Overview

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.

Parkers top buying tips

As with all used purchases, do remember to get a car history check. It might just save you from an unpleasant surprise later down the line. Also, don’t forget you can use our valuation tool to get an idea of how much you should be paying for a car. You can also check our reviews section for more information about the cars you are interested in.