Overview

The Mercedes A-Class Saloon is somewhat of a niche offering these days. It’s a small saloon based on the same platform as the A-Class Hatchback, which means it inherits its sister’s economical engines, striking cabin design and excellent infotainment system.

We’ll be honest; the A-Class Saloon isn’t one of the best saloon cars on sale. The size constraints of its platform mean it isn’t particularly spacious or practical. But there’s something to be said for the added elegance of the body style – and we like that there isn’t a huge price gap between the A-Class Saloon and the hatchback on which its based. The difference is less than £1,000.

The small saloon market has contracted rapidly over the past couple of decades as manufacturers have shifted their focus (and their funding) towards more popular vehicles like SUVs and crossovers. That means rivals for the Mercedes A-Class Saloon are few and far between.

The two main contenders are the Audi A3 Saloon and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. There’s also a spot of in-house competition from the slightly swoopier Mercedes CLA – but that’s about it. If none of these cars tickle your fancy, you’ll need to either step up to a larger compact executive saloon like the BMW 3 Series or settle for the less premium but similarly sized Mazda 3 Saloon.

Even though it’s skirting on the fringes of relevance, the A-Class Saloon is available with a full complement of trim levels and engines. In fact, the only option you can’t have on the saloon that you can on the hatchback is the barnstorming 420hp AMG A 45 specification.

And, if you were under any assumption that a small premium saloon like the A-Class wasn’t unique enough, you can also specify it with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. There isn’t any other car in this class that offers the same level of electrification, which is major selling point.

Despite the A 250 e Saloon’s uniqueness, Mercedes has designed the system as if it has something to compete with, as it promises to return upwards 300mpg and an electric-only range of almost 50 miles. There are flagship luxury saloons that can’t manage that – but bear in mind you’ll need to make even more practicality sacrifices if you opt for the PHEV model.

Over the next few pages, we’ll assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Mercedes A-Class Saloon, considering its practicality, interior quality, driving experience and running costs before offering our final verdict on the car. Read on to find out whether the A-Class Saloon could suit your lifestyle.