Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2005 – 2012) Review
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Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2005 – 2012) At A Glance
Much better execution of original A-Class concept. Feels far higher quality, especially inside. Easy to park.
Not 'special' to drive. Smaller petrol engines are underpowered. Expensive compared to the competition. Rust problem in doors emerging.
If you're looking for the newer version, you need our Mercedes-Benz A-Class review.
The first big improvement of the new A Class is the feeling of heavy, Germanic solidity. There's nothing flimsy about it. The plastics are thick. The pile of the upholstery and carpeting is deep. Even the feel of the rear seats as you fold them is reassuringly over-engineered. Unlike the original, it's a proper Mercedes in miniature rather than just a small car with a Mercedes badge.
It drives and handles like a larger, heavier car too. It's quiet, refined and smooth. You could step out of an old W123 E Class or a W126 S Class into a new A Class and feel the cars were made in the same factory by the same people (even though they aren't). If you had driven a company Mercedes for the last 20 years of your working life, a new A Class would be the perfect retirement car. All the quality, without the length.
I drove to the launch in Mercedes new small trendy car, the Smart ForFour. And the contrast could not be greater. The Smart is chic and cheerful, not really a Mercedes at all. The new A Class is altogether much more grown-up.
It needs to be, because it certainly isn't cheap. Though prices start at £13,655, and that's actually a few pounds less than the old base-level A Class, the money asked soon escalates and especially if you start adding extras. The A170 Elegance 5-door is £17,305 for starters, before you add the goodies on the test car that took it up to a cool £20,345. While the A200 Avantgarde SE 3-door starts at £18,120 yet the extras on the 7-speed CVT ‘Autotronic' I drove lifted it to a jaw-dropping £26,170. Way above many C Class and even more than the cheapest E Class.
Reviews for Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2005 – 2012)'s top 3 rivals
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Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2005 – 2012) handling and engines
- Engines range from A160 Autotronic to A200 Turbo
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 27–60 mpg
Petrol engines are a 95bhp 1.5, a 116bhp 1.7, a 136bhp 2.0 litre and, arriving in autumn 2005, a 193bhp 141mph 2.0 litre turbo. Diesels are all 2.0 litre 4 cylinder with 82bhp and 180Nm torque from the 160CDI, 109bhp and 250Nm torque from the 180CDI and, coming in a few months, 140bhp and 300Nm torque from the 200CDI. Transmissions are 5-speed manual with the smaller petrol engines, otherwise 6-speed manual or a new 7 selectable ratio CVT ‘Autotronic' automatic.
From my brief drives I can tell you that the A170 5-speed manual is very pleasant and rides well with none of the choppiness of the old A Class and more benign steering. It feels designed from the outset to be reassuringly stable, rather than redesigned with a lot of complex electronics as the original A Class had to be. It's a proper, high-quality car.
The new ‘Autotronic' transmission in the 2.0 litre C200 3-door I also drove feels a bit alien at first because it slurs more than the CVT-7 in the Honda Jazz. Once in ‘Drive' you can easily select lower or higher ratios by wagging the standard Mercedes fiddlestick left or right, or press the ‘Sport' button to hold ratios a bit longer, or, of course, use the kickdown.
I took the car up into the January snow above Chesterfield to check it out in severe conditions and it didn't put a wheel wrong. Then, after having taken a few photos, I got back into the car to find I had adapted my driving style to it. I easily set the optional satnav to take me back where I had started from and enjoyed a very pleasant, quiet, refined return journey. On the motorway, 7th is so long legged it gives about 35mph per 1,000 rpm so 70 comes up at just 2,000 rpm.
So should you buy one? It's undoubtedly an ideal retirement car for the moderately affluent or even for wealthy people who simply don't want or need a big car. It's imposing in a manner Mercedes should be (which the old A Class never was) so your status need not suffer. And, with no door sills and high seats, it's very easy to get in and out of.
Mercedes is also hoping that the car's versatility, particularly with the EASY VARIO PLUS removable rear seat squabs and folding passenger seat packages will appeal to younger buyers. Maybe it will, just as long as they don't add too many options. After all, a Golf GTi is now £20,000 and the new A Class could be seen as a sensible, responsible alternative for status conscious young mums and dads who see no point in a ‘performance cars'.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A150 | 46 mpg | 12.6 s | 148–155 g/km |
| A150 BlueEfficiency | 49 mpg | 12.6 s | 139–143 g/km |
| A160 Autotronic | 42 mpg | 13.5 s | 159–164 g/km |
| A160 BlueEfficiency | 43–47 mpg | 12.6–13.5 s | 139–162 g/km |
| A160 CDI | 58 mpg | 15.0 s | 128–129 g/km |
| A160 CDI Autotronic | 52 mpg | 15.3 s | 142–147 g/km |
| A160 CDI BlueEfficiency | 52–64 mpg | 15.0–15.3 s | 116–147 g/km |
| A170 | 43 mpg | 10.9 s | 157–159 g/km |
| A170 BlueEfficiency | 46 mpg | 10.9 s | 146 g/km |
| A180 Autotronic | 40–42 mpg | 11.5 s | 159–168 g/km |
| A180 Blue Efficiency | 43–45 mpg | 10.9–11.5 s | 145–166 g/km |
| A180 BlueEfficiency | 44–45 mpg | 10.9 s | 145–151 g/km |
| A180 CDI | 52–58 mpg | 10.8–11.1 s | 128–147 g/km |
| A180 CDI Autotronic | 51–52 mpg | 11.1 s | 142–144 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2005 – 2012)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
87%
Real MPG
27–60 mpg
MPGs submitted
393
Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2005 – 2012) interior
- Boot space is 435–1995 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3838–3883 mm |
| Width | 1764 mm |
| Height | 1593–1595 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2568 mm |
So what do you get for this hefty outlay, apart from Mercedes ambiance, quality and status? The answer is quite a lot of basic spec.
All new A Class come with ‘Parameter' electro-mechanical speed-sensitive power steering, just like the larger cars. And the steering does have big car ‘feel'. As well as adaptive front airbags there are head-thorax side airbags for driver and front passenger with active head restraints.
A multi-function steering wheel is standard across the range, together with a trip computer display. The five-door body has a unique double height rear load area enabling you to achieve a flat, sill free floor with the back seats down. All come with a factory fitted integrated radio and CD player. All have bigger, better, very comfortable seats for five.
All have new ‘spherical parabolic spring' rear axles. All, including the diesels, are Euro 4 emissions even without the maintenance-free particle trap fitted. A transponder recognises if a rear-facing child seat is fitted in the front and automatically deactivates the passenger airbag, reactivating it again when a forward facing passenger uses the seat. There is even an indicator to tell the driver if a rear passenger has not buckled up their lap/diagonal seatbelt.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2005 – 2012) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3838–3883 mm |
| Width | 1764 mm |
| Height | 1593–1595 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2568 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1195–1380 kg |
| Boot Space | 435–1995 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / Unlimited miles |
| Servicing | - |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £14,065–£21,790 |
| Insurance Groups | 9–16 |
| Road Tax Bands | C–H |
| Official MPG | 33.6–64.2 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 5 |
| Child | 2 |
| Pedestrian | 2 |
| Overall | - |
On sale until September 2012
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| A 160 Avantgarde SE Autotronic 5dr | £19,160 | 41.5 mpg | 13.5 s |
| A 160 BlueEFFICIENCY Avantgarde SE 5dr | £17,700 | 47.1 mpg | 12.6 s |
| A 160 BlueEFFICIENCY Classic SE 5dr | £16,050 | 47.1 mpg | 12.6 s |
| A 160 CDI Avantgarde SE Autotronic 5dr | £19,920 | 52.3 mpg | 15.3 s |
| A 160 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Avantgarde SE 5dr | £18,760 | 62.8 mpg | 15.0 s |
| A 160 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Classic SE 5dr | £17,125 | 62.8 mpg | 15.0 s |
| A 160 CDI Classic SE Autotronic 5dr | £18,285 | 52.3 mpg | 15.3 s |
| A 160 Classic SE Autotronic 5dr | £17,525 | 41.5 mpg | 13.5 s |
| A 180 CDI Avantgarde SE 5dr | £19,830 | 55.4 mpg | 10.8 s |
| A 180 CDI Avantgarde SE Autotronic 5dr | £21,270 | 51.4 mpg | 11.1 s |
On sale until February 2012
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| A 180 Avantgarde SE Autotronic 5dr | £20,570 | 39.8 mpg | 11.5 s |
| A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Avantgarde SE 5dr | £19,045 | 43.5 mpg | 10.9 s |
On sale until June 2011
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| A 160 BlueEFFICIENCY Elegance SE 5dr | £17,695 | 47.1 mpg | 12.6 s |
| A 160 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Elegance SE 5dr | £18,760 | 62.8 mpg | 15.0 s |
| A 160 CDI Elegance SE Autotronic 5dr | £19,915 | 52.3 mpg | 15.3 s |
| A 160 Elegance SE Autotronic 5dr | £19,155 | 41.5 mpg | 13.5 s |
| A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Classic SE 5dr | £17,375 | 44.8 mpg | 10.9 s |
| A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Elegance SE 5dr | £19,045 | 44.8 mpg | 10.9 s |
| A 180 CDI Classic SE 5dr | £18,075 | 57.6 mpg | 10.8 s |
| A 180 CDI Classic SE Autotronic 5dr | £19,630 | 52.3 mpg | 11.1 s |
| A 180 CDI Elegance SE 5dr | £19,825 | 57.6 mpg | 10.8 s |
| A 180 CDI Elegance SE Autotronic 5dr | £21,265 | 52.3 mpg | 11.1 s |
| A 180 Classic SE Autotronic 5dr | £18,835 | 41.5 mpg | 11.5 s |
| A 180 Elegance SE Autotronic 5dr | £20,570 | 41.5 mpg | 11.5 s |
On sale until April 2010
On sale until May 2009
On sale until August 2008
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| A 180 CDI Elegance SE 3dr | £18,065 | 56.5 mpg | 10.8 s |
| A 180 CDI Elegance SE 3dr Auto | £18,065 | - | - |
On sale until July 2008
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| A 150 Elegance SE 3dr | £15,965 | 45.6 mpg | 12.6 s |
| A 150 Elegance SE 3dr Auto | £15,965 | - | - |
| A 160 CDI Elegance SE 3dr | £16,745 | 57.6 mpg | 15.0 s |
| A 160 CDI Elegance SE 3dr Auto | £16,745 | - | - |
| A 170 Elegance SE 3dr | £17,280 | 42.8 mpg | 10.9 s |
| A 170 Elegance SE 3dr Auto | £17,280 | - | - |
On sale until June 2008
Model History
February 2005
New A-Class launched
Mercedes Code W169. More sharply styled, more car-like A Class in 3 and 5 door versions. 3,838mm long by 1,764mm wide by 1,595mm high. Standard tyres sizes seem to be 185/65 x 15 or 195/55 x 16.
Base engine 95PS 1,498cc 1.5 twin cam, plus 116PS 1.7, 134PS 2.0 and 193PS 2.0 Turbo. 2.0 litre diesels with 82PS, 109PS or 140PS. In UK from early 2005. Vastly better than old A Class. Has the feeling of solidity a Mercedes ought to have. 193bhp A 200 Turbo from October 2005, from £20,695 on the road for 3-dr and £21,295 for 5-dr. Insurance Group 14E. 2,035 cc, 193 hp and 280 Nm. 0-60 mph 7.2 seconds with standard six-speed manual gearbox (reduced to 7.1 seconds with optional AUTOTRONIC CVT), top speed 141 mph, 34.9 mpg combined, CO2 192 g/km.
A low fuel consumption of just 62.8 mpg – corresponding to CO2 emissions of 119 g/km – is a key feature of the A 160 CDI, due to be launched in June 2008. The reduction in fuel consumption can be attributed to intelligent optimisation in all relevant vehicle components.
July 2008
Facelifted Summer 2008 and made safer, more economical and greener than before. The design has been revised and new technical developments have further enhanced levels of safety with crash responsive lighting and adaptive brake lights. The car is more comfortable as a result of new interior materials, with improved adjustment and support in the seats. All models have new infotainment systems with Bluetooth connectivity, and the engines are now more fuel efficient as a result of three new BlueEFFICIENCY models.
What to watch out for
On diesel manuals that undergo a lot of gear changing the clutch spline can dry out and need regular greasing. Front suspension vulnerable to damage by speed cushions if driver brakes too hard, too late. Also not suitable for rough tracks.
One report of injector failure on a 2005 A200 CVT.
One complaint of 'sticking' in gear if left in gear with the clutch down when stopped. MB dealer Tony Purslow suggests clutch assembly (not release bearing) is sticking on spigot shaft, special grease should be used with MB part number.
One complaint of repeated fuel sender pump failures eventually necessitating a new fuel tank, then an ECU problem with the same car (an A150).
TSB reprogramming of the Command system also seems to reprogramme the Autotronic ECVT control system, locking out top gear. MB is working on a fix, but can mean an decrease in economy from around 48mpg to around 40mpg. ( Possibly same ZF CF23 CVT at the Forc C-Max and Focus 1.6TDCI auto?)
Brake discs only seem to last about 3 years and around 25,000 miles before dealers advise expensive replacement.
One disenchanted owner wrote, "In a six month period the driver's window control became erratic, the passenger door lock failed (apparently a fault not unique to the A-Class), the hose to the rear screen-wash became detached and flooded the tailgate, the "fan" belt started squealing (3 hours to fix in a MB main dealer) and the simulated leather on the driver's seat started to split."
Diesel engines used for repeated short runs from cold are prone to problems with the glowplugs that corrode into the cylinder head due to condensation.
24-02-2011:One report of flywheel seal failure, necessitatig removal of engine and transmission (a very difficult job) and a bill of £1,800.
01-07-2011:Weld seals on hatchbacks fail leading to premature rusting. MB will normally pay 80% of the cost of the repair. But if buying, check this area carefully.
18-08-2011:Autotronic CVT valve bodies are starting to fail after 6 years and around 70k miles. Cost around £1,250 to replace.
22-02-2012:By 2012 numerous reports of rusted doors and hatchbacks on 2005/2006 A-Class, some replaced under warranty, others leading to disputes. Forum Thread Link.
25-04-2012:Another Autotronic CVT failure reported, this time on a 27,500 mile 2007 A170. MB dealer quoted first £5,000, then £3,900 to replace the transmission, but might have been no more than the valve body. Referred to King Automatics
13-06-2012:Drains to bulkhead vent well can become blocked leading to saturation and failure of satnav (if fitted).
10-04-2013:Another report of inside/outside rust perforation, this time both side doors (of a 3 door) and the hatchback lid of a 2005/55 reg. Quoted £3,500 by MB dealer to replace the doors and hatch, with 50% contribution from the owner who thought he had a 30 year no perforation warranty.
27-05-2013:Problem with persistent failure of brake light switches on 2010 A180 leading to false messages such as "ESP & flat run indicator not operative".
12-02-2014:A further case of rusty door bottoms, these on a 25,500 mile 2006 Mercedes A200 Turbo. Unfortunately, after 3 Mercedes services the car has been independently serviced so Mercedes would only offer to pay half the £1,900 rectification costs.
30-06-2014:Another failure of Autotronic CVT transmission, this on a 56k mile 2008 A180 Avantgarde. Warning light indicated a problem with the transmission. MB Specialist diagnostics showed error codes 0793 & 0722 for the electronic sensors in the gearbox. The solution is to have the valve body replaced with parts and labour from MB quoted at £1,750. Car had not had the very necessary transmission fluid change at 4 years/37k miles.
11-07-2015:Offside front brake calliper of 2012 W169 A-Class failed at 37 months old. Subsequently, driveshaft failed. Independent said no driveshaft available in Europe to repair it, and until owner places an order which then cannot be cancelled, he will not be given an ETA for delivery of the part. Eventually found a used part from a breaker for £162.50. Meanwhile, MBUK confirmed that the parts were in stock in the UK and were readily available, guessing that the independent ordered the wrong part number.
04-11-2015:Report of failure of ignition steering lock module on 2010 A-Class. Cost £643.20 to replace.
07-02-2016:Bizarre problem reporterd with 2010 A-Class 1.5 petrol after a service at Mercedes dealer. The ECO system kicks-in and the engine dies. Engage clutch and the engine starts as normal but all the electrics go off: lights, radio and PAS, only for them all to return gradually over about 10-15 seconds. The engine diagnostic warning light then often comes on, or the ABS warning light, and the ECO light usually goes out, although these phenomena are not guaranteed. The car has been back to the Main agent twice and is booked in for a third time but so far they cannot duplicate the fault and the diagnostics read-out shows no report. Problem eventually diagnosed as "failing auxiliary battery used for the Eco system."
16-07-2017:Report of rising engine oil level in Mercedes-Benz W168 A180CDI. Suspect diesel from failed active regeneration of DPF.
27-02-2018:Report of strut top mounts/bearings clunking on a 2009 Mercedes-Benz A160 Autotronic.
09-08-2018:Report of door bottoms rusting through on a 2007 Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
01-11-2018:Report of intermittently sticking driver's window on 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. "N ow seems to have a mind of it’s own and comes back open or does not completely open/shut with coaxing." Probably moisture in the locking and windoews ECU inside the driver's door.
18-08-2019: Report of problems with Autotronic CVT transmission of 2011 Mercedes-Benz A 160 classic se cvt. At 37,538 miles the 'Transmission Consult Workshop' sign came up on the dash and the car had intermittent drive power. On 12-11-18 owner took it to a Mercedes repair centre and duly paid £84 for a diagnostic report. He was told that it was the gearbox speed sensor module and advised that the relevant part would be sent away for specialist repair. On 3-12-18 he collected my car and settled the £800+ bill. On 2-1-19 the same signal appeared on the dash at 37,591 miles. He again took the car in and the garage duly dealt with the matter. I collected the car on 24-1-19 - mileage 37,742 - no charge. On 2-8-19 at 39,660 he experienced the same signal and drive problem and yet again returned the car to the centre. On 9-8-19 they called to say it was "the same fault" and they spoke again on 16-8-19. Their technician wanted to send the gearbox for a specialist flush and they wanted owner's go ahead. Apparently this would eliminate the possibility that metal filings / swarf being the cause and if this was the case then costs could fall to the owner. They could not offer any estimate at the time.
See 30-6-2014, 25-4-2012 and 18-8-2011.
