Should you buy one?

Maybe. If you want a small, plug-in hybrid saloon, then this is currently your only choice. However, there are some question marks over its interior quality, which might persuade some buyers to opt for the utterly bombproof Audi A3 saloon and do without PHEV power.

Rather like the hatchback on which it’s based, the Mercedes A-Class Saloon is a mature and tech-laden car. It’s stylish inside and out and its engines offer good fuel economy across the board. And while there are some quality issues, it’s better than Mercedes’s previous-generation models.

Overall, the A-Class Saloon is good enough without being brilliant. It’s smooth, quiet, relaxed and ever so slightly unsporting – and you’ll appreciate the refinement on the motorway, providing yours doesn’t develop a marching band of dashboard rattles.

What we like

The A-Class’s dual-screen infotainment system is very impressive and we like the amount of space you get in the front of the cabin. It’s composed on the motorway and the plug-in hybrid system offers some impressive fuel economy figures and a 51-mile electric-only range.

What we don’t like

You can tell where Mercedes has cut corners in the cabin, as some of the materials feel a bit cheap. Headroom in the rear is limited, too. More worryingly, owners are complaining about poor build quality and faulty interior technology, which doesn’t stand the car in good stead for when it hits the used market.

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