Even though it’s the entry-level Mercedes, the A-Class is still quite expensive to begin with and adding necessary options pushes prices up further. Mercedes servicing costs are high, but residual values should hold fairly well and fuel economy is good – especially on the diesel models.

The A-Class performs very well on the eco front – and the introduction of BlueEFFICIENCY has improved things further. It’s not as green as a BMW, but the majority of engines provide decent economy. The best model is the A160 BlueEFFICIENCY which emits 116g/km of CO2 (meaning it’s cheap to tax) and averages 64mpg. With an average of 152 g/km CO2 across the line-up, its emissions are relatively low for a small family hatchback.

However, it’s worth noting that the line up has a high number of diesel models, bringing the average down and giving buyers more choices of low-emission versions. Diesels typically produce less CO2 than petrol engines with similar power outputs. The range is impressively frugal, averaging 46 mpg.

The previous A-Class was quite problematic, but this one has proved much better with no significant problems reported.