Honda Civic vs Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The Honda Civic starts from $35,900 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz A-Class opens at $48,900. That makes the Honda Civic the more affordable entry point by $13,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $39,490 and $53,790 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Honda Civic by roughly $2,565 in fuel alone.

Both the Honda Civic and Mercedes-Benz A-Class hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the Honda Civic and 96% for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Honda Civic packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Honda Civic and 7 in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

The Honda Civic features a 9-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Mercedes-Benz A-Class gets a 10.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Honda Civic stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging and Bose audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Honda Civic uses a Petrol producing 135kW and 240Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class responds with a Petrol making 100kW and 200Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.5 seconds.

The Honda Civic has the clear power advantage at 135kW vs 100kW. In the real-world sprint, the Honda Civic is 1.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Honda Civic measures 4,549mm long on a 2,735mm wheelbase, 130mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class at 4,419mm (2,729mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Honda Civic generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 333L in the Honda Civic and 370L in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz A-Class a 37L advantage.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 1,050kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,397/year for the Honda Civic and $1,910/year for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. That is a $513 annual difference in favour of the Honda Civic.

Estimated annual total: $1,397 (Honda Civic) vs $1,910 (Mercedes-Benz A-Class). The Honda Civic saves you roughly $513 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Honda Civic) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz A-Class). Both match on warranty length. Capped-price servicing: 5yr (Honda Civic)—.