Used Mercedes-Benz A-Class for sale: everything you need to know

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is the most affordable new car in the German brand’s range. It is also one of the most popular premium hatchbacks in the UK, regularly appearing in the top 10 best-sellers chart. 

The Mercedes A-Class is a strong seller because it’s such a well-rounded car. It looks good for starters, with plenty of upmarket Mercedes-Benz touches both outside and in. It is smooth and sophisticated to drive, and its gadget-packed interior features a cutting-edge infotainment system called ‘MBUX’. 

You can also choose high-performance Mercedes-AMG hot hatches, with the Mercedes A 45 S delivering the speed and agility to run rings around most sports cars. Mind you, most of the everyday Mercedes A-Class grades feature AMG-themed styling features, for some car-park kudos without the associated costs. 

Rivals to the Mercedes A-Class include the Audi A3, the ever popular BMW 1 Series and the Volkswagen Golf.

Here, we’ll guide you through the entire new Mercedes-Benz A-Class range. Take a look at a Mercedes A-Class for sale on heycar to discover just what’s on offer. 

Should you buy a Mercedes-Benz A-Class? 

Thousands of Mercedes-Benz buyers a year can’t be wrong. And they’re not, because the latest Mercedes A-Class is a top-notch product. Its design is admirable, with a high-quality appearance that makes it clear you’re buying or leasing a premium car. 

It is impactful inside, too. The interior has a modern appearance with lots of metal-effect trim and cool display screens. Even the entry-level models have a digital instrument display to complement the 10.25-inch centre screen. Move up the model range and the display ahead of the driver grows larger, while Mercedes-AMG models have custom AMG displays and graphics. 

The MBUX infotainment system is considered by many to be one of the best in the business. It’s straightforward to use, the customisable tile-based display is clear, and the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice commands are surprisingly effective. You can even option-up ingenious augmented reality sat-nav, which overlays route directions on a 3D front camera display. 

This version isn’t as roomy as the original MPV-style Mercedes A-Class, but it’s still not bad for growing families. Five-door practicality is convenient and the boot is a good size (although it does shrink to a supermini-sized load space in the plug-in hybrid version). In terms of driver comfort, it’s first-class, with a brilliantly supportive driver’s seat and high-quality controls. 

All the engines are strong. The 1.3-litre turbo petrol sounds small but punches above its weight. It’s quiet and refined, while good fuel economy makes it cheap to run. The diesels are even better, with outstanding economy when cruising at high speed, while the plug-in hybrid delivers a strong pure electric range and a smart combination of pacy performance and OK consumption when the batteries are flat. 

As for the Mercedes-AMG models, if you’re looking to buy or lease a new car with performance, ability and head-turning style by the bucketload, look no further. 

The latest Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a really well-rounded, high-quality car. It has a visual appeal that the driving experience only accentuates – particularly in the thrilling Mercedes-AMG performance versions. And if you don’t want performance-car running costs, an AMG Line version with an economical petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid drivetrain is the perfect alternative. 

It’s possible to personalise your Mercedes A-Class in countless ways, while all versions come well-equipped straight from the factory. It exudes Mercedes-Benz quality, and the brand allure results in impressive retained values, making it a surprisingly cost-effective car to buy or lease. With the Mercedes A-Class, you really can shop with confidence.

A Mercedes-Benz A-Class not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.

What’s the best used Mercedes-Benz A-Class model to buy? 

It's difficult to recommend a diesel in 2023, while the plug-in hybrid's high list price makes it equally hard to justify for a lot of buyers. That makes the petrol models most deserving of 'best buy' status - and the extra power of the Mercedes A200 makes it a compelling choice over the entry-level A180.

In terms of trim level, you needn't spend strong money on one of the top-spec models. Buy a 2023 or later car and even the entry-level Sport Executive has everything you need. On older models, the SE is relatively well equipped, although some will miss Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Used Mercedes-Benz A-Class fuel economy and performance

• Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 180 petrol: The entry-level Mercedes A-Class engine is a smooth-running 1.3-litre turbo four-cylinder, with a standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox called ‘7G-DCT’. In A 180 guise, it has 136PS, CO2 emissions of 136g/km for 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds and average economy of up to 47.1mpg. 
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 200 petrol: The A 200 uses a more powerful 163PS version of the 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine, again with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds and averages up to 46.3mpg. CO2 emissions are almost identical. 
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 220 petrol: For a bit more power, the 2.0-litre A 220 has 190PS and will accelerate to 62mph in 6.8 seconds. CO2 emissions are 155g/km, and it promises up to 42.2mpg.
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 250 petrol: The more powerful version of the 2.0-litre engine has 220PS and will hit 62mph in 6.0 seconds, while still promising 40.9mpg. CO2 emissions are 157g/km.
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 250 e plug-in hybrid: The sole plug-in hybrid engine in the Mercedes A-Class line-up, the A 250 e uses the same 1.3-litre engine in combination with an electric motor and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for a 218PS total output. It boasts ultra-low CO2 emissions of 23g/km, has a 45-mile electric range, and accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds. 
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 180 d diesel: The least powerful diesel Mercedes A-Class variant has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 116PS. It uses the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Zero to 62mph takes 9.7 seconds and it will average up to 56.5mpg. 
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 200 d diesel: The same 2.0-litre engine in the A 180 d now has 150PS and actually boasts slightly lower CO2 emissions: starting from 130g/km. It is appreciably quicker than the A 180 d to 62mph as well, running the benchmark blast in 8.2 seconds – and it returns better economy of up to 58.9mpg. 
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 220 d diesel: The familiar 2.0-litre engine gets 190PS in the A 220d and emits just 114g/km of CO2. The 0-62mph time is 7.0 seconds and promises up to up to 65.7mpg. 
• Mercedes-AMG A 35 4Matic petrol: The A 35 4Matic is the ‘entry-level’ Mercedes-AMG performance model. Even this offers 306PS from its 2.0-litre turbo engine, and sub-200g/km CO2 emissions (just). The sprint to 62mph takes 4.8 seconds and it averages up to 34.0mpg. 
• Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4Matic+ petrol: The ferocious A 45 S 4Matic+ sees the 2.0-litre engine tuned up to a remarkable 421PS. Instead of the A 35’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, it has an eight-speed gearbox: good for 0-62mph in a crazy 3.7 seconds. Even this engine somehow manages 31.0mpg, though. 

What used Mercedes-Benz A-Class trims levels are available?

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is available in a range of trims, most of which carry AMG influences. Every model has an automatic gearbox as standard, while sat-nav is also included across the board. 

Here, we’re concentrating on the five-door hatchback Mercedes A-Class, but you can also choose a four-door saloon – and the core engines and trim grades are broadly the same. 

• The Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sport Executive is the entry-level model, but you’d never believe it at first glance. Even this grade has an upmarket appearance and well-equipped interior. Choose from regular petrol or diesel engines. 
• The Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG Line Executive introduces AMG-themed styling touches to the A-Class range. It’s offered with the same core engine line-up, plus the plug-in hybrid A 250 e variant. 
• The Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG Line Premium adds a few extra luxury items to the AMG Line Executive, and offers the same choice of engines. 
• The Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG Line Premium Plus Night Edition also has the same engine line-up, plus stylish features such as larger alloy wheels and high-intensity LED Multibeam headlights. 
• The Mercedes-AMG A 35 4Matic Executive is the most affordable high-performance hot hatch from the Mercedes-AMG line-up. But it’s hardly poorly-equipped, with a comprehensive standard spec. 
• The Mercedes-AMG A 35 4Matic Premium brings some useful extras for an affordable price hike of around £1,500. 
• The Mercedes-AMG A 35 4Matic Premium Plus is much more focused, with larger alloy wheels, sporty adaptive damping and a cool panoramic glass roof. 
• The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4Matic+ Plus is the most specialist of all A-Class models, with a custom spec tailored by the AMG division. The differences stretch to exotic forged alloy wheels and adaptive damping with 15mm shorter springs. 

Mercedes-Benz A-Class dimensions and boot size

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class’s exterior dimensions are: 

• Length: 4419mm
• Width: 1796mm
• Height: 1440mm
• Ground clearance: 160mm

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class’s boot size is:

• 405-litres (A 250 e: 345 litres; diesel: 395 litres; A 35 and A45: 370 litres)
• 1210 litres with rear seats folded (A 250 e: 1125 litres; diesel: 1200 litres)

Used Mercedes-Benz A-Class road tax

To avoid being stung with a hefty annual bill, it's worth checking if the A-Class you're considering had a list price of more than £40,000 when new. High-spec models do edge over this threshold, meaning owners are liable for the 'premium car tax' - an additional £390 a year for five years from the second time the car is taxed.

Otherwise, the regular VED bill for the Mercedes A-Class is £180, or £170 for those with some form of electrification (including mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid models). That's the same as rivals - if you're looking for free road tax, you'll need to buy a pure-electric alternative like the Volkswagen ID.3 (and even that will be taxed within the next few years).

How much is it to insure a Mercedes-Benz A-Class? 

Mercedes-Benz A-Class insurance groups start from 18 for the A 180 d, and group 20 for the A 180 petrol. They reflect its more premium status compared to ‘mainstream’ family hatchbacks. The A 250 e may be a fuel-saver, but it’s also powerful and rapid, so insurance starts from group 30. The A 35 4Matic is from group 36 and the A 45 S 4Matic+ falls into group 41. That actually isn’t so bad, given its incredible performance.

Read our full Mercedes-Benz A-Class review