Mercedes-Benz A-Class (98-04) - Review

Review by Parkers on
A-Class scores on several counts. It's an intelligent compromise between city car and people-carrier, it's undoubtedly practical, reliable and stylish and it's got the Stuttgart star on the grille. Pumped-up small hatches might not be to everyone's taste, but they're certainly the flavour of the moment. Daewoo's Matiz does a similar sort of job at half the price, but A-Class is the small family car of choice from Chelsea to Cornwall, combining prestige with practicality and reliability. The stretch models from mid-2001 are roomier but still usefully compact.
3 out of 5

Other Mercedes-Benz reviews

4 out of 5

Safety

Famous for failing the Swedish 'elk test' — an early car fell over when braking and steering sharply — A-Class is now one of the safest small cars around. A four-star Euro NCAP rating, electronic stability control, ABS, traction control, and twin front and side airbags all help to keep car and occupants out of trouble. Security is good for a small car, with an immobiliser, central locking, built-in radio and a visible VIN.

NCAP Test

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  • Adult Occupant Rating

    4 out of 5

  • Pedestrian Test Rating

    4 out of 5
2 out of 5

Reliability

Check the comments on Parkers website owners reviews. Plenty of problems, nothing consistent, but Mercedes-Benz must be very concerned.

Car check problem points

Body

Check doors for car park scrapes, paint chipping problems, leaks from sunroof.

Engine/Gearbox

Should run like clockwork, occasional fuel-injection problems, check the service history.

Other

Electrical faults, worn anti-roll bar links. A-class models built between April 2002 and April 2003 should have visited Mercedes-Benz workshops for a precautionary inspection. In the worst case, cracks in the recess for the plastic covers of the wiper arms can cause the wiper arms to become detached.