Depreciation head-to-head
BMW 1 Series vs Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Which Holds Its Value Better?
By Juan Pedro Nguema · Updated
Quick verdict
Very close. The A-Class keeps a small price premium at every age, while the 1 Series loses slightly less per year (5.4% v 5.8%).
BMW 1 Series
- Cars analysed
- 293
- Median asking price
- £19,349
- Value lost per year
- 5.4%
- Value lost per 10,000 miles
- 4.8%
- Automatic premium
- +13.6%
Fuel mix: petrol 89% and diesel 11%.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
- Cars analysed
- 253
- Median asking price
- £19,899
- Value lost per year
- 5.8%
- Value lost per 10,000 miles
- 4.3%
- Automatic premium
- +17.3%
Fuel mix: petrol 76%, diesel 14% and plug-in hybrid 10%.
| Year | BMW 1 Series median price | Cars | Median miles | Mercedes-Benz A-Class median price | Cars | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | £15,699 | 33 | 50,180 | £16,199 | 27 | 42,195 |
| 2021 | £16,499 | 41 | 39,407 | £17,799 | 29 | 36,033 |
| 2022 | £18,199 | 44 | 32,199 | £19,149 | 42 | 37,133 |
| 2023 | £19,724 | 58 | 24,623 | £21,699 | 38 | 23,504 |
| 2024 | £22,899 | 39 | 17,970 | £23,299 | 27 | 14,523 |
| 2025 | £25,799 | 29 | 9,469 | £25,999 | 22 | 6,526 |
What the numbers mean
In every model year from 2020 to 2025, the median A-Class costs £200-£2,000 more than the 1 Series, and the gap is biggest on 2023 cars. The A-Class is the least affected by mileage of the three premium hatchbacks we compared (−4.3% per 10,000 miles). Almost all A-Classes for sale are automatics (91%), so expect to pay the automatic premium either way. Either car is a fair choice on resale value; pick on running costs, condition and history.
Buying one? Check its history first
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