Mercedes Compact Cars

The Mercedes G-Class is arguably one of the best off-roaders to have graced our planet. Over the years, the company has equipped it with a premium interior and an exorbitant price tag, but it is still regarded as a hardcore off-roader and has a strong footing in the segment despite heavy competition. To further cement this perception, Mercedes created a hardcore version of the already-competent G-Class called the G-Class 4x4. The previous model’s production ended in 2017, but it looks like the monster is back.

The new G-Class 4x4 was spied undergoing high-altitude testing in the Alps and it looked a lot bulkier and monstrous than its normal self – especially the wheel arches – thus reigniting the news of the 4x4 making a comeback. Are we excited? Hell yeah!

What do you get when you throw Mercedes’ Chief Design Officer, Gorden Wagener, and Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Artistic Director, Virgil Abloh, in a room and task them with redesigning the legendary Mercedes-Benz G-Class? Our first instinct would be something like the Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Laundaulet complete with a lavish, Vuitton inspired cabin fit for a movie star, but that instinct is completely off the mark as the result of this unlikely collaboration is something called ’Project Gelandewagen,’ and it’s more German Touring Car Championship than Hollywood Boulevard.

The 2020 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 is a higher performance version of the Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class, a subcompact premium crossover that slots between the tiny GLA and the compact GLC. Unveiled in 2019 with a variety of gasoline and diesel engines, the GLB is now available in a performance-oriented trim and with an AMG badge. Since a full-fledged AMG 45 model is not yet available, the 2020 AMG GLB 35 is the range-topping model of the GLB-Class lineup. The performance crossover comes with a familiar AMG 35 package that includes some extras on the outside, better tech on the inside, and a powerful four-cylinder engine that generates a robust 302 horsepower. Let’s find out more about this hauler in the review below.

On the market since 2014, the current Mercedes C-Class is far from fresh. With the various prototype sightings over the past couple of years, we know that 2021 will be the year for the fifth-gen model, but something we’ve yet to see is a prototype for the range-toping AMG C63 sedan. The C63 is billed as one of the most aggressive sports sedans on the market, and with very few rivals to compete with, Mercedes-AMG has to remain vigilant when it comes to how the car is perceived. As such, this rendering that we’re about to show you is likely a fairly accurate representation of what the C63 is actually going to look like.

The world of hot hatches is brimming with sharp-looking, go-fast pocket rockets but as of 2019, there’s one that rules them all. Enter the Mercedes-AMG A45.

Unveiled in the summer of 2019, the Mercedes-AMG A45 introduced the world’s most powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Under the hood of the top-spec S model, the M139 mill cranks out 310 kW (415 horsepower, 412 PS) and 500 Newton-meters of twist or around 369 pound-feet of torque. These guys, though, can consideraby improve on those numbers by just tweaking the car’s software.

Dealing with the car industry for so long, we learned the only valuable lesson one needs to know when it comes to tuning: some people will never be satisfied with a stock car’s oomph, be it a fully-fledged performance vehicle created by one of the world’s most revered divisions around the most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine currently in series production… in the world.

German tuner Renntech, who’s been tweaking AMGs since 1989, had a stab at the new Mercedes-AMG A45 which, by everyone’s standards, was doing just fine in stock form. The result sees the lava-hot hatch churn out up to around 600 horsepower, but lighter tuning kits are also available if you don’t need that kind of ego boost.

The 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 is the range-topping version of the fourth-generation A-Class hatchback. Unveiled in 2019, it slots above the AMG A35 in the range thanks to a more powerful engine, a more aggressive exterior, and extra equipment on the inside. Powered by a redesigned version of the AMG-tuned four-cylinder engine that cranks out 382 horsepower, the 2020 AMG A45 is the most powerful A-Class to date. But for the first time ever, Mercedes-Benz introduced an S-badged version of the hatchback, with even more power. In this tune, the AMG A45 delivers an amazing 416 horses, more than any other hot-hatch on the market as of 2020. This four-cylinder is also the most powerful of its kind in production, as well as the engine with the highest horsepower per liter. Let’s find out more about the 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 in the comprehensive review below.

It’s a small crossover based on the 2021 Mercedes GLA Battery placement in the floor Could still take cues from EQA Concept Should go on sale sometime in late-2020 249-mile range, 60 kWh battery

Mercedes has finally unveiled the new GLA, and during the presentation, we were treated to a teaser of the Mercedes EQA EV – a model once believed to be an entry-level hatchback. The image was clear enough that we can confirm the EQA will, in fact, be a very small crossover, one that we’ve seen in the prototype form in the past. This raises a big question, though. Why isn’t the production version of the Mercedes EQA going to take after the Concept EQA that was shown off by Mercedes back in 2017, and what happened to the hatchback body style?

The 35 nameplate is not a novelty for Mercedes-Benz’s lineup of compact cars. The A-Class wears it, as does the CLA, so it’s only natural for the GLA to receive the same treatment. In the GLA 35, the AMG-boosted inline-four unit mates to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and all-wheel drive, for a 0-60 mph sprint completed in five seconds flat. But there’s more to the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 than quickness off the line.

You’ll know you’re looking at the new Merc-AMG GLA 35 from the Panamericana-style front grille. But there are other clues to the car’s spirited nature, such as the silver-chrome trim elements on the outer air inlets, the 19-inch twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, and the more aggressive bumpers in the front and rear. Step inside and you’ll be greeted by a slightly tweaked cabin compared to the run-of-the-mill GLA. AMG took its time to add the MB-Tex/Dinamica microfiber seat upholstery with contrasting red stitching that go hand in hand with the red seat belts. There are also carbon fiber-like inserts spread across the dashboard, while the digital instrument cluster was tweaked with AMG-specific displays (Classic, Sport, and Supersport). Then there’s the AMG-styled steering wheel with its 12 o’clock mark, flat bottom, and galvanized gearshift paddles.

Under the hood of the new 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 sits a souped-up 2.0-liter, inline-four powerplant slapped with a twin-scroll turbo. The unit cranks out 302 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque between 3,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm, which in turn reach all fours through the AMG Speedshift DCT 8G dual-clutch gearbox and the AMG Performance 4Matic variable all-wheel-drive setup. In this configuration, the 0-60 miles per hour sprint takes precisely five seconds, while top speed is electronically limited and comes in at 155 miles per hour.

Depending on what sort of performance the driver is looking to squeeze out of the new Mercedes-AMG GLA 35, he or she can fiddle with the AMG Dynamic Select drive programs. They are, as follows:

Slippery - best for low-grip, icy surfaces, where the car employs smooth gearshifts and a flat torque curve Comfort - the default mode, balanced between fuel efficiency and soft settings for the suspension and steering Sport/Sport+ - sportier calibration of the engine, quicker response from the transmission Individual - your chance to have fun with a range of personalized parameters that suit your preferences and needs

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.

Mercedes is preparing to debut the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class on December 11th, but before the second-generation crossover arrives, the German automaker dropped a new teaser showing the new GLA-Class’ side profile and parts of the rear section.

The familiar design echoes the looks that we’re now familiar with from Mercedes’ new batch of compact cars. The carmaker took a few design liberties in rendering of the GLA-Class — the wheels and tires are abnormally large — but for the most part, the second-generation crossover carries a host of new design features that should make the GLA Class look sportier than in previous forms.

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class will finally spawn a competitor for the Audi A4 Allroad and the Volvo V60 Cross Country. Likely to carry the All-Terrain name, it will be Mercedes’ second vehicle of this type after the existing E-Class All-Terrain, which is aimed at the Audi A6 Allroad and Volvo V90 Cross Country.

Mercedes has really improved the CLA sedan in its second generation. It looks better, it’s considerably more comfortable and it packs even more tech than before too. It’s not quite perfect, but given how sleek and fancy it looks, you won’t have troubles forgiving the few flaws that it does have.

You’ll definitely notice the all-new interior, which is basically the same as in all current compact Mercedes models. It’s such a big improvement over the so-so interior of its predecessor and higher-spec examples now feel properly posh inside - this was never the case with the first generation CLA, whose interior was lackluster by Mercedes standards, whichever way you specced it.

However, while the exterior and interior pack quite a visual punch, what’s happened under the CLA’s skin is equally significant - whereas the previous model had a jarring ride and may have felt overly-sharp to some drivers, this new CLA has a softer, slightly more relaxed edge to it. It still feels sporty, but it doesn’t punish you for it like the old car did.

My tester was a 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 with the AMG Line pack and it felt really special to be in. Sure, maybe the €15,000 worth of extras it had on it helped seal the deal, but I was able to channel them out and focus on the core experience - and it was still good, still compelling and overall a solid car, even while ignoring the bells and whistles.

Photography by Andrei Nedelea