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Pick up to 3 cars to see how they stack up on score, price and specs.

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Premium hatchback and sedan variations with sharp dual-screen MBUX digital layouts.

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Audi A3

Premium German compact saloon and hatchback blending Virtual Cockpit refinement, responsive TFSI performance, and sub-1,500 cc duty savings.

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Volkswagen Golf

From efficient standard hatchbacks to lifted off-road-capable Alltrack wagons, featuring MQB chassis precision and sub-1,500 cc duty savings.

Highest ratedBest value
Mercedes-Benz A-ClassAudi A3Volkswagen Golf
Mandai score
8/10
8/10
8.5/10
Typical price
KSh 3,300,000
KSh 28,000,004,500,000
KSh 3,200,000
Years
2017-2023
2017-2023
2017-2023
Fuel
Petrol, Diesel, Plug-in hybrid
Petrol, Hybrid
Petrol, Diesel
Transmission
Automatic, Dual-clutch
Automatic
Automatic, Dual-clutch
Doors
54
5
5
Most popular trim
A180 / A200 AMG Line / A250e PHEV
A3 1.4 TFSI / 30 TFSI S Line
Golf 1.4 TSI / Golf Alltrack / Golf GTD / Golf GTI
Dealer listings
None listed
None listed
None listed

Fuel and running cost

Fuel consumption
17.5 km/L5.7 L/100km combined · about 753 km a tank
17.5 km/L5.7 L/100km combined · about 875 km a tank
18.2 km/L5.5 L/100km combined · about 910 km a tank
Running cost
KSh 1,297 / 100 kmKSh 13 a km · KSh 12,969 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,297 / 100 kmKSh 13 a km · KSh 12,969 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,247 / 100 kmKSh 12 a km · KSh 12,470 for 1,000 km · petrol

Dimensions

Length
4,419 mm (Hatch) / 4,549 mm (Saloon)
4,343 mm (Sportback) / 4,495 mm (Saloon)
4,258 mm (Hatchback) / 4,578 mm (Variant / Alltrack)
Width
1,796 mm
1,816 mm
1,799 mm
Height
1,440 mm
1,430 mm
1,492 mm (Alltrack: 1,515 mm)
Wheelbase
2,729 mm
2,636 mm
2,637 mm
Ground clearance
140 mm
140 mm
140 mm (Hatchback) / 175 mm (Alltrack)
Boot space
370 L (Hatch) / 405 L (Saloon)
380 L (Sportback) / 425 L (Saloon)
380 L (Hatch) / 605 L (Variant / Alltrack)
Kerb weight
1,365 kg
1,280 kg
1,280 kg (Alltrack: 1,530 kg)
Seats
5
5
5

Specifications

Engine
1.33L M282 Turbo Petrol / 2.0L M260
1.4L TFSI Turbo Petrol (30 TFSI)
1.4L TSI Petrol / 2.0L TDI Clean Diesel / 2.0L TSI Turbo GTI
Power
163 hp (A200) / 224 hp (A250)
150 hp @ 5,000 rpm
150 hp (1.4T) / 184 hp (2.0 TDI) / 245 hp (GTI)
Torque
250 Nm (A200) / 350 Nm (A250)
250 Nm @ 1,500–3,500 rpm
250 Nm (1.4T) / 380 Nm (2.0 TDI) / 370 Nm (GTI)
Drivetrain
FWD or 4MATIC AWD
Front-Wheel Drive
Front-Wheel Drive / 4MOTION All-Wheel Drive
0–100 km/h
6.2 sec (A250) – 8.0 sec (A200)
8.2 sec
6.2 sec (GTI) / 7.8 sec (2.0 TDI) / 8.2 sec (1.4T)
Top speed
225 km/h
224 km/h
216 km/h – 250 km/h

Fuel economy

Combined
17.5 km/L (A200) / 15.0 km/L (A250)
17.5 km/L (1.4T) / 18.5 km/L (1.5T MHEV)
18.2 km/L (1.4T Petrol) / 21.5 km/L (2.0 TDI) / 14.5 km/L (GTI)
City
14.2 km/L (A200) / 12.0 km/L (A250)
14.5 km/L (1.4T) / 15.5 km/L (1.5T MHEV)
15.0 km/L (1.4T Petrol) / 18.5 km/L (2.0 TDI) / 11.8 km/L (GTI)
Highway
20.5 km/L (A200) / 18.0 km/L (A250)
20.5 km/L (1.4T) / 21.5 km/L (1.5T MHEV)
21.0 km/L (1.4T Petrol) / 24.0 km/L (2.0 TDI) / 17.2 km/L (GTI)
Tank size
43 L
50 L
50 L (Hatch) / 55 L (4MOTION)
CO₂ emissions
133 g/km
119 g/km
125 g/km (1.4T) / 119 g/km (2.0 TDI)

At a glance

Model
Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W177 / V177 Series)
Audi A3 (8V Facelift / 8Y Series)
Volkswagen Golf / Variant / Alltrack (Mk7.5 & Mk8)
Production years
2017–2023
2017–2023
2017–2023
Body type
5-Door Hatchback / 4-Door Saloon
5-Door Sportback / 4-Door Saloon
5-Door Hatchback / 5-Door Estate / Lifted Wagon
Seating capacity
5
5 seats
5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, PHEV
Petrol (TFSI), Mild Hybrid (MHEV)
Petrol (TSI), Clean Diesel (TDI)
Engine sizes
1,332 cc (A180/A200) / 1,991 cc (A250)
1,395 cc / 1,498 cc / 1,984 cc
1,197 cc (1.2T) / 1,395 cc (1.4T) / 1,968 cc (2.0L TDI) / 1,984 cc (2.0T GTI)
Transmission
7-Speed / 8-Speed DCT Automatic
7-speed S tronic Dual-Clutch Automatic
7-Speed DSG Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drivetrain
FWD or 4MATIC AWD
FWD or Quattro AWD
FWD or 4MOTION All-Wheel Drive
Ground clearance
140 mm
140 mm
140 mm (Hatchback) / 175 mm (Alltrack)
Source market
UK / Japan (RHD)
Japan / UK (RHD)
UK / Japan (RHD)

Pros and cons

What’s good
  • Sub-1,500 cc import duty tax advantage on 1.33L models.
  • Stunning dual 10.25-inch MBUX digital cockpit.
  • Sharp AMG Line exterior styling.
  • Sub-1,500 cc customs tax advantage: 1.4L and 1.5L engines qualify for lowest KRA tax bracket.
  • Premium Virtual Cockpit interior: 12.3-inch digital display with MMI touch navigation.
  • Excellent 17.5+ km/L fuel economy: Frugal turbo petrol technology with Cylinder on Demand.
  • Elegant Saloon & Sportback options: High executive style and strong local market demand.
  • High-speed highway rock stability: MQB chassis provides unshakeable composure on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
  • Sub-1,500 cc duty advantage on 1.2T/1.4T TSI: Sits in KRA's lower customs tax valuation tier.
  • Lifted 175 mm Alltrack 4MOTION wagon capability: Combines 605 L cargo capacity with off-road rough track traction.
  • 21.5 km/L 2.0 TDI clean diesel torque: 380 Nm torque delivers effortless long-distance overtaking economy.
What’s not so good
  • 140 mm ground clearance requires care over tall speed bumps.
  • Firm ride on 18-inch AMG alloy wheels.
  • 140 mm ground clearance: Requires cautious driving over tall estate speed bumps.
  • S tronic dual-clutch maintenance: Demands regular transmission fluid changes every 60,000 km.
  • Low 140 mm ground clearance on standard hatchbacks: Requires careful speed bump clearance in Nairobi estates.
  • Requires quality synthetic VW 504 00/507 00 oils: DSG dual-clutch transmission requires fluid service every 60,000 km.
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