Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Peugeot 308

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class starts from $48,900 before on-road costs, while the Peugeot 308 opens at $48,990. That makes the Mercedes-Benz A-Class the more affordable entry point by $90.

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 $53,790 and $53,889 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Peugeot 308 by roughly $3,565 in fuel alone.

Both the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Peugeot 308 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 6 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and 6 in the Peugeot 308.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class features a 10.3-inch touchscreen, while the Peugeot 308 gets a 10-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class stands out with Apple CarPlay and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Peugeot 308. The Peugeot 308 counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, panoramic roof and power tailgate. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class lines up producing 100kW and 200Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.5 seconds.

The Peugeot 308 lines up making 100kW and 230Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9 seconds.

Power output is identical on paper, so the difference comes down to tuning, weight distribution, and suspension. In the real-world sprint, the Peugeot 308 is 0.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class measures 4,419mm long on a 2,729mm wheelbase, 54mm longer than the Peugeot 308 at 4,365mm (2,675mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 370L in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and 384L in the Peugeot 308, giving the Peugeot 308 a 14L advantage.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,150kg. That 650kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,910/year for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and $1,197/year for the Peugeot 308. That is a $713 annual difference in favour of the Peugeot 308.

Estimated annual total: $1,910 (Mercedes-Benz A-Class) vs $1,197 (Peugeot 308). The Peugeot 308 saves you roughly $713 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years (Mercedes-Benz A-Class) vs 5 years / 200,000km (Peugeot 308). Both match on warranty length.