USED BUYING GUIDES: Mercedes A-Class
MERCEDES first decided to dip its toe into the small-hatchback market with the A-Class in 1997; in doing so, the German brand did what it now does better than anyone else: it created a niche.
The original A-Class was small but far more boxy than the average hatchback of the day; its MPV-like focus on interior space was seemingly at odds with its compact wheelbase. The slightly ungainly shape resulted in some now infamous roll-over issues, but that didn’t hold back its success, and well over one million examples of the original were made.
The hatchback-MPV blueprint is one that many manufacturers have since sought to emulate. Cars like the Honda Jazz, Nissan Note and Renault Modus followed, but none could match the appeal of that three-pointed star. Despite its premium badge, it was
