Mercedes A-Class review | updated, streamlined and effortlessly desirable

Mercedes-Benz has set out a plan to shift its model range upmarket, move away from cheaper segments and only sell electric cars by 2030. It seems like an odd move, as the A-Class and its extended family, which inlcudes the GLA SUV and CLA, account for a large chunk of its sales.

Following its 2018 launch, the latest A-Class has become a firm favourite among company car drivers as it offers the expected level of Mercedes-Benz prestige in a compact and cost-effective package.

A range of updates have been applied to the car, as part of a facelift, while the line-up has been streamlined.

Minimal changes were made to the A-Class's appearance, which is a good thing as it still looks as stylish and contemporary as it did when it first launched.

The large grille and sleek headlights provide road presence and the bulging sides give the impression that the A-Class is much larger than its dimensions suggest.

There's a choice of hatchback or saloon bodystyles and four powertrains.

Two mild hybrid petrol engines, derived from Mercedes' involvement with the Renault-Nissan alliance, are available with 136PS (A 180) or 163PS (A 200). Both are paired with a seven-speed automatic gearbox and have CO2 emissions from 134g/km. 

These powertrains prove popular with retail buyers as they are the cheapest to buy and return reasonable fuel consumption of around 48mpg. The A 200's extra grunt is appreciated on longer stretches of road, but both a suitably nippy around town.

Mercedes also offers a 2.0-litre diesel (A 200d) with 150PS and emissions from 128g/km. It's the more efficient choice for higher-mileage drivers, returning upwards of 60mpg. Tax bills and running costs are aligned with the A 200.

The plug-in hybrid A 250e has been improved and is now equipped with a 16kWh battery (up from 12kWh) and an 11kW on-board charger. It means the zero-emission range now comfortably exceeds the 40-mile threshold to attract an 8% benefit-in-kind tax rate. The car can also be charged in less than two hours from a suitable point.

It's the fastest model in the range, serving up 218PS, although when the battery is discharged it's effectively just an A 200 with a little bit more weight to lug around. We were impressed with the A 250e's range and efficiency. It still manages close to 50mpg on longer jaunts and will cover around 42 miles on a charge. 

The only bad news is Mercedes has decided to only offer the plug-in hybrid powertrain with the saloon body.

Prices start at £31,605 for the A 180 in Sport Executive guise.

It comes with LED headlights, parking sensors and reversing camera, cruise control and heated front seats.

The AMG Line Executive (from £33,705) brings larger 18-inch alloy wheels and AMG body styling, while the AMG Line Premium (from £35,305) comes with an upgraded sound system, blind spot monitoring and an augmented reality view for the satnav. The range-topping AMG Premium Plus (from £39,955) adds a sunroof, multibeam headlights and electrically adjustable front seats with memory function.

Prices for the A 250e saloon start at £41,285.

Driveability was never the A-Class's strongest attribute and that's still the case with the latest version. The A-Class is easy to drive, with light and responsive controls. At higher speeds it feels fairly stable but push too hard on country lanes and the experience becomes less fun that it is in a BMW 1 Series.

Comfort and refinement levels are high. The seats offer great support and adjustability, although taller drivers may find the pedals a little close. There's not a great deal of wind noise at motorway speeds, but the A-Class isn't quite as hushed as the CLA.

The interior is a remarkable piece of design and maximises passenger space while giving the illusion of luxury. There's fancy-looking air vents that light up at night, two 10-inch displays that merge together to form a panoramic instrument cluster and a row of neat chrome toggle switches for the climate controls. Most of the console is finished in gloss black plastic and the fit and feel of the interior is not quite as good as it looks. The 1 Series feels much more accomplished in this regard.

Mercedes has done away with the laptop-style touchpad in the centre console, used to control it's infotainment system, and instead relies on the touchscreen, steering wheel mounted controls and "Hey Mercedes" voice activation system. The removal of the pad is no great loss and it frees up space in front of the armrest, but it does mean there's no longer a direct button to switch to the next music track.

The decision to stop offering the A 250e hatch may push some drivers towards the Audi A3, but the A-Class still remains the most desirable model in its segment. It falls short of the BMW 1 Series when it comes to driveability, but its a prettier package and comes with that all-important plug-in hybrid - in the saloon, at least.