Peugeot 308 vs Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The Peugeot 308 starts from $48,990 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz A-Class opens at $48,900. 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 $53,889 and $53,790 respectively.

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

Both the Peugeot 308 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 79% for the Peugeot 308 and 96% for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

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 6 in the Peugeot 308 and 7 in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

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

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

The Peugeot 308 uses a Hybrid producing 100kW and 230Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9 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.

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

Boot space is 384L in the Peugeot 308 and 370L in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, 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 $1,197/year for the Peugeot 308 and $1,910/year for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. That is a $713 annual difference in favour of the Peugeot 308.

Estimated annual total: $1,197 (Peugeot 308) vs $1,910 (Mercedes-Benz A-Class). 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 / 200,000km (Peugeot 308) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz A-Class). Both match on warranty length.