Mercedes Benz A (2020)
2020 Mercedes Benz A
CarHunch analysed 28,490 real MOT records for the 2020 Mercedes Benz A. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz A is a genuinely reliable choice, passing its MOT first time in 91.8% of cases—well ahead of the UK average of 80%. Dangerous defects crop up in 13.3% of examples, which is moderate rather than alarming, and petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically (92.0% and 90.8% respectively).
At an average mileage of 32,362 miles, these cars are still relatively lightly used for their age, suggesting they've been looked after. The low failure rate of 0.36 per vehicle combined with 2.5 advisories per car tells you that when problems do emerge, they're usually minor wear items rather than structural failures—so factor in routine maintenance costs but don't expect surprise breakdowns.
What to check before buying a 2020 Mercedes Benz A
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Mercedes Benz A
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.
Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (79%) | 22,464 | 92% | 0.35 |
| Diesel (21%) | 6,022 | 90.8% | 0.4 |
| Hybrid Electric (Clean) (0%) | 4 | 93.8% | 0.25 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2020 Mercedes Benz A vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2020 Mercedes Benz A vehicles fall between 20,635 and 37,610 miles.
2020 Mercedes Benz A — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 27,506 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2023–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2020 Mercedes Benz A
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
30.6%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
-
30.5%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
-
13.2%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
-
12.8%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
-
12.2%
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
-
11.5%
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
-
10.1%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
-
8.2%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2020. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Mercedes Benz A?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.