Mercedes A-Class Saloon Review 2024

Written by Andrew Brady

9/10
heycar rating A classy, compact Mercedes saloon
  • 2018
  • Premium
  • Petrol, Diesel, PHEV

Quick overview

Pros

  • Nicely styled compact saloon
  • Classy and high-tech cabin
  • Excellent engine choices including plug-in hybrids

Cons

  • The Mercedes CLA is much the same but nicer looking
  • Some areas of the interior feel a little low rent
  • A BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is better to drive

Overall verdict on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Saloon

"The Mercedes A-Class Saloon brings some sophistication to the A-Class line-up. It’s a good looking car, that will turn heads more than its more common hatchback relations and it’s a rival to cars like the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A3 Saloon."

Mercedes A-Class Saloon Review 2023: front side

Unsurprisingly, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Saloon is based on the A-Class hatchback, a car that’s proved to be a huge success story for the premium brand. But why launch a version with a boot, particularly when you have the four-door CLA as well? Answers on a postcard, place. 


Putting its strange existence aside, there is a lot to like about the A-Class Saloon. The interior design is cutting edge, Mercedes-Benz using its smallest model to introduce its biggest changes to infotainment and cabin styling. It feels very futuristic inside and works well, too. The saloon’s huge (and naturally optional on lower trims) infotainment screens are pretty to look at, have cool augmented reality nav and operate using voice controls that understand colloquial speech. 


Throw in all the pretty trim, mood lighting and leather seat options available on Mercedes’ larger models and you can have yourself a pint-sized saloon that feels very nearly as nice inside as Mercedes flagship luxury model, the S-Class


Okay, so it won’t be as spacious, but the A-Class Saloon has enough room for four tall adults (just about) although the hatchback model’s taller roof actually offers more rear headroom. Similarly, although the saloon's boot is technically bigger in capacity, the long and flat shape means it won’t carry the bulky items you’ll fit in the hatchback. 


The A-Class Saloon’s engine line-up largely matches that of the hatchback. There's everything from small efficient petrols to super-frugal diesels and a plug-in hybrid that offers good, commutable electric only range. Want more power? You can have a Merceses-AMG A35 model with 306PS (the saloon doesn’t yet get the mad 421PS AMG A45 model available with the hatchback).


You’ll have to buy the AMG A35 if you want an A-Class Saloon that feels particularly sporty to drive. It’s stiffer suspension, big wheels and large tyres make it feel responsive and precise in bends, while the grippy four-wheel drive system gives great all-weather performance. 


Regular models focus more on comfort and refinement, swapping some of the AMG A35’s engagement for an ability to leave you feeling fresh at the end of a long journey. The handling is still composed, though.


So the A-Class Saloon might represent the entry point to the Mercedes range, but you wouldn’t necessarily know it. Specified right, it feels pretty much as posh as Mercedes larger models, has excellent levels of tech and offers a wide choice of engines. If you’re looking to buy your first Mercedes, the A-Class Saloon isn’t going to leave you disappointed.


Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of Mercedes-Benz Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Mercedes A-Class Saloons for sale.

If you’re reading this then there’s a possibility it is. It’s basically identical to the Mercedes A-Class hatchback so you get smart looks, a beautiful interior, excellent infotainment and a car that is comfortable to drive with a great range of engines. The A35 model is even genuinely fun to drive.


Going for the saloon model, meanwhile, means you get a car that looks like one of the larger saloons Mercedes is famous for, albeit one that has shrunk ever so slightly in the wash. Can a small saloon car be cool? We think so, particularly when it’s as good looking as the A-Class.

Tempting as it is to go for the A250e plug-in hybrid version of the A-Class Saloon, the cheaper models will prove economical enough for most people. 


The A200d and A220d diesels both pass the RDE2 (Real Driving Emissions step 2) standards which means you don’t have to pay the diesel surcharge on first year VED and also the increased BIK (Benefit in Kind) company car tax for them, too. It’s down to choosing between 150PS or 190PS, then, the 150PS feeling brisk enough for the majority of drivers.  Granted, though, diesels are reducing in popularity, so it'll be the 200 petrol model that sells in most numbers. 


And trim? The Executive models of either the Sport or AMG Line come with the A-Class’s most advanced interior/infotainment options, including the largest of the two screens that make up the instruments and central touchscreen, they add wireless charging for your smartphone and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay onto the standard kit list.

Audi will happily push you in the direction of an Audi A3 Saloon, while BMW does a 2 Series Gran Coupe which is a four-door coupe (basically a saloon) as part of the BMW 2 Series range. Both are comparable to the Mercedes in terms of size and price. 


There is of course the Mercedes CLA, which is slightly less practical but more stylish, and if you want a small saloon, you could also consider the Honda Civic Saloon or the Hyundai i30 Fastback, the latter available as a high performance N model to rival the AMG A35.


Other than that it’s quite possible you’ll be downsizing from something like a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, or indeed either of its Audi or BMW rivals, the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series, respectively.  

Comfort and design: Mercedes A-Class Saloon interior

"When the Mercedes A-Class arrived it really shook up the world of car interior design. Even three years on from launch it still seems pretty special."

Mercedes A-Class Saloon Review 2023: interior

 From behind the wheel you really wouldn't notice you were sat in the saloon version of the Mercedes A-Class, unless you glanced in the rear view mirror. That's no bad thing, because the cabin feels really special for a compact saloon.


The design is cutting-edge and high-tech, but the smallest Mercedes saloon still gets the basics right. The A-Class’ seats offer excellent support and a fine range of movement, to provide a good driving position.


Adjusting them is manual on all but the AMG Line Premium Plus models, but also available optionally. If the trim level doesn’t have AMG in its name  your A-Class Saloon comes with Comfort seats. If it’s an AMG trim, or indeed an actual AMG – the AMG A35 4Matic – then you’ll get sports seats, which come with deeper bolstering to hold you that little bit tighter in corners. 


Both seat designs provide fine comfort and support. And for those wanting the ultimate pew, the AMG Performance High End Package brings a multi-contour seat with massaging and electrically adjustable lumbar support – these gaining a recommendation from the AGR, a German spinal health organisation which, you’d suppose, knows about such things.  


As standard all A-Class Saloons come with man-made heated leather seats with three settings, while you get a two-zone air-conditioning system from Sport models upwards. Real leather arrives as standard with the range-topping AMG A35 4Matic.

The look inside the A-Class isn’t just cool and sophisticated, but so too is the quality.  With its new tech Mercedes-Benz clearly went on a spending spree on interior materials, with things like the air vents – both in their turbine-style look and slick operation – looking like they belong in a much more expensive car. 


You do pay for that in some other areas, go searching around the interior and you’ll find the odd low-rent material – the plastic that separates the cup holders for example – but you do have to look pretty hard and they’re an aside to what’s otherwise a very nicely finished, and constructed interior. Bear in mind this is the cheapest Mercedes model, and it's mostly very impressive.


Indeed, the A-Class is one of the few cars where it can claim to have an interior that’s at least a match for, if not better than, the one you’ll find in the Audi A3 Saloon.


All A-Class Saloons come with two screens, one for the instruments – replacing the conventional analogue binnacle –  and one for the infotainment. But what size they are depends on your trim choice, with SE, Sport, Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive getting a rather modest-looking 7-inch instrument display. 


AMG Line Premium and Premium Plus cars, meanwhile, get the larger 10.25-inch digital display with high definition graphics. The basic models also get a 7-inch central screen while Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus have a 10.25-inch screen.  Really, you want the bigger screens in order for the cabin design to look its best. 


The larger screen isn’t just prettier to look at, it also includes augmented sat-nav directions that are transposed onto an image of the road ahead on the screen. It looks cooler than anything any other car offers but also makes following directions significantly easier. Thankfully, Mercedes latest MBUX operating system comes as standard. In all it powers a 100W stereo with DAB, with dual Bluetooth interface, hard drive navigation and live traffic info (free for three years) it also having Hey Mercedes voice activation. 


What’s a little bit disappointing is that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are only standard on trims containing Executive or Premium in their names. To get that in anything else, you’ll need to add the Executive Pack, which bundles CarPlay or Android Auto in with Parking Assist, wireless phone charging, electrically folding mirrors and that larger 10.25-inch central multimedia display. 


The AMG A35 4Matic comes with the larger central screen as standard, it also coming with an excellent 590W Burmester stereo if you opt for the A35 4Matic Premium Plus model.

There’s no difference in cabin space between the A-Class hatchback and saloon according to Mercedes-Benz’s numbers, but in practice headroom is slightly more limited in the rear of the saloon thanks to the more rakish slope of the rear window. 


Even if that’s not an issue, then the perception of space is a bit less back there, because of the proximity of the window in comparison to its hatchback relation. It is fine for kids but a squeeze for taller adults. 


The third middle seat’s a bit of an afterthought, like every car in this class size in truth. Two Isofix child seat mounts are fitted on the outer rear seats, which fold in a useful 40/20/40 split, to allow longer loads from the boot. 


The boot itself is a decent size, the saloon gaining volume over the hatchback, with 405 litres in the petrols, 410 litres in the diesels and 345 litres if you’ve opted for the plug-in hybrid


It might be around 40 litres bigger than the hatchback on paper, but losing the hatchback opening for the narrower saloon bootlid does make getting bulkier things in more tricky. You’ll not, for example, be able to pop the rear seats down and chuck an old fridge in the back to take to the tip, but then, that’s not something you’ll be doing every day. 


Oddment storage around the interior is good, with plenty of door bins, cubbies and cup holders for you to lose your car detritus. The A-Class Saloon is reasonably practical for a car this size, if not quite as accommodating for both luggage and passengers as its hatchback relation.


In terms of exterior dimensions, the Mercedes A-Class Saloon is 4,519mm long, 1,796mm wide and 1,446mm tall. That makes it 130mm longer than the A-Class hatchback, but 140mm shorter than the CLA.

Handling and ride quality: What is the Mercedes A-Class Saloon like to drive?

"In keeping with its slightly differing brief over its hatchback relation, the Mercedes A-Class Saloon rides on slightly softer, more cosseting suspension."

Mercedes A-Class Saloon Review 2023: rear

That’s no bad thing, because, as a hatchback, the A-Class can be a little bit brittle on rougher road surfaces, but that’s less obvious here with the saloon version. Bigger wheel choices do start to impact on the ride quality, so if that’s a real priority then stick to the smaller wheel options. 


All come, with the exception of the AMG A35 4Matic and A250e plug-in hybrid, with ‘lowered comfort suspension’, with the AMG A35 getting AMG specific suspension in standard and Premium forms and an adaptive damped, AMG set-up with 15mm lower springs for the A 35 4Matic Premium Plus model. The AMG obviously sacrifices some comfort for its taut body control, but that’s unlikely to be a surprise for buyers of the sporting range-topper and actually a virtue.


There’s no variable damper options with the regular saloons, though there are variables in the suspension you’re given, depending on the model. Those A-Class Saloons with the smallest engines, the A180, A200 and the A180d and A200d feature a torsion beam on the rear axle, with upper trim levels, allied to bigger engines, gaining a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension system. In reality most drivers will be unable to tell the difference, with the multi-link rear riding and handling with a touch more composure than the standard torsion beam. 


Overall, all A-Class Saloons handle with the sort of predictable sure-footedness you’d expect in this class, without ever being particularly engaging, with Mercedes' own conceptually near identical CLA likely to appeal more to those wanting a bit of fun behind the wheel.       


There is plenty of engine choices with the Mercedes A-Class Saloon, encompassing everything from frugal diesels and a plug-in hybrid, to a 306PS range-topping AMG model. Saloon buyers are denied the A 45 model that’s offered as a hatchback and in the CLA, because even someone in the choice-obsessed Mercedes product planning department must have spotted that an A 45 saloon was just too close to the CLA 45 AMG to be justifiable. 


The base 116PS 1.5-litre turbodiesel is a fine engine, badged A180d, offering a mix of smooth, easy performance, despite its relatively modest output. Upping to the 2.0-litre turbodiesel gains more performance, with the A200d having 150PS and the A220d 190PS, both also benefiting from being RDE2 (Real Driving Emissions step 2) approved, so aren’t party to additional BIK and VED payments of non-RDE2 turbodiesels. 


They’re fitted exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the A180d comes with either a 6-speed manual as standard, with a seven-speed automatic being offered optionally. 


The petrol engines follow those transmission choices, with the 1.3-litre turbo petrol with 136PS, badged A180 being a six-speed manual as standard, as is the A200, which manages 163PS from the same size engine. Both, again, are offered as seven-speed automatics optionally. 


The A250, a 2.0-litre with 224PS is offered from AMG Line upwards and comes with the seven-speed auto as standard. The autos all work well, with only the odd jolt if you’re hesitant with the accelerator, while the six-speed manual is light and easy enough, if a little bit imprecise across its gate.


The small petrols feel a little bit overwhelmed in comparison to the easy nature and flexibility of the turbodiesels, while the diesels return better economy, too. But with less people buying those nowadays, we reckon the A200 petrol offers a decent compromise between performance, economy and price. 


The plug-in, badged A250e mates a 160PS petrol 1.3-litre with a 102PS electric motor, it working very well together and offering good, useable, electric-only range. It’s only offered with the eight-speed automatic transmission. 


Topping the range is that AMG model, the A 35 4Matic, developing 306PS from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and driving all four wheels via an AMG version of the seven-speed automatic transmission. 

Refinement is good across the range, with the small diesels being surprisingly hushed, the hybrid offering near silent running in EV mode and the petrols hushed if you’re not pushing them too hard – as you sometimes need to. Wind noise is nicely suppressed, as is road noise, making the A-Class Saloon a quiet, comfortable place to cover big miles in. 

Mercedes-Benz has a long history of innovating with safety equipment and all its cars feature lots of standard kit to make them as safe as possible. 


The A-Class Saloon is no exception, all come with, (deep breath) an active bonnet, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Driver and Front Passenger Airbags, a Driver’s Knee Bag, Driver and Passenger Window bags, Attention Assist, ABS brakes with Brake Assist, Stability and Traction Control system, automatic headlights, Isofix rear-seat mounts, Speed Limit Assist and a tyre pressure monitoring system among their standard equipment.


Optionally there’s the potential to add a Driving Assistance Package which includes Distronic Active Distance Assist and a Pre-Safe system that primes all the safety systems prior to an accident. 


The saloon hasn’t been independently tested by Euro NCAP, but the hatchback has, it scoring a full five-star rating, The saloon should protect passengers just as well, if not slightly better thanks to its longer boot helping in a rear impact. 

The A250e can drive as far as 45 miles on electricity alone, at up to and beyond motorway speeds, making your commute potentially emissions free. In practice you might find that figure is slightly lower, but it's still healthy for a relatively compact plug-in hybrid. 

MPG and fuel costs: What does a Mercedes A-Class Saloon cost to run?

"When using both its petrol and electric motor to its maximum, the Mercedes A250e returns an official combined consumption of 282.5mpg, though that figure is difficult to quantify. "

Mercedes A-Class Saloon Review 2023: front exterior

The plug-in hybrid's Mercedes A Class saloon's sky-high official fuel economy figure is entirely dependent on it being run in electric mode for the vast majority of miles travelled. Drive it long distances without charging and expect to see more like 50mpg. But for the majority of commutes (and if you can charge it up daily) you could drive for weeks without ever visiting a petrol station. 


The lithium ion battery on the plug-in hybrid will take around 5.5-6hrs to fully charge from a normal socket from 10% to 100%, with a proper EV home wallbox that charging can take as little as 1hr 45 minutes depending on the specification of your charger, with about three and a half hours more typical.


Non-hybrid fuel consumption is best with the diesels, with the A180d able to achieve over 60mpg on the official combined test cycle, the A200d/A220d between 55-58mpg. The petrols can’t match that, with the A180 and A200 returning around 46-47mpg on the official combined cycle, and the A250 40-41mpg. The A35 4Matic drops that further still, to between 34-36mpg.  


The A180 sits in groups 18-20, the A200 23-24 and the A250 29-31, the variance depending on the trim level.


 The plug-in hybrid is group 28-29, while the diesels start at group 17 for the A180d, rising to group 19, the A200d being group 23-24. The A220d sits in groups 26 and 27. That range-topping AMG model, meanwhile, attracts a rating of 35, which is hardly surprising given its performance.

Mercedes-Benz as a brand has a good reputation for reliability, coming in ninth out of 34 manufacturers in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, with a rating of 87.3%. BMW achieved the same rating, while Audi was a little lower at 87.1%. 


The A-Class saloon and its various related models are all relatively new cars, so it's difficult to paint an accurate picture of their longer-term reliability. We have heard some reports of the trick infotainment screens going black or glitching, however. 


The VED and BIK tax champion in the A-Class Saloon range is obviously the A250e plug-in hybrid, but its list list price means that you need to do plenty of miles to recoup the savings in tax and fuel.


The A200d with its RDE2 passing diesel engine is cheaper for its first year VED than the smaller A180d, while the A220d matches the A180d. Likewise, those bigger diesels actually benefit from lower BIK charges for company car drivers. 


The petrol choices start with emissions of 133g/km so will pay £215 for the first year, with the A250’s 154g/km meaning a first year payment of £540. The AMG is worse, with 184-193g/km meaning a first year VED payment of either £870-£1,305, with its £40,000+ price tag meaning it’ll attract the higher £475 payment for the following five years.

How much should you be paying for a used Mercedes A-Class Saloon?

"Finding a Mercedes A-Class Saloon for sale isn't easy because they've sold in far fewer numbers than the A-Class hatchback. "

Mercedes A-Class Saloon Review 2023: side exterior

The A-Class Saloon is a much rarer Mercedes than the hatchback on which it's based. To put it into context, less than 1% of the A-Class models for sale on heycar are saloons. It appears that the CLA is a far more popular small four-door Mercedes. 


Even so, there are still a fair number around, simply because the A-Class is one of Britain's most popular new cars. Prices start at around £22,000 for a late 2019 A200 Sport with 13,000 miles on the clock. Diesels in AMG-Line trim start from around £25,000 for an A180d with 20,000 miles on the clock. 


That's not a particularly big premium over the A-Class hatchback, though because the hatch so much more popular there's more choice and more opportunity to drive down prices in future. 



SE models come with 16-inch alloy wheels and a diamond pattern grille on the outside, while on the inside you get air conditioning, reversing camera, heated front seats, keyless go, seven-inch digital instruments, seven-inch multimedia touchscreen, Sat nav, DAB and man made leather trim. 


Sport models look, unsurprisingly, spotier thanks to their 17-inch alloy wheels, two-zone air conditioning and multifunction sports steering wheel. 


Sport Executive models keep the sporty looks but add more equipment.  They get the Parking Package, Mirror Package (automatically folding and dimming mirrors) 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen, Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Wireless Charging.


AMG Line models look even sportier thanks to their/ 18-inch AMG alloy wheels, AMG bodystyling, Sports Seats and contrasting red stitching interior.  


AMG Line Executive models, meanwhile, get these sportier looks but with the uprated equipment, including the Parking Package, Mirror Package, 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen, smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless charging.


AMG Line Premium takes another equipment hike adding, keyless entry, 10.25-inch instrument display, 64-colour ambient lighting, Augmented reality sat nav, illuminated door sills, 225W advanced sound system and an armrest with two cup holders. 


AMG Line Premium Plus models, meanwhile, get all the kit, including Multibeam LED headlights, panoramic glass sunroof, electrically adjusted front seats with memory and traffic sign assist. 


The Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic is available in three trims starting with the basic model. It looks very sporty on the outside thanks to 18-inch AMG alloy wheels, AMG bodystyling, active exhaust system and wider wheel arches. Inside, you get aparking camera, seven-inch digital instruments with AMG menu, 10.25-inch touchscreen media screen, sat nav, DAB, the Mirror Package, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and leather upholstery. 


AMG A35 4Matic Premium  models get more kit. They get 19-inch alloy wheels, the Night Package (with black highlights on the body kit), Keyless Entry, a larger 10.25-inch digital instrument screen and augmented reality sat nav. To that list you can add a 225W upgraded stereo, rear armrest with cupholders and ambient interior lighting with 64 colours. 


AMG A35 4Matic Premium Plus models sit right at the top of the range. To the standard kit list fitted to other A35 models, they add an Adaptive damping system, AMG aerodynamic package, Multibeam LED headlights, panoramic glass sunroof, traffic sign assist, electrically adjustable front seats with Memory Pack and a Burmeister surround-sound stereo. 

Ask the heycar experts: common questions

Yes, the majority of A-Class Saloons are front-wheel drive, although some models are four-wheel drive. You can't have the A-Class with rear-wheel drive like you can with larger Mercedes saloons.
You can expect a minor service to cost from around £300 while a major service will be closer to £500.
No, the Mercedes A-Class Saloon isn't a replacement for the CLA. It's the more practical option, while the CLA is sportier looking but not as spacious in the back.