Introduced late in 2018, the current generation of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class offers a far better package than its predecessor while also proving a hit with local audiences. Which variant has held its value best after three to four years, though?
The A-Class has been a global hit for the Mercedes-Benz, with each passing generation providing buyers at the lower end of the premium market with a more sporty and luxurious entry point into the brand. At the time of writing, there were over hundreds A-Class derivatives listed for sale on AutoTrader and we are going to ascertain which one of the latest-generation A-Class derivatives has held its value best since new.
To determine which A-Class variant holds its values best, we have used 2018 and 2019 models as the latest hatchback derivatives were introduced in late 2018. The models must have no more than 100 000km on the odometer, allowing for less than 20 000km per year as this is deemed an industry standard for annual mileage for passenger vehicles. There were 52 A-Class models that qualified for our comparison with the A200, A200d and A250 all featured on AutoTrader.
2018/2019 A200 hatch
New Price*: R 499 000
Current Market Value: R527 751.91
Value Retained: 105.76%
The base model A200 petrol was listed at R499 000 at its launch late in 2018, however, as we can see, with all of the variants, optional extras and the fact that a base model was R661 009 at the time of writing in 2022, these older models appear to have appreciated. This is not accurate, though, as it is difficult to determine the exact list price of each model used for the comparison, but thanks to the boom in used car sales as a result of the new car shortage, it appears that the A-Class would have been a solid bet just four years ago. The A200 also appear to be the most popular model, with twenty-four derivatives qualifying for our comparison today.
2019 A200d hatch
New Price*: R 536 000
Current Market Value: R 484 625
Value Retained: 90.41 %
Unlike its petrol counterpart, the A200d was no longer listed for sale as a new vehicle at the time of writing. Couple its discontinuation with the fact that there were just seven listed on the AutoTrader site and we have an explanation as to why the oil-burner has not retained its value as well as the A200.
2018/2019 A250 hatch
New Price*: R 593 300
Current Market Value: R 571 933,31
Value Retained: 96.39%
While not quite a popular as the A200, there were still twenty-one A250 models that qualified for our comparison today, allowing for a reasonable conclusion to be drawn. Much like these other models, its high residual values are inflated by the fact that its base price is not what someone paid for the vehicle when we consider optional extras and various variants that either cost more or less
* Pricing was quoted from the official launch of each derivative and since there were various trim and optional extras, this may have varied dramatically, however, since each derivative is susceptible to the same pricing fluctuations, the comparison is still valid.
Verdict
There is a clear winner in today’s comparison, and that is the entry-level model within the Mercedes-Benz passenger car lineup, the A200, which has kept its value exceptionally well. The caveat here is again the fact that optional extras and various model trims may have inflated each car’s base price, while the global microchip shortage has ensured that pre-owned examples of many models continue to soar.
Keyword: Which Mercedes-Benz A-Class trim holds its value better?