Mercedes-Benz A-Class Mk2 Review (2005-2012)
Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars for sale
3.0
Expert review
Pros
Very roomy for its size
Comfy, high-up driving position
Well finished cabin
Cons
Dull to drive
Some versions lack air conditioning
Even the newest models are now quite old
The CarGurus verdict
Whether or not you should buy an A-Class mk2 depends partly on whether you like its unconventional styling, and partly on how much you enjoy driving – it’s not really for people who think a car is more than a means of getting from A to B.
But its ease of access for those with stiff joints and its lofty driving position wins the A-Class mk2 many friends, while its cabin is chic, well made, spacious and, especially when equipped with the optional Easy-Vario-Plus seating package, extremely versatile. Retirees and small families will find much about the A-Class mk2 that suits their lifestyles, and in terms of image the Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star puts an upmarket shine on a compact hatchback.
Although the A-Class mk2 does have a few issues to be wary of, on the whole it’s a dependable ally and more reliable than some of its prestige rivals. Which for many people is reason enough to place it on their shortlist.
What is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
There were plenty of critics of the short, upright bodystyle of the A-Class mk1 when it was launched in 1997, but by the time it was replaced by a new car, the A-Class mk2 in 2005, Mercedes-Benz had sold 1.1 million of them, 88,372 of which were bought by the British. No wonder Mercedes kept the same formula for the second generation of its premium family car. Buyers seemed to like the idea of Mercedes ownership without needing anything as big as an S-Class, E-Class or a C-Class.
How practical is it?
The front-wheel-drive Mercedes A-Class mk2 features many improvements over the original, and adds a three-door version to the mix. It’s optimistically referred to as a coupe in some Mercedes literature, but if you have kids you’re better off sticking to the five-door as it’s easier to get in and out of the rear.
The A-Class mk2 is 14mm longer in the wheelbase and a little bit wider, so there’s more interior and boot space, though it remains very much a four-seater, despite a central seatbelt in the back.
The design and quality of its cabin materials is vastly improved and there are more supportive seats. It also has revised rear suspension to improve the ride quality, at which it is partially successful.
What’s it like to drive?
Its range of petrol and diesel engines are more powerful and economical. It’s available (as an option when new) with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), a form of automatic called Autotronic, and a six-speed manual for some models as well as a five-speed, and it has more safety equipment, including stability control as standard on all models.
Despite being a clear step forward dynamically from the mk1, the A-Class mk2 doesn’t dish up much driving pleasure. Turn the steering wheel and you'll find the steering is overly light, its handling lacklustre and the ride quality crashier than you’d experience in a conventional hatchback. Its petrol engines are loud when revved hard and its diesels are noisy all the time. What Mercedes-Benz A-Class W169 owners seem to appreciate, however, is the high, upright driving position that makes getting in easier for those with back and knee problems, and offers good visibility without the need to drive a hulking SUV.
At launch there were four petrol engines – a 1.5-litre, 1.7-litre, 2.0-litre and 2.0-litre turbo – and a direct injection 2.0-litre diesel (diesels are badged CDI) producing three different power outputs – 82bhp in the A160 CDI, 109bhp in the A180 CDI and 140bhp in the A200 CDI. For the 2008 facelift the 2.0-litre turbo was dropped in the UK, but Mercedes added BlueEfficiency packages to several of the petrol and diesel engines to improve their fuel economy and reduce emissions. The most successful of these is the A160 CDI BlueEfficiency with official combined fuel consumption of 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 116g/km.
Technology and equipment
Facelifted versions of the A-Class mk2 also look a little more stylish inside and out, have better infotainment and satnav systems than the pre-2008 cars, and feature more advanced tech, including a parking assist system called Parktronic.
The A-Class W169 isn’t for everyone. It's a used car that will suit folk who aren’t that concerned about driving pleasure but do want a nicely appointed premium hatchback that’s easy to get in and out of, offers a good driving position, and has decent boot space.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class mk2 running costs
Discounting the A200 Turbo, which isn’t all that commonplace anyway, the A-Class mk2’s petrol engines all deliver more than 39mpg (claimed), while if you can find yourself an A150/A160 BlueEfficiency model you may be able to squeeze 48 miles from a gallon of unleaded. Predictably the diesel is the more economical fuel type, the regular CDI models delivering between 49 and 57mpg, with the A160 BlueEfficiency’s 1.6-litre CDI engine giving you up to 72mpg.
Annual road tax isn’t too painful in an A-Class mk2, with costs spanning a range of £125 to £240. The exception is the A200 Turbo which attracts a £305 charge. It’s little surprise that the Turbo gets hit hardest by the insurance industry – it’s group 30 – but the rest of the Mercedes A-Class mk2 line-up sits between groups 11 and 20.
Owners who bought the A-Class mk2 new complain about the high cost of having their cars serviced at Mercedes-Benz dealers, and with the cars now long out of warranty, independent Mercedes specialists might well be a better bet. The A-Class mk2 has an onboard service indicator that tells you when an A or B service is required – we’ve seen prices at independents as low as £85 for an A service on either petrol or diesel models, and £140 for a B service. What’s called a ’36,000-mile’ service (with genuine Mercedes parts) we’ve seen for as little as £195 for a diesel and £205 for a petrol A-Class mk2.
Bear in mind though that many of these cars are now quite old and likely to have three-figure mileages, so budget for replacing items that may have worn out, such as front and rear brake pads (approximately £55/£35), starter motors (around £250), alternators (from £495), and exhaust systems (£175-ish). And while diesel glow-plugs can cost as little as £14 each, fitting them can set you back as much as £600.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class mk2 reliability
Generally the A-Class mk2 is fairly dependable, as evidenced by its 25th (out of 100) place in the 2010 JD Power customer satisfaction survey. But that was a decade ago and there are now a few problems to be on the lookout for. Increasingly rust is becoming a vexatious issue, typically in the doors and tailgate: sorting out those could cost you £3,500 or more, so if you spot rust you should walk away.
Some sunroofs are now starting to let in water, with the potential for damaging electrical systems, while the plastic tube from the washer bottle to the rear wiper can come adrift, soaking the boot carpet: deteriorating tailgate seals can exacerbate the problem. Water of a different form – condensation – can sit on the cylinder head of diesel models used only for short journeys and therefore not getting hot: this can cause the glow-plugs to be corroded into the cylinder head, meaning an expensive replacement cylinder head.
As is common in cars this age, electrical items are starting to play up, so on your test drive check that everything works as it should. And make sure that the clutch isn’t slipping as it can cost as much as £1,500 to fit a new one. On the subject of transmissions, there are reports of failures with the CVT automatic – beware warning lights on the dashboard – because of dodgy electronic sensors. Rectification requires the replacement of the gearbox’s valve body, which could cost the thick end of £2,000 at a dealer. Also with the CVT, ask for evidence that the transmission fluid has been changed every four years or 37,000 miles.
And still with gearboxes, a stiff manual gear change in a diesel on which a lot of shifting has taken place could be the result of a dry clutch spline – regular re-greasing should sort it out.
Driven spiritedly, an A-Class mk2 can chew through front brake discs in about 25,000 miles so ask when they were last replaced, while some owners report that squealing brakes have proved tricky to silence.
- A-Class W169 BlueEfficiency models feature a raft of measures to improve economy and lower emissions. They sit 10mm lower than standard models, have a blanking plate behind the grille to channel air smoothly away from the engine bay and use narrower, low rolling resistance tyres. In addition, they employ better energy management, are fitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF), and benefit from stop/start technology claimed to reduce urban fuel consumption by up to 9%. The BlueEfficiency package was available on A150, A160, A170 and A180 petrol models of the A-Class mk2, and the A160 CDI diesel.
- When the A-Class mk2 was first introduced in 2005 it came with what Mercedes-Benz called Mobilo-life,a very generous 30-year anti-corrosion warranty and breakdown cover. Given that the A-class mk2 is now starting to suffer from rust in the doors and tailgate, it seems like a godsend to current owners but, of course, there’s a catch. Your car must always have been serviced in the Mercedes-Benz dealer network and have received regular MB anti-corrosion inspections. And the rust has to have perforated the metal.
- Five-door versions of the A-Class mk2 were available with the option of Easy-Vario-Plus seating which greatly added to its interior versatility. In addition to the rear seat bases flipping forwards and upright and the seat backs folding forwards to create a flat floor, the bases and backs can be removed altogether to release extra luggage space. The clever part of Easy-Vario-Plus is that, just like on some small vans, the front passenger seat’s back can be folded forward until it sits flat on the seat base, and the whole seat can be removed entirely to help accommodate long loads. All A-Class mk2s feature a two-level boot floor.
- If you want the best value: When the A-Class mk2 was new you could upgrade from Classic to Classic SE trim for an extra £300, thus bagging yourself air conditioning (including a refrigerated 8.5-litre glovebox), and upgraded hi-fi with a CD multi-changer, and front fog lights. Frankly, it’s as much as you really need. As for an engine choice, the A180 CDI provides perky performance together with 54.3mpg.
- If you prefer a petrol engine: The 95bhp 1.5-litre engine is the A150 is a wee bit short of puff, so look out for the popular A170 powered by the 116bhp 1.7-litre motor – you’ll appreciate its extra performance on the motorway and on empty A-roads.
- If you want the best fuel economy: Look out for the BlueEfficiency models that arrived with the facelift in 2008. The best mpg of the bunch comes from the 1.6 TDI BlueEfficiency, claimed to give up to 64.2mpg combined. You’re unlikely to achieve this figure in real world driving, though; expect about 10mpg less.
- If you fancy a quick A-Class mk2: The A-Class mk2 isn’t really designed for speed, but if that’s what you’re after… The A200 Turbo was fresh to the A-Class line-up when the mk2 was launched in 2005 and it’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine giving 193bhp. Its 0-62mph time of 8.0sec isn’t the stuff of hot hatches, but it can do 141mph at full chat. Look for Avantgarde trim for extra equipment including alloy wheels, a multifunction steering wheel and leather upholstery.
