Summary
First arriving on UK roads in the second half of 2012, the third-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class was a five-door family hatchback pitched as a direct rival to the likes of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series. It was replaced by the current generation of the A-Class in 2018.
The range consisted of a selection of four-cylinder petrol or diesel engines, available with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox.
“Whichever you get, it’s worth paying for the automatic gearbox”, Carwow said. “It’s smooth and changes gears quickly, unlike the manual gearbox, which is not so nice to use.” Other than the transmission, Parkers said that the A-Class had “compromised” ride comfort, which What Car? also called “unnecessarily firm”.
Many motoring titles also comment that the A-Class lacked practical space when compared to its key rivals, and that it was not all that fun to drive – The Telegraph argued that “the A-class isn’t the kind of car that will tempt you into taking the long way home.”
While a bit dated toward the end of its life, the interior build quality and refinement was a highlight, and many journalists were impressed by the exterior design of the A-Class through the years – both after its launch, and its mild facelift in late 2015.
And despite the range of efficient engines available, “The A-Class just isn’t quite as good as it should be”, Carwow concluded. “Yes, it looks amazing, but it’s not as classy or as practical as alternatives.”
No longer on sale, the third-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class holds an Expert Rating of 59%, based on 18 reviews published by UK motoring outlets.
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2018 onwards) – Expert Rating
- More Mercedes-Benz ratings, reviews, news and features
A-Class highlights
- Smart looks inside and out
- Smooth automatic gearbox
- Decent fuel economy
- High resale values
A-Class lowlights
- Rigid ride comfort
- Cramped rear seating
- Rather small boot
- Standard range is not that fun to drive
- More expensive than key rivals
Key specifications
Body style: Five-door hatchback
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £22,005 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2012
Last updated: Winter 2015/16
Replaced: Summer 2018
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“With decent tech and a broad engine range, the Mercedes A-Class is a strong premium hatchback – but it’s not quite the best of its era.”
Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: 2015
Score: 6 / 10
“The good bits of the A-Class are really good, but there are some fundamental flaws, most importantly an average driving experience and mediocre cabin space.”
Read review
Model reviewed:
Score: 5.2 / 10
“The Mercedes A-Class impresses on interior quality and styling, and it’s as desirable as a Benz should be. It’s nowhere near good enough for ride or handling, though, and it also disappoints on refinement, ergonomics, practicality and value for money.”
Read review
Autocar
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“Visually, the third-generation A-Class is a sharpened arrowhead of a car; inside, it speaks to the quality and class of the badge.”
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed:
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The Mercedes A-Class is a smart, classy family hatchback with an excellent interior and low running costs.”
Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: 2015
Score: 6 / 10
“The A-Class looks amazing, but it’s not as classy or as practical as the alternatives, and you’ll feel every bump in the road.”
Read review
Eurekar
Model reviewed: 2015
“The facelifted A-Class comes with a raft of changes offering more power, greater efficiency, increased comfort and subtle styling enhancements.”
Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: 2015
Score: 7 / 10
“The facelifted A-Class has a neat interior, head-turning looks and is comparatively cheap to own and run.”
Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Mercedes-Benz finally hit the premium hatchback bullseye with this generation of A-Class. Even today, it still looks fresh and attractive, and has a coupe-like feel inside, yet is surprisingly affordable to run. It’s not the most practical of cars, which will hinder its appeal for some, but otherwise it’s hard to find fault with a model that proved to be deserved sales success.”
Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The A-Class boasts a high quality interior and strong diesels.”
Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“You could buy an A-Class on the strength of its interior and technology alone. It’s not hard to see why it’s regularly one of the UK’s best-selling cars.”
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed:
Score: 6.4 / 10
“The A-Class has a premium image but rivals’ hatchbacks are better.”
Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“Mercedes makes a Golf at last, and it’s a good one.”
Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 2015
Score: 6 / 10
“The Mercedes A-class is one of the most striking hatchbacks around, but rivals such as the Audi A3, BMW 1-series and VW Golf are more capable.”
Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: A200 CDI
Score: 8 / 10
“The A-Class is a posh, easy-going Merc that should fit in city parking spaces and shouldn’t cripple you on company car tax. It’s no madcap hot hatch, the A-Class, but it’s a classy little thing.”
Read review
What Car?
Model reviewed: 2016 update
“The extra 7bhp that’s been gifted to the 174bhp A220d doesn’t make much difference to the A-Class on the road – this four-cylinder diesel is still decidedly gritty sounding, but it does deliver a healthy kick when you want it.”
Read review
Model reviewed:
Score: 4 / 10
“The third generation A-Class was longer, lower and infinitely more stylish, while conforming to the class norm, unlike its upright and stubby predecessors.”
Read review
Which?
Model reviewed:
“The A-class is a great alternative to the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series, but comfort and practicality are inhibited by a firm ride and small boot.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: November 2012
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 81%
Vulnerable road users: 67%
Safety assist: 86%
Notes on safety rating
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class was originally crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2012 and awarded a five-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2020 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
However, if you are comparing a used A-Class to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.
Eco rating
No eco rating
The third-gen Mercedes-Benz A-Class was not lab tested by Green NCAP during its life cycle as it pre-dated Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 127
Average repair cost: £833.24
Last updated: October 2022
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
As of October 2022, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is bang-on average in its reliability score, according to warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner MotorEasy. This data covers not only this A-Class (2012 to 2018) but also newer (2018 onwards) and previous (pre-2012) models.
The average repair cost of more than £800 is quite high for a mid-sized car and also considerably more than the cost of a used car warranty, which is worth bearing in mind.
The most commonly reported faults to date have been with the car’s electrical system, which is a relatively cheap fix at less than £300. However, there have been a reasonable number of claims for engine and gearbox faults, which both have an average repair bill of more than £2,000.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Alfa Romeo Giulietta | Audi A3 | BMW 1 Series | Honda Civic | Hyundai i30 | Mini Countryman | Peugeot 308 | Renault Megane | SEAT Leon | Skoda Octavia | Vauxhall Astra | Volkswagen Golf
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2018 onwards) – Expert Rating
- More Mercedes-Benz ratings, reviews, news and features
Buy a used Mercedes-Benz A-Class
If you’re looking to buy a Mercedes-Benz A-Class, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car
Discover great deals available on both new and used cars. Find out more
Search for your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
The UK’s automotive search engine. All the cars in one place. Find out more
Finding your next car is easy at Motorpoint. Find out more
Car subscriptions
If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Electric car subscriptions from Elmo.
Find out more
