A 200

STORY

The A-Class opened Mercedes-Benz to a new kind of buyer. The first W168 came out in 1997 as an unusual small, tall hatchback with a "sandwich" floor. In a crash the engine slid under the cabin. It was a clever safety idea for the smallest Mercedes ever made. The start was rocky: the car tipped over in Sweden's "moose test", and Mercedes had to redesign it quickly and fit ESP stability control as standard.

Later generations dropped the unusual tall shape for a conventional, sporty hatchback aimed at premium rivals. The A-Class became a real way into the brand for younger buyers. MBUX, Mercedes' infotainment system with its "Hey Mercedes" voice assistant, debuted on it.

For a whole generation, the A-Class was the first car with the three-pointed star.