Mercedes Won’t Release the B-Class to the U.S. Market
Mercedes has a unique brand image in America, but the B-class doesn’t quite fit here. And that’s alright with us.
As we know, Mercedes offers a much wider and more diverse lineup of cars in Europe than they do here in the States. One reason for that is due to the U.S. customer base. Luxury is the main theme here, meaning most entry-level cars never even see our shores, including this, the B-Class.
Road Show describes the car as a bit of a curiosity. Unlike other popular chunky CUV models here which gain height by ground clearance, the B-Class is tall from the waistline up. This almost gives it the silhouette of a small minivan. Customer trends here clearly point to a desire for rugged appearance, even in small crossovers. As it stands, we can’t imagine a car like the B200d would be flying out of showrooms.
Power units are also something to consider. Diesel has had a fallout in U.S. sales after the Volkswagen emissions scandal, and diesel power tops the engine range for the B-Class. Gasoline engines are available, but don’t carry the same kind of grunt.
What it lacks in looks and power, it makes up for with Mercedes’ technology, not only for connectivity, but also for safety. B-Class owners will benefit from active and passive safety systems that are already implemented on other Mercedes products, as well as interacting with the car through the MBUX infotainment system.
Showrooms here don’t necessarily need this car, though. Via the A-Class and CLA-Class, those two models represent our “baby Benz,” with no real need for a smaller model. If its space you want, the GLA fits the bill. While we don’t get great cars like the A35 AMG, or even the X-class pickup, we’re OK that Mercedes has decided to skip our market all together with the quirky B-Class.
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