Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Toyota Corolla
Figures updated
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Toyota Corolla are two of the UK's most popular family hatchbacks. We compare the W177 (2018–) A-Class and the Mk12 (2019–) Corolla on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 402,273 real MOT tests.
The short answer
The Toyota Corolla comes out ahead, with the lower price and lower fuel costs; the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is close on everything else.
- The Toyota Corolla is the cheapest to buy new: from £30,845, £1,025 less than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
- Their boots are much the same size: Mercedes-Benz A-Class 350 litres, Toyota Corolla 361 litres.
- Their MOT records are close: once age and mileage are taken into account, they fail about as often as each other.
- The Toyota Corolla is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £394 a year less than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the seat belts and airbags on a Mercedes-Benz A-Class: it fails on them 2.7 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Mercedes-Benz A-ClassW177 (2018–), 5-door hatchback | Toyota CorollaMk12 (2019–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £31,870 to £46,175July 2026 price list | £30,845 to £37,345September 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 350 litres / 1,190 | 361 litres (best) |
| Length | 4,428mm | 4,370mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,796mm | 1,790mm |
| Height | 1,423mm | 1,460mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 136–218 PS (best) | 140–178 PS |
| 0–62mph | 7.4–9.2 sec | 7.4–9.1 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2018) | ★★★★★ (2019) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 31.4–64.2 mpg | 57.6–64.2 mpg |
| CO2 | 16–205 g/km | 100–110 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,368 (42.8 mpg) | £974 (60.1 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,148 (58.9 mpg) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,148 (diesel) | £974 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 108Above average | 112Above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 21.4% (best) | 32.2% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 10.2% | 9.2% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 15.0% | 11.7% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 29.7% | – |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (2.4% of tests) | Position lamp (4.7% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Seat belts and airbags (2.7×) | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 341,498 | 60,775 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family hatchback | Family hatchback |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,500 | 8,300 |
| On sale | 2018 on | 2019 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class or the Toyota Corolla more reliable?
There's little in it. Once age and mileage are taken into account, both fail their MOT about as often as each other (reliability scores 108 and 112, where 100 is average).
›Which is bigger, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class or the Toyota Corolla?
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is 58mm longer (4,428mm against 4,370mm). Their boots are much the same: 350 and 361 litres.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class or the Toyota Corolla?
The Toyota Corolla: new prices start at £30,845, £1,025 less than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (from £31,870). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class or the Toyota Corolla?
Comparing petrol versions, the Toyota Corolla costs about £394 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£974 against £1,368), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class or the Toyota Corolla?
Euro NCAP gave the Mercedes-Benz A-Class 5 stars (2018) and the Toyota Corolla 5 stars (2019). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Mercedes-Benz A-Class or the Toyota Corolla?
The Toyota Corolla comes out ahead, with the lower price and lower fuel costs; the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is close on everything else. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.