A Baby Benz Is On The Way, But Will YOU Be The First On The Block To Have One?

The original Baby Benz was the Mercedes 190 series. People flocked to the dealerships for that baby. The 190 was responsible for cementing the thought of a small Mercedes in the minds of people. These days the A and B class do the same in Europe. I think that eventually smaller luxury cars like this will catch on here in the US. It will take some time.

I rented an A class in Europe a year ago. I was surprised at how nimble and quick it felt and also at the space inside. I drive a W203 C230 V6 and the A class, a 5 door, felt way more spacious inside. The suspension was a little to hard though.

The 190 was the predated the c class the a and b class are in a completely different class of car below the 190 was and the c class currently is not sure how you can relate the 190 here. Either way not sure how this car would work in the us if anything though i would say a crossover would be the better choice people seem to be more open to those, but a mercedes coupe and/or sedan below the c class may not be a good seller simply because to those that just buy the c class because its the cheapest way into a mercedes will find anything lower than that to be kinda pointless lol since for years the c classes main claim to fame was that it was the cheapest mercedes in the us could buy other than the amgs that is which also were competitive cars. I just picture the type of person that lies about driving mercedes buying one so they can stop lieing lol about it.

wow typos we need an edit button lol

Are you saying that I am a poseur?

FYI I bought my C230 because I didn't need an E class, even though I could easily afford one. I didn't want the cramped the SLK and the SL is not something I lust after. The C class was the perfect car for me. I testdrove the Lexus IS, Saab 9-3 and Audi A4 and liked the C230 the best. It suited my needs.

Entry-level cars exist for a reason. Either to lure younger buyers to the brand or provide people with an "affordable" means of owning a car from a particular brand. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

What's your excuse for a BMW 3 series if you think the C class is for poseurs?

lol well actually you just proved my point you just when this long rant defending your buying decision and than saying something random about a 3 series you didnt even read my post. Yes, I will say it the last generation c class and everyone before it is a posuers car it just is they were never great at anything they were simply small Mercedes. Which ironically what the 190e wasnt it was never an also ran as the C class has been. The 3 series is a car you buy because you want either the best car in its class, or you simply love the way it drives it hsa enough superlatives to back buying one and in some respect so do others but the C class has really never stood out in anyway at all other than the AMGs which have always been great from the C36 to the current C63, but hey thats just my opinion.

The BMW 3 series stands out because of its driving dynamics. The C class stands out because of its balance between comfort and sport. The C class has always been something of a multi-tasker in its class. It's good at many things and not bad at anything if you will. It might not handle like a 3er but it's comfortable and sporty enough for most people. Most people don't want a sporty car - they want something relaxing and comfortable. I've driven a few 3 series in the past. Great handling, engaging to drive but after a few hours my back hurts. I don't like the harsh suspension and the seats always tended to be a bit stiff. It's not what I am looking for in a car.

I personally don't like the word "benchmark" because there is no such thing. It all depends on what the buyer is looking for. Some want a 3er some want a C class some want an A4 etc. Whatever people get, that's the best choice for them. I don't regret buying my C230. It's quick, comfortable, reliable and the gas mileage ain't bad either.

To plain looking and it better have at least a turbo four if not a V6.

Car looks like it performs about as well as a Smart-Car.

About the B-Class currently available here in Canada, the general perception is that of a very average performing hatchback with average fuel economy and subpar interior materials. The equipment on the base level car is similar to that of a base Honda Civic for almost twice the price. The ones that do sell are generally sold to people wanting the brand cachet associated with the three-pointed star.

The B-Class interior materials are not subpar at all. They sure as hell are better than anything Honda or Toyota have in its class.

Well, the A class I drove had a pretty good interior. It wasn't cheap by any means. But it wasn't spectacular either. Still, for such a car I found the interior to be completely fine.

Subpar for a car in its price range which is my point. Too much money for too little.

Minivan, cross-over = Soccer-Mom Taxi

we own a b-class here in Canada and it's definitely a very good interior. Both in space utilization, quality, seats, dash and comfort. Ride and handling are not the greatest (coming from a 3 series and a Mini cooper prior). We thought we needed power and spec'd the 200hp turbo 4, which is NOT a good match for the soft suspension. The base engine is actually more "balanced".

is it a poseur car? not really, we love the utility and the interior comfort. Having only one child, it far exceeds our needs and is a simpler car than a full size mini-van which we don't need. Being a MB, the residuals on a 3 year lease easily makes it competitively priced in the market with cars costing thousands less. In the end this is a MUCH better Matrix which my wife and I did not like.

I live in Germany and I used to work for Mercedes during the summer of 2005. I've driven all A-Class and all B-Class models (with the exception of the A200 Turbo). I prefer the A-Class solely for its better handling and sharper steering feedback.

The B-Class is very soft and extremely comfortable, but lacks any sporty pretensions. It's roomy, versatile and great for long journeys though.

I did not like the B200 Turbo for the sole reason that it torque steers like crazy (I drove it with the Autotronic [CVT]). The best B-Class in my experience was the facelifted B200 CDI with a 5-speed manual and sports package. It handles much sharper (still very soft though) and the brakes feel better to. Ironically, the A- and B-Classes have the best manual transmissions I've ever experienced in a Mercedes-Benz. Smooth, precise - a joy to shift with. The manuals in the R171 SLK and W204 C-Classes are lacking in that smoothness feel.

I also liked the B180 CDI and amongst the gasoline models I felt the regular B200 was good. All with manuals though. The Autotronic CVT transmission kills the power of the weaker models except in the case of the B180 CDI and B200 CDI (diesel torque helps) and the B200 Turbo.

The worst B-Class setup has to be the B150 with the CVT. I had to drive that thing from Landshut to Burghausen (over 100 km) on country roads in record time. Overtaking was impossible with this car because it was really slow. The CVT goes well with the powerful models, not the weaker ones.

Focal, you forgot (and everyone forgot) to mention that the B class is a much safer car than any civic/corolla out there. As a father of two, its something that sounds rather important to me, and it comes with a price.

I have had a chance to drive the 5-door models of A and the B in Europe (and the A in Asia) and like both models. Although personally, I really like the practical/economical nature (and build quality) of these small 5-door designs from MB, I must confess I just don't think we Americans (for the most part) like these small cars, particularly under the MB, BMW and Audi banner. But my vote would be for both A and B models.

I buy cars for it's value in what you get. We originally ordered the best valued utility CAR (Jetta TDI wagon), but the wait for it was too long. After waiting 2 months, we decided to look again and stumbled upon the B200 turbo. the utility is fabulous in the B200T....Americans may buy things based on prestige, but I look strongly at the residuals (if leasing) and the flexibility to spec the car the way I want to meet my needs.

i think my previous cars all met my needs for work and fun + relative value (Jetta VR6, Jetta 1.8T, Corado VR6, 325ci, Mini Cooper)

I had a B200cdi for a month in France and found it to be practical and very fun to drive. I contacted MB Canada about importing one to the US, but they noted that it hadn't been homologated for the US market, and therefore unable to insure or register.

I really don't care about the luxury positioning of a hatch. It's a perfect little car without Americanizing it.