Mercedes A-Class hatchback (2012-2018) review - Carbuyer / Mat Watson 

11 years later this video finally became relevant to me

in nearly 10 years he hasnt aged a day

Man im serious, Mat Watson ...this guy is the best car video reviewer on you tube hands down. thumbs up so Mat Can see that we appreciate his hard work

8 years after and I'm in love for this car. Awesome car.

FROM here to Carwow 🔥

I'd buy this car just for the looks and performance ..who needs social media on a car ? yeah , I'd connect my phone just for some music ( unless you're really obsessed with facebook & twitter)

This guy sounds like the guy from art attack

I just passed my driving test and immediately bought a Mercedes. Everyone says I'm crazy because I saw your video and it's the car I've been wanting for a long time. Thank you for sharing your video about Mercedes cars.

Drove a colleagues one of these the other day and enjoyed the ride. It looks brilliant from the outside, especially in silver/gunmental which the BMW and Audi do not particularly, unless you go for the high end sports ones. Common view seems to be the BMW and Audi are better, but trouble is everyone has one (both my parents have A3's!),they're common whereas the Mercedes isnt' which is what attracts me. Not even going to mention the Golf. Not a lot else in the market really that I'm aware of?

Amazing how "flame surfacing" as done by Chris Bangle for BMW was laughed at and now is seen on most new cars 7 years later. Love this review and the car.

Why are your comments so negative?? Its a great car. Car Buyer is the best car reviw channel i have ever seen. So precise and well explained. Staright to the point.

This car is very good and it is just better in every way than the old one

i hate youtube with their 30 sec ads. taking the piss

Just got one of these for my first car!! can't wait to drive it!

young footballers first car

Dealer loaned one to me for an afternoon while updating the Command system in my wagon. It was a 200CDI model, the same motor I had in my c-class. In the c-class it was authoritative. In this little car it scooted quickly. It was brisk and agile and as tight as any Mercedes I have driven. Zero body or interior rattle. Harmon Cardon stereo sounds good too. For a little car it does have a high starting price but it is all Mercedes quality with no shaved corners to cheapen it.

Awesome vehicle!!! I agree!!! But the BMW 1 series is it nice as well!!! I am very impressed with the CO2 emissions!!! Well done Mercedes!!! And nice review Mat!!!

I am looking forward to drive this myself in a few weeks. To me it looks great, better than all the competitors. Great design.

I saw an A-class last night. At night it lights up like a Christmas tree, the front LEDs would put Audi to shame, very cool little car.

Love the standard collision prevention assist. It's like distronic (i think it's still an option)

no idea why I'm watching a car review from 7 years ago when I'm supposed to search for 2020 cars

I love how he talks about the autobrake as if it's new when Volvo have had it as standard on every new car since 2008 with the XC60.

Awesome review Matt and the A-Class is a really sweet looking hatchback. Although Mercedes could have added a "pop up" screen instead of the fixed screen or at least integrated it in the dashboard.... Guess they had to cut corners somewhere.

Mat just keeps getting better and better. He should have a TV Show, what are you brits thinking?

How time flies Now look at mat watson

Sheer Magic i'd say! Was searching for this review yesterday and today here it is! Thank you CarBuyer And Mat and Rebecca of course ;)

Amazing looks, so slick and modern, plus awesome interior!

It was hilarious to see my fb photo in that review! Haha. Great review as always. :)

now this was a unique review:)carbuyer best reviews ever!

I really like it when the reviews are a bit longer, let's me know the car a a bit more.

Drove it. Loved it.

I like the A class looks a little bit more than the A3's and a lot more than the ugly 1 series...and the driver's seating position seems a lot sportier than the above mentioned ( + those seats = love'em) ! The back seems roomy as well (too bad for the boot opening, but not that big of a deal for me). Before this generation of the A class I never looked at it cause from the start It was more of a "mom's car", a glorified shopping cart...This change is awesome !!!

Ive never really looked at Mercs, simply because i always thought they were old mans cars. Well im 46 now so maybe im old enough to drive one! I dont like the Bmw 1 series, the shape is odd, and a there a lot of them on the roads driven by young lads and ladies who buy the bottom of the range model on a pcp, and think they are it. The Audi A1 is too small, bland, overpriced and only bought by people who try to show off. The Merc is definately for people who are comfortable with who they are, and buy it because they have good taste, and not simply because of badge snobbery. Bmw and Audi make great cars, but there are only 2 types of owner - the sales manager who sits in the outside lane of the motorway all day, and people who can only afford the cheapest models just to show off because its trendy.

I love carbuyer. you have by far the best car reviews on youtube.

More reviews like this! Longer and in depth review! Love it!

As a person who lives with a family that had owned a 135i (sedan) and currently owns this current A250 AMG 4matic (my moms), a MK6 GTI (my personal car) and an Mini Cooper S (my sisters) heres my two cents my : The A Class is a great car. I can vouch that it really does feel more premium than its rivals. It looks great on the outside and inside and will gain you the compliments of other people. The design is stunning, it just looks and feels great to look and be in. Tech is really good too, the parking sensors and the center electronic console are useful. (WHO THE FUCK USES FACEBOOK IN THEIR CAR) in However the car seriously lacks the characteristics of a HOT hatch. In fact its more of a cruiser with subpar ride. The steering feel is AWFULLY NUMB. Its close to Honda CRV/Audi level of steering feel. Power and pedal placement is good when traction is off and on your on sport, but in normal driving it seriously lacks the urgency of its rivals. The Dual clutch transmission isn't bang on either. While it may be as fast the GTI, it does not FEEL as fast and nimble. While I dont know much about space, I do feel that the A Class while having one cool ass dash, the controls are simply not laid out. PERSONALLY I dislike the one the WHEEL SHIFTER (Its the same one they use in an ML) and the fucking parking prake isn't a pull lever or a electronic switch on the dash next to the cup holders but a little switch thing underneath the steering wheel. And one major issue I have with this car is, WHY DID THEY MAKE THE SPORT/MANUAL/ECO switch a TINY BUTTON NEXT TO THE AC CONTROLS? Not trying to be a fanboy and I certainly don't hate the car, in fact I think its the best looking hot hatch out there (save the Scirocco), these two gripes are big issues to me. If you are looking for a great looking car in this sort of price range that feels and looks really premium I highly advise buying this car, cause its a great thing to own. But to drive, despite their shortcomings, the 135i and the Cooper S are so much funner to drive. Not trying to be a fanboy, MK6 GTI does little wrong except it look and badge is kinda boring. I would much advise going for the GTI money for value. But as a car, especially as a hatch to be seen in, the A Class can't be beat. (And isn't gaining the attention of others all that matters)

Nice review as always Matt. Can you please rank the following cars? V40 - A-class - 1-series - A3. Which would you pick, and in what order?

8:20 That's me xD I forgot I wrote that comment though :3

Maybe if you didn't spend so much time analyzing the car's connectivitiy to Twitter and other such junk, and focussed on the comfort, quality and driving experience. This car ain't much good.

I understand why car makers are fitting allsorts of safety systems on their cars, but really, you will end up with drivers who will rely entirely on the technology to avoid accidents. That is wrong. If you need all the lane departure and blind spot warning nonsense etc to keep you safe, then you are a bad driver.

Young Matt 😂

Have test driven BMW 1 series, Audi A3 and Mercedes A Class. Drive in Audi was great, but I love the A Class. The Engineered by AMG is beautiful, have not been able to test drive that yet. But that is the one for me! The interior is very up-market!

I really love my A-class.

A-Class looks good from the outside, and even better from the inside! But same spec 1-Series out performs and out handles it. I guess its a choice between looking good and having fun. The A3 is very well made but personally I find it's styling too plain and predictable.

Amazing Interior.

Seen one of these in a lovely blue colour ! one word = gorgeous

first time i saw this car i was instantly a fan. but i seriously hope mercedes does reconsider about using some better materials in those areas you pointed out. no mercedes should have scratchy, hollow sounding plastics.

Mat Watson, very good indeed. The car is pretty good too.

i want this car! perfect for the city

After driving a few Audi's and BMW's, I personally find all Mercedes are very well engineered and crucially rides smoother then the other two brands, but they don't seem to do sporty of radical exteriors (IMO of course).

the base a class looks a lot worse than this model which is a shame :S

Yt decided to recommend a car review 8 years later.

Really good feature getting people involved in the review :)

It is a very good looking car. I remember when the concept version came out a few years back and it just stole the show at the New York Auto Show. I know the A-Class isn't coming to the states, but it will show up chassis wise in the form of the CLA. If it's anywhere good as this vehicle, I might be a buyer.

I loved the design of the old a classes

its simple, you either go with the unique head turner (Merc) or the same old 1 series which came out 9 years ago.

3:17 I triggered the warning system once to in a Mercedes. In my uncles new SL63 AMG... And I wasn't even sleepy, I was just doing what you usually do with an AMG: Kill the rear wheels :D

Great review!!

I drove this car yesterday and I can confirm that it is very fun for driving and inside it feels like S. this car is amazing. Matt, I suppose that you are well paid by BMW but pls this become patetic. anyway... nice review.

My God! First Mat Watson video with Carbuyer last less than 3 minutes (Sköda Fabia) and this one last more than 9 minutes! Jesus Christ

LTB first thing I am gonna do is replace the screen with a 10.25 inch touchscreen android and bring it to this century

Are these any good for a fat fucker like me, I'm 30 stone ? If I could fit into one of these could I go dogging inside the car ?

This car looks AMAZING in Blue, on the picture of Top Gear magazine's car buyers guide

We hope your videos do not return to usual length at all. This is just fine!!

i never liked A class, but this is so.much better than older version. thumbs up.

There is a reason why I don't slam on my brakes when I inadvertantly get too close to the car in front of me. It is because sometimes idiots behind me are pushy and tailgate deliberately. If that proximity system does not have a manual over-ride and amplifies brake pressure, then the car behind may slam into the back of car. Just my opinion

Mat you are awesome! As always, great reviews, looking forward to the next one.

Mat looks so young at that time😊😊😊

I've just brought a mercades a class 20131.8 after selling my 2.0 litre audi a4 2012 great car

I've always thought that the mercedes a class from the last couple of versions were a discrase to mercedes Benz,however it has completely change in every aspect and I can't wait to see there AMG version which would give the 135iM and Audi rs3 a good run for its money.

Will this ever be available in the states?

Hi, may i ask you what is the difference in consumption between automatic and manual A180cdi ? Thanks a lot

really really tempted to get one, that or the 1 series newer version, stuck on this one!

make every review as long as this one, it is much better! Cheers

If I knew I could have been featured on a Carbuyer review, I would have commented!

what a sweet and gorgeous little car, I did a test drive and I love it (its not that little tho)

Dude, my mom has the new B-Class and I've seen the A-Class at the showroom. The Golf's dashboard looks better and displays the same kind of materials if not better, and I meant the Leon's styling, not the Ibiza. And if you want proof of what I say just wait 12 months and see if it's a success or a flop. Enthusiasts will pick the BMW 1-series any time, people wanting style will choose the V40 or A3 Sportback instead, ppl wanting quality, reliability and value will hold on to the Golf.

Like the violet coloured cluster. Those rear lamps look like the 1 series, but better (and I'm a Bimmer fan). Overall, better looking then new 1 series, but I'm pretty sure this doesn't have RWD.

For the price of a new one of those (The one in the review), I can get myself an Audi RS6 V10 with less than 80k Kms (about 50k miles?) on the clock. Hmmm let me think about it for .... I'll go the with the RS6 >-/ Can't deny that this is a sexy car indeed. Saw this very model exposed here in town at a mall and it does feel real premium.

Does the A 250 still come with a Renault engine? Or is it just the smaller engines?

Can't decide between this or the 1 series BMW. The 1 series drives better apparently...

its a nice car but extremely expensive. I saw one at Silverstone GP that was £35,000 (granted that had every box ticked pretty much) and did not feel it was worth that much It does seem to me that its not very practical (boot wise) for being a 5 door which is odd considering its meant to be the more practical choice. but I think I would go for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta over this (maybe the BMW 1 series)

Great review. Would love to see you guys review a Rolls Royce someday.

Mat, you looked goofy repeatedly ramming that golf bag into the car. Plain silliness.

These reviews are a million times better than the ladies!

... and just to make it clear, I wasn't referring to you, Mat. Awesome review btw!

thank you Car Buyer, thank you Mat

i drove one a few days ago. good car overall but the seats are too hard. they felt almost like the semi racing buckets i have on my car. and the suspension is quite stiff. generaly its not a very comfortable ride but it sure handles nice.

That was such a good review It was very long and very detailed Also a bit of fun!

Not sure English reviews go on about the ride, the a250 sport has a fantastic ride

never knew mat started over here instead of carwow

1)A-Class and 1 Series 2)A3 3)V40

Please do more videos like this. Your reviews are excellent and deserve more time!

This. I think, and considering most people choose a car by the looks, this can be a winner for Mercedes and talking as a 22 year-old I would consider buying this one against his rivals. Not saying I would...but would make me think about it which is a good thing. I believe though the interiors of the rivals win to this one.

Seems like a really good car, very reliable too, what is the price of this car I don't think I heard him say it in the video

Matt the legend

i love this car, and i like every carbuyer review, but i think that in this review matt lost him self a bit on the screen functions..... but screw it, WE LOVE CARBUYER!!!!!

Thanks for clearing that up. Looks and sounds like an amazing car

My mid spec AMG sport in jupiter red costs just under £31,000. Whilst the car is stunning to look at and decent to drive, it doesn't even have parking sensors, for example. Sorry, but you could fully kit out a Mondeo for that price... bear in mind that mine only has 4 options like a glass roof. The car is missing all of the basics, £31,000 doesn't give you an armrest? The car would be brilliant if the mid spec included basic features and was priced right. Worryingly, you can spend more.

we might get the b-class, but it's going to be a hybrid and of course cost a lot.