Should you buy one?

The A-Class is a great posh hatch and, although the most recent 2023 facelift hasn’t exactly changed much, it didn’t need to. The BMW 1 Series still pips the A-Class as far as we’re concerned, by virtue of its better driving experience and more solid interior. But we’d still recommend considering the A-Class for its impressive breadth of choice and all-round usability.

The best all-rounder, we think, is the A200 petrol, which offers a good mix of performance and usability. But don’t discount the diesel just because it’s unfashionable – if you do lots of long journeys you may well find yourself saving money.

As for trim levels, if you’re buying a Mercedes you expect a certain degree of luxury that the lower models with their blank switches and basic trim don’t really fulfil. A ‘Premium’ model at a starting price of £36,720 seems a good compromise, as higher-end models begin to tread on the heels of the larger C-Class.

What we like

The interior looks good and is spacious, while the engines are punchy and frugal enough. It very much feels like a Mercedes on a miniature scale in many ways and that will appeal to those looking for a premium smaller car.

What we don’t like

Certain interior elements don’t live up to Mercedes quality and we also have concerns over its reliability following complaints from customers.