Mercedes A-Class (2021)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 204 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£2,086

£174/month

MOT Pass Rate

95%

Excellent

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 18-32

1991cc Petrol

Great Choice

95% pass rate, £2,086/year to run. 13 points above average.

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Petrol1991cc5 years old204 tests21k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1991cc)

~36 mpg

£1,631

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£2,086

Per month£174/mo

Per week£40/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

95% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 13 points above the average of 82% across all models in our data. It also outperforms the Mercedes brand average of 87%.

95% of MOT tests on Mercedes A-Classs from 2021 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 3 years old. That's based on 204 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 20,573 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 models920th of 3,336(top half)

Rank among Mercedes models249th of 1,376(top 19%)

vs average of all models+13%(82% avg)

vs 2021 models average+3%(92% avg)

vs Mercedes average+8%(87% avg)

Mileage Analysis

20,573

Average miles

22,200

Expected for age

The average 2021 Mercedes A-Class had 20,573 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is in line with the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car, suggesting normal everyday use.

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Mercedes A-Class by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	95%	204	20,573 mi
2020	92%	296	25,924 mi
2019	90%	17,959	42,922 mi
2018	89%	81,134	48,596 mi
2017	88%	82,055	58,788 mi
2016	86%	78,925	68,387 mi
2015	85%	57,434	77,575 mi
2014	83%	51,817	86,660 mi
2013	83%	34,582	92,179 mi
2012	79%	9,525	74,077 mi
2011	78%	9,398	73,721 mi
2010	76%	11,300	79,296 mi
2009	75%	12,533	84,461 mi
2008	74%	12,272	89,507 mi
2007	74%	11,036	91,201 mi
2006	72%	8,389	91,943 mi
2005	73%	5,552	88,124 mi
2004	71%	2,470	84,566 mi
2003	71%	2,442	81,910 mi
2002	70%	1,766	83,515 mi
2001	72%	1,096	88,180 mi
2000	69%	516	80,481 mi
1999	68%	526	79,332 mi
1998	72%	72	85,941 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

-3%

Nissan Qashqai

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,853/year

93%

-2%

MINI Cooper

2019 · 1499cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

-3%

Hyundai Tucson

2019 · 1591cc Petrol

£1,853/year

90%

-5%

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About the 2021 Mercedes A-Class

The 2021 Mercedes A-Class is a premium car. Our records list a 1991cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 204 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a less common model in the UK market. Among all models from 2021, the average MOT pass rate is 92%, and this model beats that benchmark.

With an average of 20,573 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Mercedes A-Class owners drive about as much as the UK average.

2021 Mercedes A-Class Fuel Costs

The 1991cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 36 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,631 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 Mercedes A-Class?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,086 (£174/month), broken down as £1,631 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 95% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

Mercedes A-Class Reliability Trend

Newer Mercedes A-Classs pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 14 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Buying a Used 2021 Mercedes A-Class

At 5 years old, the Mercedes A-Class offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 Mercedes A-Class stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
Mercedes A-Class(2021)	95%	£1,631	£200	Grp 18-32	£2,086
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£233
Nissan Qashqai(2020)	93%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£233
MINI Cooper(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£233
Hyundai Tucson(2019)	90%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£233

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2021 Mercedes A-Class

Is the 2021 Mercedes A-Class reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 95% of MOT tests on 2021 Mercedes A-Classs ended in a pass, from 204 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 13 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2021 Mercedes A-Class cost to run?

Our estimate is £2,086 a year (£174 a month): £1,631 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £200 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 Mercedes A-Class?

95% of 204 MOT tests on the 2021 Mercedes A-Class ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 920th of 3,336 models first registered in 2021 (top half).

Which year Mercedes A-Class has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 Mercedes A-Class has the highest MOT pass rate at 95% and the 1999 the lowest at 68%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2021 Mercedes A-Class?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2021 Mercedes A-Class is 20,573 miles, which is in line with the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car, suggesting normal everyday use.