Used test: BMW 1 Series vs Mercedes A-Class

The contenders

BMW 1 Series 118d M Sport auto

List price when new £31,040
Price today £21,000*
Available from 2019-present

This 1 Series is more practical than previous generations, but is it still great to drive?

Mercedes A-Class A200d AMG Line

List price when new £30,385
Price today £20,000*
Available from 2018-present

The A-Class is about as chic as family cars come, and used prices are very tempting

*Price today is based on a 2019 model with average mileage and full service history, correct at time of writing

There have been many great double acts over the years. Laurel and Hardy, French and Saunders, and Ant and Dec, for example. And BMW and rear-wheel drive have proved a remarkable duo too, so when the BMW 1 Series ditched it to become front or all-wheel drive, it was controversial to say the least.

The switch was made for the third-generation car to create a more spacious interior and provide better fuel efficiency. Fans of its predecessors were concerned that the family car had lost its sporty driving experience – a trademark of the model.

So, with the 1 Series' unique selling point nowhere to be found, are you better off with one of its rivals? The Mercedes A-Class has a premium badge too, yet arguably looks even more posh inside and out.

You might think that would be reflected in expensive prices (even used), but you'd be wrong. At three years old, the A-Class is slightly cheaper than the equivalent 1 Series.

Whichever car you pick, you're making use of four-figure savings off their new car prices. Time to see which prestigious hatch is best...

Driving

Performance, ride, handling, refinement

Both the cars we're testing have 2.0-litre diesel engines and they're usefully brisk around town. They also have plenty of verve in reserve for motorways. The A-Class is a bit faster and builds speed more easily. The 1 Series has near-identical power, but the A-Class's is more evenly spread across its rev range (rather than concentrated more at the top and bottom), making it more usable.

It’s swings and roundabouts, though. Both cars' automatic gearboxes change quickly, but the box in the 1 Series is better harmonised with its engine and has a knack of being in the most appropriate gear most of the time. The A-Class gearbox fumbles occasionally to grab the ideal gear, plus it’s jerkier when pulling away. 

The 1 Series' engine emits a deeper yet more distant rumble that’s fractionally less intrusive than the higher-pitched clatter of the A-Class. The contrast is sharper in slow traffic. At idle, there’s more noise and vibration inside the A200d, and its engine stop-start system operates with a shudder, whereas in the 1 Series it's comparatively seamless.

You’d need keen hearing to notice either engine at 70mph, but the 1 Series just pips the A-Class for peacefulness in other ways. Both cars produce more road roar and wind noise than the VW Golf, but the bluster in the BMW 1 Series is focused mostly around the door mirrors, while in the Mercedes A-Class it comes from the mirrors as well as the rear side windows.

On top of that, the A-Class emits louder twangs from its suspension over bumps in the road, although it does actually have a softer ride. You get the most benefit from that on gently undulating motorways or A-roads, where it’s appreciably calmer than the tautly sprung 1 Series M Sport. The flipside is that the A-Class isn’t as well tied down, so you notice your backside bouncing off the seat more often when the road is really bucking.

Oddly, the A-Class isn’t a whole lot smoother than the 1 Series across broken town asphalt. It deals with initial impacts better but needs more time to compose itself after the disruptive calluses have gone.

Most will find the softer Mercedes A-Class comfier overall, but there’s no doubting that the BMW 1 Series does more to tickle the fancy of enthusiastic drivers. Its steering is quicker than that of the A-Class so it’s far more eager to scamper towards apexes, and, with much less lean and a more playful balance, it changes direction with greater alacrity while feeling more fun. Don’t write off the A-Class, though, because it grips just as hard, is perfectly capable and is more relaxing to drive, thanks in part to its slower steering.

Interiors

Driving position, visibility, build quality, practicality

A sound driving position and simple controls are always the ideal, but which of these cars does those better? The short answer is the BMW 1 Series but the devil is in the detail. For example, whatever your size, you should find enough range of adjustment in both driving positions, but the 1 Series' seat drops a little lower and its steering wheel extends a fraction further out.

The Mercedes A-Class comes equipped with a 7.0in digital instrument display, while the 1 Series makes do with analogue dials. Each of our test cars came carrying an upgrade added as an option when ordered new. The Premium Plus Pack for the A Class included a bigger (10.3in) instrument display and an equivalent increase in size for the infotainment screen. The 1 Series’ digital dials were part of the optional Tech Pack II, which also added a fancy head-up display. Our research suggests that these options were added to about half of all A-Class and 1 Series models. 

Infotainment-wise, the 1 Series' iDrive system comes with a brilliantly easy to use rotary controller, as well as a touchscreen and a natural speech voice control setup. The larger (10.3in) touchscreen on our test car was an option from new.  

In the A-Class, the standard 7.0in touchscreen could likewise be enlarged to a 10.3in screen by specifying one of the upgrade packs. Aside from the touchscreen, there’s a trackpad controller that’s fiddlier to operate than BMW’s iDrive dial, but the system is otherwise responsive and easy to use. 

These cars’ slim and chamfered windscreen pillars are relatively easy to see past, making the view forwards as clear as you would hope. The view out of the back isn’t great, but you do get a rear-view camera on the A-Class, and front and rear parking sensors on the 1 Series. Speaking of visibility, both cars also get bright LED headlights that light the way clearly at night.

Inside, the A-Class is more about glitz and glamour. You get what many will consider a spectacular design with a rich mix of materials, and the ambient interior lighting (part of that Premium Plus Pack) is like a well-choreographed light show to keep the party going after dark.

Yet some of the plastics lower down inside the A200d feel less appealing, and the build quality is questionable. The heater control panel deflects when you use it, for example, and the outer air-vent surrounds wobble. The 1 Series, on the other hand, is like an Anglepoise lamp: its design is less flamboyant and full of sharply intersecting angles, but it shouts engineering integrity very loudly indeed.

Both cars were fitted with optional panoramic sunroofs that reduce head room, but the A-Class ends up with the least in the front. Still, as long as you're not way over 6ft tall, you’ll be fine in both. You’ll have lots of leg room too, but the 1 Series has an extra couple of centimetres of that as well.

They’re not lacking storage space, either. Each has a place for cups in the centre console, for bottles in the decent-sized door bins, and for anything you want hidden in the large glovebox or the cubby under the front armrest.

Strangely, for premium family cars, neither offers rear passengers the luxury of a folding centre armrest. The rear space in the 1 Series is miles better than it was in the previous rear-wheel-drive model, bringing it on par with the A-Class.

There are roomier family hatchbacks out there, but these two provide enough rear head and leg room for two tall people, with the A-Class having a fraction more of the former and the 1 Series a smidge more of the latter. Seating three adults abreast is quite a squeeze, although the smaller hump running down the centre of the A-Class’s floor makes life better for the person in the middle. 

It’s easier to split the two on luggage space. The boot of the Mercedes A-Class is longer, allowing us to cram in six carry-on suitcases. The BMW 1 Series boot manages just five. On the plus side, it has a lower loading lip than the A-Class and lots more storage under the floor, which can be clipped open so you’re not propping it up with an elbow while loading and unloading.

The A-Class back seats split 40/20/40 to fold down, while in the 1 Series they split in a less flexible 60/40 arrangement.

Buying and owning

Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security

When new, the BMW 1 Series was the more expensive car by nearly £1000, and it's a similar story three years later. As a used car, the 1 Series will set you back £21,000, while the Mercedes A-Class commands £20,000. A similar level of depreciation is likely to continue into the future. 

Both cars will cost the same amount to tax every year – £165. To insure, the 1 Series should cost on average £661 because it's in insurance group 23. The A-Class occupies group 18 and should be around £562. We were quoted £310 for a service of the 1 Series, while the A-Class came in at £263 on a fixed-price service plan. 

Fuel economy proved impressive in both cars, with the A-Class returning 52.3mpg and the 1 Series 49.2mpg during our testing. 

You'll get a decent tally of kit with whichever car you choose, including climate control, leather seats (faux leather/faux suede in the A-Class) and 18in alloy wheels. The 1 Series tops that list with heated front seats and power-folding door mirrors, while the A200d throws in tinted rear windows.

Both cars come with automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance as standard from new. The 1 Series adds traffic-sign recognition. The A-Class has a better Euro NCAP safety rating, though, with higher category scores thanks to better whiplash, chest and pedestrian protection.

In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey the BMW 1 Series finished 10th out of 37 cars in the family car class. The Mercedes A-Class came a disappointing 32nd. As brands, BMW ranked 16th out of 32 brands, while Mercedes managed 23rd. 

Our verdict

It doesn't take a genius to see that the Mercedes A-Class has been built to swoon, particularly with its chic interior and comfortable ride. It's a charming car, for the most part. Where it's let down is questionable reliability and refinement that just lacks that last coat of polish – the kind you'd expect from such a prestigious brand. 

The BMW 1 Series is quieter and less jerky in traffic, not to mention that, while a fraction behind on pace, it's much livelier to drive. In other words – rejoice! It ditched rear-wheel drive but retained a sense of fun. By a small but noteworthy margin, it's a better executed family car, and so the 1 Series wins this test. 

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1st – BMW 1 Series 118d M Sport auto

For Agile handling; well-controlled ride; smart interior; great driving position; excellent infotainment system
Against Smaller boot; lower Euro NCAP scores

What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5

Read our full used BMW 1 Series review >> 

Find a used BMW 1 Series for sale >>

2nd - Mercedes A-Class A200d AMG Line

For Excellent safety rating; better economy; stronger engine
Against Jerky gearbox in traffic; poor reliability rating; generally a bit noisier

What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5

Read our full used Mercedes A-Class review >>

Find a used Mercedes A-Class for sale >>

Specifications: BMW 1 Series 118d M Sport auto

Engine 4cyl, 1995cc, diesel 
Power 148bhp @ 4000rpm 
Torque 258lb ft @ 1750-2500rpm 
Gearbox 8-spd dual-clutch automatic
0-60mph 8.2sec
Top speed 135mph
Official fuel economy 55.4mpg (WLTP)
Test MPG 49.2mpg 
CO2 emissions 109%/km

Specifications: Mercedes A-Class A200d AMG Line

Engine 4cyl, 1950cc, diesel
Power 148bhp @ 3400rpm 
Torque 236lb ft @ 1400-3200rpm 
Gearbox 8-spd dual-clutch automatic
0-60mph 7.8sec
Top speed 137mph
Official fuel economy 56.5mpg (WLTP)
Test MPG 52.3mpg
CO2 emissions 110g/km

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Read more: Our top 10 used family cars >>