A 160

STORY

The A-Class opened Mercedes-Benz to a new kind of buyer. Launched in 1997, the original W168 was a radical little tall-hatchback with a "sandwich" floor that let the engine slide beneath the cabin in a crash, a clever safety idea for the smallest Mercedes ever made. Its start was rocky: the car famously tipped up in Sweden's "moose test", prompting a swift redesign and the standard fitment of ESP stability control.

Later generations abandoned the quirky tall shape for a conventional, sporty hatchback aimed squarely at premium rivals, and the A-Class became a genuine gateway to the brand for younger buyers. It also pioneered Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system with its "Hey Mercedes" voice assistant.

More than any other model, the A-Class is how a whole generation first came to own a car wearing the three-pointed star.