Rear wheel drive (RWD) / All wheel drive (AWD, 4x4)
Front wheel drive (FWD) / All wheel drive (AWD, 4x4)
BMW 1 series is available with rear wheel drive and four wheel (4x4) drive, while Mercedes A class can be equipped with front wheel drive and four wheel (4x4) drive. All-wheel drive models tend to consume more fuel, so if you don't need off road capabilities, BMW 1 series also offers 2-wheel drive versions for fuel economy. 2WD versions also have lower maintenance costs.
BMW 1 series petrol engines consumes on average 1 litres more fuel per 100 km than Mercedes A class. This comparison does not take engine capacity into account, so to compare the fuel consumption of specific engines, select the car version!
Ground clearance:
130 - 140 mm (5.1 - 5.5 inches)
93 mm (3.7 inches)
Because of the higher ground clearance, BMW 1 series can perform better on bad roads - it can go over higher obstacles and bumps. At the same time, the higher ground clearance can reduce stability and handling on paved roads, especially at higher speeds.
Dimensions
Length:
4.33 m
4.30 m
Width:
1.77 m
1.78 m
Height:
1.42 m
1.43 m
Both cars are similar in size. BMW 1 series is 3 cm longer than the Mercedes A class, 2 cm narrower the height of the cars does not differ significantly.
Trunk capacity:
360 litres
341 litres
Trunk max capacity: with rear seats folded down
1200 litres
1157 litres
BMW 1 series has 19 litres more trunk space than the Mercedes A class. The maximum boot capacity (with all rear seats folded down) is larger in BMW 1 series (by 43 litres).
Turning diameter:
11.3 meters
11 meters
The turning circle of the BMW 1 series is 0.3 metres more than that of the Mercedes A class.
