Mercedes A-Class review - Reliability and safety
The A-Class gets top marks for safety, but servicing costs are more expensive compared to some rivals
All versions of the A-Class come loaded with safety kit: an active bonnet, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), auto headlights, and a glut of airbags are standard throughout the range. Also included is ‘Mercedes me connect’; an in-built system which not only keeps the driver within easy contact of approved breakdown services, but is also able to contact the emergency services in the event of a serious accident.
The Mercedes A-Class was assessed by Euro NCAP in 2018 and achieved a maximum five-star safety rating. Adult and child occupant protection scored an excellent 96 and 91 per cent, respectively.
The A-Class finished 39th on our list of the best cars to own based on owners' feedback from the 2023 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. The premium hatchback also received a 93.77 per cent score for reliability. However, Mercedes as a brand finished a disappointing 25th (out of 32) in the best car manufacturers rankings – behind Jaguar and BMW.
Warranty
As with other models in the Mercedes range, the A-Class comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty. That’s a match for BMW’s standard warranty, and better than Audi’s which is capped at 60,000 miles over the three year period.
Servicing
Various service plans allow buyers to spread the cost of maintenance over monthly payments. A typical plan costs around £30 per month, guaranteeing the price of parts and labour for up to three services.
What do owners think?
Here’s what owners in the 2024 Driver Power survey thought of the Mercedes A-Class.
| What they like | What they don't like |
| “Overall, this is a great small saloon in terms of design and quality. It’s just what you expect of the brand.” | “There should be the option of a spare wheel. I got a puncture and had to wait four hours for assistance.” |
| “Mercedes cars are not cheap to buy, but they are impressive, so on balance they’re good value.” | “My A180 is underpowered and lacks mid-range oomph. Next time I’ll buy something with a bit more power.” |
| “The voice control is up there with the best. We’ve had 10 cars in the last six years, so we’ve tried plenty.” | “The satellite-navigation system in my A-Class is by far the worst that I have ever owned.” |
| “In automatic mode, the gearbox is very smooth and responsive, and it’s just as good in manual mode.” | “The ride quality is harsh and the car is very unsettled over small bumps and minor road imperfections.” |
| “My A-Class goes like hell, stops really well and holds the road superbly. There really is nothing not to like.” | “The service interval should be set at every two years for low-mileage drivers, rather than every year.” |
| “All-round visibility is excellent, thanks to the car’s rear-view camera. Also, it’s in a drop-down housing, so it stays clean.” | |
| “The different driving modes mean that it adapts to your driving style, so the steering is set up just right whatever the driving environment. The ride quality is smooth, too.” | |
| “Looks and feels well made; it’s as good as the bigger, more costly models. The only bad point with the choice of cabin materials is the gloss piano black, which attracts fingerprints.” | |
| “The A-Class isn’t a large car, but rear legroom is perfectly good, even for longer journeys, and the boot is a good size, too. The number of cubbyholes isn’t very generous, but it’s adequate and perfectly fine for the needs of most people.” |
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