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 £35,605 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.

What we don’t like

We’re not sure why Mercedes felt it had to limit the plug-in hybrid to the less practical A-Class Saloon, but it’s disappointing that it’s no longer available with the hatch body style. The A-Class also still suffers a few quality dips in the interior.