New Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan aims for attainable luxury

By Stephen Edelstein April 24, 2018

1 of 9

Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan (Chinese-market version) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan (Chinese-market version) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan (Chinese-market version) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan (Chinese-market version) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan (Chinese-market version) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan (Chinese-market version) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan (Chinese-market version) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan (Chinese-market version) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan (Chinese-market version) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mercedes-Benz is revamping the lower rungs of its lineup with new versions of its compact A-Class. A hatchback model aimed primarily at the European market debuted at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in March, and now a sedan version is making its debut at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. While the version you see here is Chinese-spec, expect the Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan to make its way to the United States eventually.

Recommended Videos

For now, Mercedes is only showing the A-Class L version of the sedan. “L” stands for “long wheelbase,” an option that’s common in China. The A-Class L has a wheelbase stretched 6.0 centimeters (2.3 inches), and will be sold only in China. But an upcoming standard-wheelbase version will likely be sold in the U.S. as the new entry-level Mercedes (excluding the Metris van), according to Car and Driver, allowing the CLA-Class to move upmarket.

Aside from the presence of a trunk, everything about the A-Class sedan is virtually identical to the hatchback model unveiled in Geneva. That includes the new MBUX infotainment system (short for Mercedes-Benz User Experience), which features a screen setup closer to that of larger Mercedes models, and a more sophisticated voice-recognition system.

In China, the A-Class sedan will launch with a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 163 horsepower. A 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 187 hp will arrive later. Both engines will be mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. As before, the A-Class is based on a front-wheel drive platform, and Mercedes will likely offer all-wheel drive as an option.

The U.S. powertrain lineup will be revealed at a later date, as will details on high-performance AMG models. The new AMG A-Class has a lot to live up to, as the outgoing AMG A45 (as well as its CLA45 and GLA45 siblings) boasts a titanic 375 horsepower. In keeping with its current product cadence, Mercedes will likely offer both a direct replacement for the AMG A45 and a less-powerful AMG model below it.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan will launch in China during the second half of this year, and we should see a version aimed at other markets around that time as well. Meanwhile, Mercedes is also using the 2018 Beijing Auto Show to debut a very different kind of vehicle: The ultra-glitzy Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury electric SUV concept.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is old-school luxury — electrified

Front three quarter view of the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV.

Mercedes-Benz is preparing for an electric future with its EQ models, a line of EVs with futuristic aerodynamic styling and all of the latest infotainment tech. With several EQ models already in production, Mercedes is shifting focus to more traditional luxury.
The Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is the first all-electric vehicle from Maybach, the ultra-luxury subbrand of Mercedes. It takes the EQS SUV launched in 2022 and bathes it in opulence, adding more chrome on the outside and more creature comforts on the inside.
Scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. this fall, the Maybach is an unusual EV proposition, taking what is supposed be a forward-thinking design and wrapping it in old-school luxury. Ahead of its launch, Digital Trends got an up-close look at the Maybach EQS SUV to see how Mercedes is trying to balance those two aspects.

Germany's Rolls-Royce goes electric
The Maybach name has great historical significance for Mercedes. Wilhelm Maybach was one of the earliest automotive engineers. He designed the first Mercedes-branded car for the Daimler company (now Daimler-Benz), but struck out on his own after a falling out with company management. His eponymous company built Zeppelin engines, luxury cars, and, during World War II, engines for German military vehicles.
Daimler-Benz took control of Maybach in the 1960s, but left the passenger-car business dormant. Mercedes then revived the Maybach name in the early 2000s as a competitor to the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley, both of which are owned by rival German automakers. Given Wilhelm Maybach's history with Mercedes, it essentially brought things full circle.
The 21st-century Maybach brand started out with standalone models in the form of the Maybach 57 and Maybach 62 sedans (as well as the stunning Exelero prototype), but production ended in 2012 amid dwindling sales. Mercedes then switched to making Maybach-branded versions of existing models like the S-Class sedan and GLS-Class SUV, a pattern that continues with the Maybach EQS SUV.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV first drive review: ’90s look, cutting-edge tech

Front three quarter view of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.

Mercedes-Benz is one of the oldest automakers in existence, but it's been among the quickest to launch a lineup of electric cars. It may not have the freshness of a startup, but what it does have are actual cars to sell to customers.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is the middle child of Mercedes' electric SUV lineup, slotting between the entry-level EQB and the flagship EQS SUV, and targeting electric luxury SUVs like the Audi E-Tron, BMW iX, and Cadillac Lyriq. Like the EQS, the EQE SUV is based on an existing sedan, hence the "SUV" suffix. In a previous first drive, we found the EQE sedan to be a good balance between luxury and livability, giving the SUV version a lot to live up to.

Cars

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV preview: The EV lineup grows again

Front three quarter view of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.

As Mercedes-Benz has steadily expanded its EQ range of electric cars, the lineup has become a bit like the late stages of a Tetris game. It’s mostly complete, but with a few gaps still left. And the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is the piece that perfectly fits one of them.
Mercedes recently launched two other electric SUVs at opposite ends of the price spectrum. The EQS SUV is positioned as the lineup’s flagship, while the EQB is the entry-level model. The EQE SUV slots between those two in size and, presumably, price. The latter hasn’t been confirmed yet, and likely won’t be until the EQE SUV’s planned March 2023 on-sale date.

Design
As the name says, the EQE SUV is a utility-vehicle version of the EQE sedan, which will likely beat it to showrooms by a few months. Mercedes did the same thing with the EQS, which is available in both SUV and sedan body styles.
With its tall, upright profile, the EQE SUV definitely looks like a proper SUV compared to the low-slung EQE sedan. Park it next to an EQS SUV, though, and you’ll have to get out a measuring tape to spot the differences.
The EQE SUV is 0.6 inch narrower and 1.2 inches lower than the EQS SUV, but the most significant difference is in length. The EQE SUV is 10.3 inches shorter than the EQS SUV, with a 2.1-inch shorter wheelbase. And while the EQS SUV has three-row seating, the EQE SUV has two rows. Based on our experience with the EQS SUV’s third row, that’s not a big loss.
The interior design theme carries over from other Mercedes EQ models, with an expansive sloping dashboard designed to accommodate many screens, and multicolor ambient lighting that should look pretty dramatic at night. However, leatherette upholstery is standard, rather than real leather, which Mercedes is now spinning as a vegan option.