Used 2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

If you’re shopping for your first luxury car, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a great place to start. It has the elegance and engaging driving dynamics of a Mercedes-Benz at a modest price point. It’s not an ideal family car since its trunk and back seats are pretty cramped, but this is a good ticket into luxury car life if you won’t be hauling passengers often. It’s also a more practical alternative to a coupe.

Part of what makes the A-Class a good value in small luxury sedans is its list of standard features you get for under roughly $35,000. Just a few standard features include a panoramic moonroof, ambient interior lighting, five USB ports, remote start, a digital gauge cluster, and much more. This is a classy and high-tech sedan, but the ride is slightly stiffer than its bigger, more expensive stablemates like the C-Class and E-Class.

The only direct competitor to the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is the Audi A3. The A3 is another small luxury sedan that’s very similar to the A-Class in price and size. The A3 has many of the same pros and cons as the A-Class, like engaging performance and tight back seats. There’s also the BMW 2 Series which is available as a 2-door coupe or convertible, in addition to the 4-door Gran Coupe.

Don’t be misled by the fact that this is the most affordable car in the Mercedes-Benz lineup. Despite its affordable starting price, the A-Class still drives like a Mercedes. The turbocharged engine is peppy around town and has no shortage of highway passing power. The short wheelbase of the A-Class gives it agile handling, especially if you opt for the 4Matic AWD system delivering power to all four wheels.

One of the few shortcomings of the A-Class is a firm ride by luxury car standards. While its short wheelbase enables sharp handling, it gives the car a somewhat harsh ride over road imperfections. If most of your driving is on smooth roads, this won’t be much of an issue.

A 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission comes with every A-Class. This transmission gets the job done but sometimes feels clunky compared to some more refined transmissions in the luxury car world.

The A-Class may be the least expensive Mercedes-Benz model, but this interior is anything but cheap. It uses an elegant design and plenty of premium materials that are pretty impressive for this price point. Some excellent standard interior features include a panoramic moonroof, 64-color ambient interior lighting, and a digital gauge cluster. MB-Tex simulated leather seats come standard, and genuine leather is optional.

The A-Class technically has seating for up to five, but cramming three people into the back would be a less-than-luxurious experience. These back seats are pretty tight, especially if there’s a tall driver and passenger in the front. They’re acceptable for occasional use on short trips, but if you’re regularly using the back seats, your passengers will appreciate a roomier car like the C-Class. The front seats, however, are plenty roomy.

Trunk space is limited to 8.6 cubic feet, making it one of the smallest trunks in this class. If you’re looking for a small luxury vehicle with decent cargo space, the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class crossover might be a better fit.

Mercedes-Benz is typically known for its conservative, restrained take on luxury car styling. However, the aesthetic of the A-Class has a bit of an edge to it. It has a sharp LED light signature in front and back, and the sleek body lines give it coupe-like styling. The stance is decidedly sporty, which is accentuated by dual-exit exhaust and standard 18-inch wheels.

The dimensions of the A-Class are almost identical to the Audi A3. It’s on the small side of compact luxury sedans and could be considered a subcompact. Even compact, non-luxury sedans like the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra are a little bigger than the A-Class.

MBUX INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
The standard 7-inch infotainment system is feature-rich and user-friendly, with voice activation responsive to “Hey, Mercedes” prompts. It’s upgradable to a bigger, nicer 10.25-inch screen.

DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE
This option package adds a long list of driver assistance tech features like Distronic adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, speed limit assist, and much more.

The standard features list on the base A 220 is pretty impressive considering its modest starting price. Standard features include a panoramic moonroof, LED headlights and taillights, 18-inch alloy wheels, MB-Tex synthetic leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, remote start, 64-color ambient interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, and Dynamic Select with four drive modes: Individual, Sport, Comfort, and Eco.

The standard MBUX infotainment system uses a 7-inch screen controlled by a touchpad. It’s loaded with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and HD Radio. Some other excellent tech features include a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and five USB ports.

Standard safety tech features include a backup camera, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, cross-wind assist, and a driver attention monitor.

One of the most popular options for the A-Class is 4Matic AWD, which improves performance and all-weather traction. Aside from standard AWD on the 4Matic model, the A 220 and the A 220 4Matic have the same standard features and options.

An available Premium Package makes the A-Class more luxurious with 10.25-inch infotainment and instrument cluster displays, SiriusXM, auto-dimming mirrors, power-folding mirrors, Keyless-Go that allows you to lock and unlock the car without taking the key fob out of your pocket, and a hands-free power trunk lid. An available Multimedia Package adds navigation and speed limit assist.

One of our favorite option packages for the A 220 is the Driver Assistance Package. It adds a long list of safety tech features, including Distronic adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, evasive steering assist, cross-traffic alert, speed limit assist, lane-keeping assist, Pre-Safe Plus, and route-based speed adaptation.

If you like the look of the discontinued AMG model, adding the AMG Line package adds the AMG look to the A 220 inside and out along with paddle shifters and a lowered suspension. An available Exterior Lighting Package adds active LED headlights and adaptive high-beam assist.

A few individual options include leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, a dashcam, wireless charging, Burmester premium audio, wood interior trim, various wheel and paint options, and more.

The base engine in the Mercedes-Benz A 220 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 linked to a 7-speed DCT automatic transmission. While its 188-horsepower rating might not sound exciting, this is a well-tuned engine with plenty of pep, and it’s great on gas.

The DCT transmission works fine, but it’s occasionally clunky. Available 4Matic AWD improves performance and all-weather traction while still returning good fuel economy.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (A 220)
188 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
221 lb-ft of torque @ 1,250-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/36 mpg (FWD), 25/34 mpg (AWD)