Mercedes A Class Saloon

A35 4Matic Premium 4dr Auto [2026]

When BMW appeared with the 1-Series hatchback, Mercedes-Benzknew it had to do something. So, it replaced its tiny people carrier-looking A-Class with something much more desirable.

The car was transformed into a decent family hatchback that it hoped could complete.

But, in truth, this made it worse.

While it might have made the vehicle more appealing to the masses, the more traditionally shaped five-door A-Class could have been better.

Mercedes-Benz had a second crack at it in 2018 to try and steal the thunder from its German rival and, while doing that, introduced a saloon version.

The latter decision might seem questionable when everyone is ditching hatchbacks, let alone saloons, to lease small SUV crossovers instead.

But, given the company car tax and road tax system is geared around emissions, smaller saloons are growing in popularity again as people forgo larger, less economically friendly ones to maximise savings.

And you won’t get a smaller Mercedes-Benz than an A-Class.