Once upon a time, if you wanted to have the latest and greatest from Mercedes-Benz, you had to look to the flagship S-Class. Now that idea is being turned on its head with the new A-Class. The smallest Benz is far from being the runt of the litter, as it premieres a new look interior that features some very clever technology. It makes the BMW 1 Series seem old hat and gives the Audi A3 a run for its money in the refinement stakes, too.

Did you know? The largest market for the A-Class globally is the UK. 

Verdict | Design | Interior | Technology | Performance | Safety | Specs | Running Costs | Pricing

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class sets a new standard for the premium hatch market. It looks more mature than ever, but it’s not what you’d call an eye-catching design. Reserved and slightly understated best sums up the exterior.

It’s when you open the doors that you see a more impressive side of the A-Class. The execution of the cabin design is second-to-none, and it features some class-leading technology that goes some way towards future-proofing it. Extra space over the previous model is good news for those sitting in the rear, too. 

A good selection of diesel and petrol engines are complemented by slick-shifting automatic transmissions, with manual versions set to follow. Whateve...