, brighter projection headlights and Artico (man-made leather) upholstery.

Head and leg room in both the front and rear is great. The boot holds 435 litres with the seats up and 1,995 litres with the seats down. The low boot sill makes using the boot simple and easy however a lower boot floor could make loading bulky items more difficult.

Mercedes have a good reputation for building reliable cars and this A-Class looks and feels well built, giving consumers confidence over their purchase. This is furthered by the cars high safety credentials which offer owners additional protection and reassurance.

Scoring a full five stars in the NCAP crash tests you can be assured that this is a safe car. Standard safety equipment includes: two-stage airbags and head/thorax airbags which replace the side airbags alongside driver and passenger airbags.

Priced at £20,570 this model is far from the cheapest on the market. The engine delivers fuel efficiency of 39.8 mpg and emits 168 g/km which place it in tax band H. The diesel engine gives better fuel economy but this model performs fairly well for a petrol and combines with strong safety credentials to make it an attractive option.

Residual values are among the best in the hatchback class, thanks to Mercedes’ impeccable reputation, and this means it could prove to be a wise investment for long term ownership.