Mercedes Compact Cars

Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled the new GLA, the A-Class-based crossover whose first-generation was a popular choice among buyers. The new Mercedes-Benz GLA, however, takes a lot after its bigger brothers design- and tech-wise, and that’s a very good thing.

The new GLA is 4.1 inches higher (now 63.4 inches) and 0.6 inches shorter (now 173.6 inches) than the model it replaces. This means you get more headroom, but Mercedes-Benz highlights that now there’s even more legroom in the rear (38.4 inches, compared to 33.9 inches in the previous model). The U.S.-bound 2021 GLA has an aerodynamic coefficient of 0.30, which will contribute to low levels of wind noise inside the cabin as well as a reduction in fuel consumption at higher speeds. What’s more, Mercedes is so confident that the GLA can pull its own weight off the beaten path that it offers the Off-Road Engineering Package as standard on the GLA 4Matic.

On the inside, the GLA receives the highly-acclaimed MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment setup. Rear headroom, however, takes a 0.3-inch plunge (now 38.1 inches instead of 38.4), but shoulder room is more generous (now 54.8 inches instead of 53.1 inches, a 1.7-inch increase). Trunk capacity is also better in the new GLA, measuring 15.4 cubic feet, a 0.5 cubic feet increase from the previous model’s 14.9 cubic feet rating.

The safety bundle is a hefty one, especially if you opt for the optional Driver Assistance Package. Here’s what you get:

Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC Active Steering Assist Active Speed Limit Assist with Traffic Sign Assist Evasive Steering Assist Active Lane Keeping Assist Active Brake Assist Pre-Safe PLUS

In the U.S., the non-AMG 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA can be had with a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter, turbocharged gasoline engine bolted to an eight-speed 8G-DCT automatic transmission. The powerplant makes 221 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque between 1,620 rpm and 4,000 rpm. You can pick between the GLA 250 or the AWD GLA 250 4Matic. Performance-wise, Mercedes-Benz estimates that the 2021 GLA needs 8.6 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill en route to a top speed of 130 miles per hour.

No words on pricing yet, but the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA launches in the U.S. in the summer of 2020, so we’ll know more as its market debut closes in.

It’s been only a few months since the Mercedes-Benz GLB went into production and the German firm already launched a higher-performance model. Called the Mercedes-AMG GLB35, this crossover slots above the standard model and below the upcoming AMG GLB45. Like all 35-series models, it looks slightly sportier than the base version and brings extra power and performance to the table. Let’s find out more about that below.

Performance wagon fans from the U.S. have missed yet another enticing, fun new model, in the form of the new (second generation) Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake. More specifically, one of the AMG-tuned performance versions, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35. The sleek new CLA load lugger is quite a pretty car, with a striking interior, and this AMG version also adds proper poke and cornering ability into the mix.

Power comes from a 302 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder that sends its power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Naturally, since it is an AMG mode, it features styling tweaks and upgrades to set it apart from CLA Shooting Brake examples and the same goes for the interior. It’s a car that packs a proper punch, but it’s also practical, very stylish and very modern-feeling inside too. None of the modifications are over the top, though, because, as you might know, this is the lesser of the two AMG versions of the CLA wagon and the design needs to reflect this.

For most people, the more powerful Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 Shooting Brake will be too much, not necessarily in terms of looks, because that model doesn’t look significantly more extreme than the CLA 35, but in terms of mixing sporty looks and performance. The CLA 35 will undeniably be more popular primarily because it looks pretty much the same as the CLA 45 and most buyers won’t feel the need for the extra 100 horsepower that the more powerful version offers and the inherent extra performance.

Created in the Affalterbach pleasure house of AMG, the new 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and the 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 have become the most potent automobiles powered by four-cylinder engines. With a "one man - one engine" philosophy, each Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and A45 come with a hand-made “M139” 2.0-liter engine capable of delivering 382 horsepower or 416 horsepower (in its S version). Furthermore, both cars feature an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission and a clever 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system.

As far as performance goes, I can tell you that the two cars that stormed up the Goodwood Hill yesterday can achieve 62 mph in 3.9 seconds (A 45 S), 4.0 seconds (CLA 45 S and A 45), and 4.1 seconds (CLA 45). Furthermore, if you pay for the AMG Driver’s Package, you can unlock the maximum speed of 168 mph (instead of a standard 155 mph).

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB is a small crossover that slots between the company’s smallest SUV offerings yet, the 2019 GLA and the 2019 GLC. The 2020 GLB is based on the new platform underpinning the latest A-Class and B-Class, and was previewed by the 2019 Concept GLB at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show. The GLB stands out compared to the GLA and GLC due to a much boxier design. The crossover is often referred to as the baby G-Class, despite sharing underpinnings with the tiny A-Class and B-Class hatchbacks.

Rumors about a new compact SUV surfaced all the way back in 2012 when Mercedes unveiled the Ener-G-Force Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Created by the company’s Advanced Design Studio in Carlsbad, California, it looked like a futuristic version of the G-Class and had a hydrogen-powered drivetrain. The rumors turned into certainty when a small but boxy crossover was spotted testing on public roads, but the hydrogen drivetrain was dropped in favor of conventional engines. With one in three Mercedes-Benz cars now an SUV, and one in four a compact model, Mercedes-Benz thinks that a compact SUV like the GLB "combines all the success factors of the company’s highest-volume segments." Let’s find out more about that, shall we?

Packed in a more compact body even compared to the Nissan Rogue, the new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB manages to find a unique point in space among SUVs, where no vehicles like it exist. It is a premium compact SUV - short, not enormous - that packs seven seats inside combined with the well-known Mercedes-Benz luxury and sophistication qualities. To put it clearly - BMW, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac, or Lincoln do not have a vehicle that could threaten the existence of the GLB.

Its sole competitors reside in the realm of cheap alternatives. If endowed with the right options, these compact SUVs can be seven-seaters - Land Rover Discovery Sport, Skoda Kodiaq, Nissan Rogue, and VW Tiguan Allspace.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB, however, is the only premium entry in this tight segment - this is how it is better than anyone else.

Mercedes not only invented the four-door coupe with the original CLS, but it also eventually launched a smaller version of that car, dubbed the CLA. Now in its second generation, the all-new CLA holds a lot of promise that stems from its exterior styling, bold and upmarket interior, and the news that it drives considerably better than the model it replaces.

The compact crossover segmentshows no signs of slowing down, and Mercedes is adding to the momentum with the promise of two new models, one of which is powered by gasoline, the other of which is all-electric. Dubbed the GLB and EQB respectively, the fresh nameplates are set to arrive very, very soon, as confirmed by Board of Management member Britta Seeger at the 2019 New York Auto Show.

Manufacturers have adapted to the specific needs of the Chinese automotive market, and one of the prime adaptations has to do with providing long-wheelbase versions of sedans they already sell elsewhere. Now, that may not seem especially ridiculous if you think about a C- or E-Class Mercedes, for instance, but an extended wheelbase version of the compact Mercedes-AMG A35 sedan? That’s certainly more unusual.

Automakers have made it a habit to thinly disguise future production models with accessories, crazy rims, paint schemes, and interior materials, and that’s exactly what the Mercedes GLB Concept is. It essentially previews the production Mercedes GLB crossover that’s set to make its debut in production form in late-2019.

The second-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA was unveiled at 2019 Consumer Electronics Show.The revised four-door coupe replaces the highly successful first-generation CLA, introduced all the way back in 2013. Just like its predecessor, the 2020 CLA competes in a very tight niche that only includes the Audi A3 Sedan. However, the 2020 CLA may have what it takes to compete against the slightly larger 2019 BMW 3 Series. Based on the same platform that underpins the latest A-Class hatchback and sedan models, the CLA boasts a notable design inside and out. It combines features seen on the A-Class and CLS on the outside, while the interior comes from the smaller of the two. Like most recently unveiled Mercs, the CLA features all the cool technology found in the bigger E-Class and S-Class models, including the semi-autonomous driving system. This places the CLA at the top of its class tech-wise. Let’s find out more about that in the review below.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake is a coupe-style, station wagon version of the regular 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA. It’s based on the second-generation 2020 CLA, which was unveiled in January 2019. The 2020 CLA Shooting Brake broke cover at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show with identical specifications and drivetrains. But the Shooting Brake benefits from the longer roof, which translates into enhanced luggage room. The engine lineup includes a variety of gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines. Unlike the 2020 CLA, the 2020 CLA Shooting Brake isn’t offered in the United States. Find out more about Merc’s latest sporty station wagon in the review below.

Mercedes-Benz revealed the entry-level price for the new A-Class Sedan. You will be able to get it for $32,500. Go for the 4Matic and be prepared to churn out two grand more at $34,500. This is considerably more compared to the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA - the entry-level Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. at the time. That one managed to slip just under the $30,000 mark and was the only Mercedes-Benz to achieve so.

Long gone are those days. While the A-Class Sedan isn’t as special as the CLA, the new car definitely has some merit in the world. And, while $32,500 does not sound that bad for a new Mercedes, this price does not include the destination charge (so, add a grand on top of it) and don’t even imagine having access to all the amazing Mercedes-Benz tech found in higher-end models.

Mercedes-Benz is in the process of replacing almost all of its current-generation vehicles, including the compact cars. It’s been only a few months since the German firm unveiled the new-gen A-Class, and we saw the slightly bigger B-Class make its global debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show.

Restyled to look sportier on the outside and more upscale on the inside, the new B-Class also shares lots of technology with bigger sedans such as the E-Class and S-Class. How does it compare to the outgoing model?

The third-generation Mercedes-Benz B-Class arrived at the 2018 Paris Motor Show to replace a dated seven-year-old model. Just like its predecessor, it competes in the subcompact MPV segment. Essentially a bigger A-Class, it combines the utility of a small crossover with the sporty stance of a hatchback, and, thanks to its latest update, technology from the company’s bigger vehicles.

Developed to give the slightly newerBMW 2 Series Active Tourer a run for its money, the third-generation B-Class sets a new benchmark on the executive MPV market. Just like the latest A-Class, it features an interior design based on larger sedan like the E-Class and S-Class, as well as semi-autonomous driving tech. Unfortunately, the B-Class will remain a European vehicle for the most part as Mercedes-Benz has no plans to bring it to the United States.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz B-Class.

Mercedes is working on an all-new A45 AMG model to sit at the top of its A-Class lineup, and even though it’s set to debut sometime next year, we’re already learning new details about it - exciting details regarding how it will be very different from (and just plain better than) the outgoing A45 AMG.

Mercedes-Benz finally showed the AMG A35 in the metal at the Paris Motor Show. Even though the car made an online debut a couple of weeks back, this is the first time we’ve seen it in its physical form. People have been waiting on the ropes for this car to arrive after the A-Class hatchback was launched a few months ago and it was well worth the wait.

The new Mercedes-Benz B-Class is here. If nobody remembers the previous generation, that’s okay, because Mercedes has made their new compact minivan crossover taller, longer, and more in-line with the current Merc styling trends.

The new B-Class just dropped at the Paris Motor Show while everyone’s looking at the new EQC and the brash-looking A35 AMG. But the B-Class doesn’t deserve to be overlooked - within its tight minivan-crossover class niche, only BMW’s 2-Series Active Tourer provides any real competition.

Some may argue that there isn’t much market left for these compact minivan crossovers, as people look towards SUVs of varying shapes and sizes as grocery-getters and family carriers. But Mercedes hopes there is. The problem with the B-Class is that it’s not particularly good looking - you can thank the headlights from the A-Class for that - but, at least, it looks better than the visual atrocity that is the 2-Series Active Tourer.

Mercedes is changing the formula for the performance end of its A-Class range, which will now feature two models: a hot A35, which was just revealed, and an even hotter A45 we don’t yet know very much about. But why wait for the A45 when this A35 is already a very enticing premium hot hatch with a unique look and strong performance?

The A35 has over 300 horsepower, 295 pound-feet of torque, and all-wheel drive to enable it to hurl itself from naught to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds. Its top speed is electronically pegged at 155 mph, but if other similar cars with comparable power numbers are anything to go by, it should nudge 170 mph when unrestricted.

It also looks quite appealing, I think, with its aggressive bumpers, side skirts, and rear spoiler. Inside, it’s been spruced up with sports seats, yellow details, and a flat bottom steering wheel to leave you in no doubt that it is a performance-oriented car.

Not everything about it is perfect, though; here are ten must-know facts about it you should be aware of.

Following a round of teasers, Mercedes-AMG has finally revealed its latest fire-breathing hatchback - the 2019 A35 4Matic.

“Body shell, suspension, all-wheel drive, transmission, driving programs, fine tuning - every detail has been designed for maximum driving dynamics without compromising on everyday comfort,” Merc announces.

The main party piece can be found under the hood, where Mercedes stuffed the hot-to-trot A-Class with a turbocharged four-cylinder making as much as 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Properly applied, its enough to send the A35 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a scorching 4.7 seconds, while top speed clocks in at 155 mph. The boost snail is a twin-scroll unit for sharper response.

Routing the muscle is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which feeds an AMG-tuned, electro-mechanical 4Matic AWD system. The torque split can vary between front-wheel drive only, to a 50:50 split front-to-back.

Keeping it shiny side up are MacPherson struts up front and a four-link for the rear. There’s plenty of aluminum to keep it all light, while a set of adaptive dampers can be had for a little extra outlay. Large four-pot brakes clamp the front, with brake rotors that measure in at 13.8 inches in front and 13 inches in the rear.

The A35 looks the part of a hooligan thanks to AMG’s classic styling chops, which includes a unique grille in the nose, aero-optimized 18-inch wheels in the corners, and a large spoiler mated to a pronounced diffuser in the rear.

Inside the cabin, you’ll find the latest MBUX infotainment goodies, plus AMG’s signature upholstery treatment and a flat-bottom steering wheel. A fully digital instrument display provides the feedback.

Look for the 2019 Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic to strut its stuff early next month at the 2018 Paris Motor Show.