There's nothing like the Mercedes Benz A Class. Audi had a try at seeing it off by launching the A2 supermini, but that car was too clever by half with its tall and narrow aluminium body. Small car buyers do not always take too readily to high tech motoring, so the Mercedes, which was around before the Audi, has seen it off and entered its second model phase. That has seen it grow compared to the original, which was smaller than a Ford Ka for length yet beat it hands down on space. Even now, the A Class is shorter than a Ford Fiesta. There was plenty of hidden technology to make the A class more efficient but somehow the buyers seemed to accept it, maybe because it looked more normal than the A2. Not even the famous elk test incident, which saw the A Class fall over during a violent swerving manoeuvre, dampened the public's ardour for this car. The A Class went on to grow during its original phase with a long wheelbase model and the Mark 2 cars share that dimension as it was such a popular move. But while the latest A Class has grown, this generation has also seen the introduction of a three door variant - the car was only ever a five door before. Its lengthened wheelbase makes it a very comfortable car to ride in, even though it is still very small by luxury car standards. I had one on test and covered several hundred miles in it - whether this car is running you round town or blasting down the motorway it copes exceptionally well. My A Class was the A180. Its name implies a 1.8 litre engine but it actually had a two litre diesel motor connected to a six speed manual gearbox (as does the A160 - it's the power outputs that vary). This endowed it with easy 55 mpg consumption without the need to soft pedal it too much. A unique feature of the A Class is the sandwich floor, which has the engine and gearbox sitting beneath the second floor, In a crash, they are deflected away from the passenger area for great passenger protection. The A Class offers its occupants a higher seating position than you get in many small cars and while it has masses of headroom and very clever packaging some people thought the original a bit short on rear seat space. All that was put right with the launch of the long wheelbase model in June, 2001, and the latest car also benefits from the extra length. If you want an A Class, there are plenty around to choose from as the car has sold in big numbers for a Mercedes. The company has made more than a million, with getting on for 100,000 coming to the UK. There's a wide choice of engines from 1.4 litres to 2.1 petrol, with 1.7 and 2.0 diesels thrown in, too. Service intervals are indicated by an on-board computer but it's important to check that any car you are considering has a good service history. Insurance starts at Group 5 and fuel consumption on the 1.6 petrol can be pretty good. A 99S 1.4 Classic is now around the £3,400 mark, not bad money to own a Mercedes. My favourite from the earlier generation would be a 1.6 long wheelbase, yours for £8,400 on a 54 plate in Elegance trim. The latest cars start at £9,200 for a 150 Avantgarde three door, with the five door £10,000. The difference is much more than the £600 extra for five doors when new. A diesel adds about £800 used. Maurice Hardy