2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG® A 35
| MSRP | $52,065 |
|---|---|
| Edmunds suggests you pay | $48,058 |
2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Review
- Excellent blend of comfort and performance
- Classy interior design and high-quality cabin
- Features one of today's best, most advanced infotainment systems
- Wind noise is noticeable on the road
- Some advanced safety features are oversensitive
- AMG A 35 model debuts with more power and all-wheel drive
- Part of the first A-Class generation (for the U.S.) introduced for 2019
Can Mercedes-Benz build an affordable entry-level sedan that doesn't seem cut-rate or compromised in some fashion? The brand's previous attempts, such as the CLA, suggested the answer is "no." But the A-Class, which Mercedes introduced just last year, has impressed us by offering a true luxury experience at an affordable price.
The 2020 A-Class is nothing short of transformative. Why? For one, interior materials quality is top-notch and exceeds anything else in this price range. You also get some of Mercedes' most advanced features. The new MBUX infotainment system, for example, debuted with the A-Class. It's the best in the business and can't even be found on a lot of Mercedes' more expensive models yet.
The A-Class also drives like a proper Mercedes. The ride quality is comfortable and composed, and the engine is refined. The standard A 220 is respectably quick, and there's a new, performance-focused AMG A 35 that turns up the performance dial even further. In its attempt to improve upon every past misstep, Mercedes has managed to craft a nearly perfect small luxury car.
There are only a few competitors in the subcompact space. The most compelling new rival is the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. It's comparable to the A-Class in a lot of ways, including style, performance and price. And, interestingly, Mercedes is rolling out a redesigned CLA for 2020 that's very similar to the A-Class. But considering how much we like the A-Class, it seems likely that it will continue to shine above the rest.
Notably, we picked the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class as Edmunds' Top Rated Luxury Sedan of 2020. See all of the Top Rated Vehicles on our Best Cars page.
What's it like to live with the A 220?
The Edmunds editorial team purchased a Mercedes-Benz A 220 to test as a part of our long-term vehicle program. We wanted to know what it was like to drive for 12 months and 20,000 miles. Does the A-Class provide an authentic Mercedes luxury experience over the long haul? To learn more, check out our long-term test of our 2019 A-Class, where we cover everything from seat comfort to real-world reliability.
Our verdict | |
Thanks to the impressive combination of excellent driving manners, stellar build quality and a futuristic interior, the A-Class isn't a less expensive Mercedes. It's simply a smaller one. | |
How does the A-Class drive? | |
We tested the A 220 and found it surprisingly entertaining to drive. It pulls away from stop signs smoothly and silently with almost no delay. It's not as quick as the Audi A3, but overall the Mercedes is punchy. In Edmunds testing, it covered 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds. The dual-clutch transmission is one of the better examples but still exhibits clunky action in traffic. The feel of the brake pedal is immediately intuitive. It's easy to stop smoothly and with confidence from any speed. We also like the A 220's handling. There's more than enough grip thanks to the optional summer tires, and the available all-wheel-drive system can also help get the power down quickly when exiting a turn. Overall composure is excellent. | |
How comfortable is the A-Class? | |
Mercedes is out to prove that compact luxury cars can be just as comfortable as their bigger, more expensive siblings. The A-Class leads the charge with a compliant suspension that absorbs most bumps at high or low speeds with ease. The A 220's cabin is thoroughly comfortable as well. There's very little road or ambient noise. The seats are well contoured and agreeable to many body types, though taller drivers might wish for more upper-back support. The system provides plenty of airflow from the fancy-looking turbine-style air vents. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The driver and front passenger enjoy ample headroom, shoulder and elbow room, which is a pleasant surprise in such a small car. While rear passengers have decent headroom, legroom is a bit tight. Thankfully, the backs of the front seats are sculpted to provide some additional knee room. Outward visibility is OK, but the thick rear roof pillars and small rearview mirrors obscure your rearward view slightly. Mercedes includes a bunch of luxury and technology features in the A 220. Thankfully, they are pretty easy to access and figure out. There's excellent redundancy in the controls, so most drivers should find a suitable way to operate it. | |
How’s the tech? | |
The A-Class is one of the most tech-forward vehicles on the market, small sedan or otherwise. The high-resolution center display responds quickly via touchscreen, buttons or touchpad. The optional Burmester audio system is remarkable for a car in this price class. The voice recognition system interacts with a variety of vehicle systems and supports natural speech detection. We found it easy to activate the system inadvertently, however. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are two USB-C ports. Only some hyperactive electronic driver aids spoil the technological tour de force. Though generally sophisticated, they could be overbearing at times and returned a few false alarms, mostly inaccurate speed limit information, that had us scrambling to turn them off. | |
How’s the storage? | |
Belying its size, the A 220 can perform most duties you'd ask of a luxury sedan. The trunk is a little narrow, but the split rear seats that fold help make the most of the available space. An abundance of interior storage keeps the clutter to a minimum. The door pockets and a fairly deep center console bin aid those in front, though rear passengers can really only store items in the door pockets. You can probably use an A-Class for kid taxi duty, but it's obviously not ideally suited. The child safety seat anchors are easy to access, but the lack of rear seat space makes for a tight fit if you're rocking a rear-facing child seat. | |
How’s the fuel economy? | |
The A 220 is EPA rated at 28 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is an average figure for an entry-level luxury sedan. On our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route, our all-wheel-drive A 220 test car returned just over 29 mpg. | |
Is the A-Class a good value? | |
The A 220 is fairly well equipped from the start. But as is typical for European luxury vehicles, adding desirable option packages can increase the price tag by thousands of dollars. Still, the amount of luxury and technology and overall competent nature of the A-Class make it seem as if you're getting your money's worth. The standard Mercedes-Benz warranty coverage is four years/50,000 miles for both bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, the norm among its mostly German competition. Roadside assistance coverage is also limited to the warranty period; it used to be unlimited. There's also the option to prepay for scheduled maintenance years in advance at a discounted rate. | |
Wildcard | |
The A-Class excels at offering the modern Mercedes-Benz experience in simply a smaller package. It's loaded with tech, features and luxury. It's also enjoyable to drive and looks suitably upscale. Mercedes has raised the bar for the entry-level luxury sedan class. | |
Which A-Class does Edmunds recommend?
Mercedes-Benz A-Class models
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class comes in two trims: A 220 and AMG A 35. The A 220 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (188 horsepower, 221 lb-ft of torque) that is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel drive is available as an option.
2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG A 35 pricing
in Ashburn, VA
2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class video
2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: The Best Luxury Sedan | Edmunds Top Rated 2020
Features & Specs
- Base MSRP
- $44,950
- MPG & Fuel
- 24 City / 31 Hwy / 27 Combined
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 13.5 gal. capacity
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: all wheel drive
- Transmission: 7-speed automated manual
- Engine
- Inline 4 cylinder
- Horsepower: 302 hp @ 5800 rpm
- Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
- Basic Warranty
- 4 yr./ 50000 mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 179.4 in. / Height: 55.6 in.
- Overall Width with Mirrors: 78.4 in.
- Overall Width without Mirrors: 70.7 in.
- Curb Weight: 3461 lbs.
- Cargo Capacity, All Seats In Place: 8.6 cu.ft.
Safety
Our experts’ favorite A-Class safety features:
- Active Brake Assist
- Emits an alert if a front collision is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't react in time.
- Blind Spot Assist
- Signals the driver if a vehicle is in a blind spot as well as when a car or bicyclist is approaching from behind when parked.
- Active Steering Assist
- Uses cameras and other sensors to help the driver keep the vehicle centered in its lane while cruising, even in gentle curves.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs. the competition
2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs. Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
Last year, the choice between the new A-Class and the aging, uncompetitive CLA was clear. For 2020, the CLA is fully redesigned and is very similar to the A-Class. Going with the CLA gets you sleeker coupe-like styling and a little more power. Want a sportier entry-level luxury sedan? Go with the CLA.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs. Audi A3
This Audi A3 generation has been on sale for a while now, yet Audi's smallest sedan continues to impress. Performance is impressive, especially with the uprated engine found in all-wheel-drive (Quattro) models. Interior materials quality is also befitting a luxury sedan. The choice between these two vehicles isn't cut-and-dried, so test-drive both to find out which speaks to you.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs. BMW 3 Series
Though BMW technically makes a vehicle in the subcompact class, the 2 Series is a coupe and is inherently less practical than the A-Class sedan. The BMW 3 Series four-door is a more natural competitor, but it's a size class larger and more expensive. Pricing aside, we're not blown away by the newest 3 Series generation and think the A-Class is a better buy overall.
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FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class a good car?
What's new in the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class:
- AMG A 35 model debuts with more power and all-wheel drive
- Part of the first A-Class generation (for the U.S.) introduced for 2019
Is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class reliable?
Is the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
The least-expensive 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class is the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG A 35 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $44,950.
Other versions include:
- AMG A 35 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) which starts at $44,950