Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes-Benz A-class (2012-2018) review – interior and tech

A conventional hatch now, the A-class fights hard in the premium hatchback class

Evo rating
RRP
from £19,990
  • Neat interior, head-turning looks and comparatively cheap to own and run
  • Dynamically it doesn’t live up to its visual promise, space and comfort are issues

The A-Class interior is amongst the best in the business. Even in range-entry spec, touch points are good and everything feels nice and solid. Increased options for customisation from 2015 see range-topping variants boasting added leather and better materials.

Also now available is an optional 20.3cm nav screen, which ensures that the tech onboard the A-Class easily stays alongside a well specified BMW 1-series. Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink have also now been added.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The textures, from the soft touch plastics on the door handles to the smooth tactile finishes on the control surfaces and column stalks, the A-class feels reassuringly premium, even if the odd iffy plastic creeps in out of sight.

It’s pretty tight in the cabin for space, though; it's fine for those up front, the driving position good with plenty of adjustment, but in the rear head- and legroom aren’t at the more generous end of the spectrum. An A3 Sportback is more accommodating and less claustrophobic, while access (even though the A-class is exclusively five-door) isn’t particularly easy to the back, either.  

Unusually for Mercedes-Benz the boot is the smallest in its class, it giving away a handful of litres to its key rivals.

 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses
Ford Focus ST Mk3
Features

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses

We’d hoped the 2015 Focus ST would share a good dose of its little brother’s magic. Sadly, it didn’t
28 Apr 2025
The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever
Ferrari 296 Speciale – front
News

The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever

The 296 Speciale is the latest in Ferrari's line of mid-engined road racers, packing 868bhp and LaFerrari-beating pace on track
29 Apr 2025
Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 2025 review – the ultimate analogue hypercar
GMA T.50 front
Reviews

Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 2025 review – the ultimate analogue hypercar

The GMA T.50 is the car we thought would never come: Gordon Murray's sequel to the ultimate hypercar, the McLaren F1
26 Apr 2025