Used Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2013 - 2018 review

Innovation is no guarantee of sales success. Despite the first and second iterations of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class being very safe and space-efficient, with their clever ‘sandwich’ floor layout, neither was a smash hit. Meanwhile, rivals like the Audi A3 and the BMW 1 Series were lapping up buyers looking for a family car with a premium badge and a sporty image.

So, a radical rethink was in order. The third generation A-Class, launched in 2013, was longer, lower and infinitely more stylish, while conforming to the class norm, unlike its upright and stubby predecessors.

It offered a choice of four petrol engines – two 1.6-litre units and two 2.0-litre units – and three diesels: a 1.5-litre unit and two 2.1-litre units. The diesels offer the best blend of performance and economy, but their refinement units isn’t great compared with rivals'. The petrols are definitely smoother, and the higher-powered versions are much quicker, but at the expense of needing significantly more juice.

There are also five trims to choose from, with the entry-level SE models coming with 16in alloy wheels, comfort suspension, cruise control and a rear-view camera, while inside there's a 7.0in infotainment display, complete with Garmin sat-nav and smartphone integration, including Apple CarPlay. Sport trim gets bigger alloys, automatic wipers, an 8.0in infotainment screen and climate control. AMG Line gets you an aggressive bodykit, sports seats and a sports steering wheel, while full-blown AMG adds LED headlights, lowered sports suspension and heated front seats.

The A-Class grips well and feels flat and stable – a stark contrast to the preceding models. What really lets it down, though, is the quality of its ride, which is unnecessarily firm. Over broken British roads, it can be unyieldingly uncomfortable and noisy, with bumps both large and small sending shock waves through the body. AMG versions are even firmer, and as such definitely best avoided.

The interior is of unalloyed sportiness. The firm seats grip you securely and the driving position is low and fairly adjustable to suit all sizes. However, there’s not a great deal of space up front.

The impression given by the style of the dashboard and surroundings gives the A-Class a distinctly classy feel, even if the quality of materials don’t stand up to the plushness of the Audi A3 upon closer inspection.

Space in the rear is in rather short supply, with limited head room and three people abreast being an uncomfortable squeeze that could be endured only for short journeys. Perhaps surprisingly, the boot is a good size, especially with the rear seats dropped, but access to it through the narrow aperture limits what you load into it.

A high-mileage or Cat D 2013 A-Class can be bought for around £7500, but if you’re after one with an average mileage for the year, as well as a full service history, you’d be better off looking in the £9500-£10,500 bracket. Up the money to between £11,500 and £13,000 for a later 2015 car that satisfies the same criteria or spend £15,000 to £18,000 to get a 2017 or 2018 car from a reputable dealer.

The good news is the official economy of the A180d diesel is astounding, with a claimed NEDC combined figure of 80.7mpg, equating to CO2 emissions of just 89g/km. Even the A200d can average 65.7mpg, while the swift A220d actually betters that, with 68.9mpg and 107g/km of CO2 emissions, although this is dependant on trim. Best of the petrols is the A160, at a claimed 52.3mpg and 124g/km, while the worst is the A250, which gets just 41.5mpg and spits out 158g/km of CO2.

Tax for cars registered before 1 April 2017 varies considerably depending on CO2 output, with the A180d actually being exempt. Any car registered after that date will pay the flat rate of £140, although owners of the AMG A45 hot hatch should note that if their car cost more than £40,000 new, there will be a surcharge of £310.

Insurance groups range from a reasonable 13 for the lower-powered variants up to 45 for the ultra-fast AMG A45.

Servicing costs for the A-Class are some of the most expensive in the class, and replacement parts are equally pricey. At least there's a pay-monthly service plan available to spread the cost of cars that are less than 12 months old. Such plans can be had for as little as £29 per month and guarantee the cost of parts required and labour for up to three services. If you’re buying an older car, you might want to look for a cheaper independent specialist.

We’d keep things simple on the engine front and try to seek out an A180, which is a more refined choice than the diesels, if not so economical. If you’re planning on doing lots of miles, go with the A180d, but you’ll have to put up with its unruly engine tone.

As far as trim goes, we’d go for entry-level SE, since it provides the most comfortable suspension set-up of the range and a good selection of standard goodies. If you’re lucky, it might come with some useful options added, too.

Our favourite Mercedes-Benz A-Class: A180 SE

The Audi A3 is one of our very favourite family cars. It has a range of punchy yet economical engines, a high-quality interior and an excellent infotainment system, but above all, it's great to drive.

The BMW 1 Series gives you all the equipment you could want, never mind need, and it’s surprisingly cheap to run. It’s not the roomiest family car, but it’s good to drive and comes with a class-leading infotainment system.

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