Mercedes-Benz GLA: This Star Points Down

by Derek Kreindler

Published: April 17th, 2013

Mercedes-Benz “leaked” (i.e released) photos of the GLA concept ahead of its debut in Shanghai. The GLA is their latest move down the ladder as far as size and price-points go, but it’s also a harbinger of what’s to come from all automakers; another small, car-based crossover. You are going to be seeing plenty of these in the next few years, especially from premium brands that can squeeze lots of profit out of vehicles like these. Hatchbacks, wagons and body-on-frame SUVs are likely to suffer from this segment’s rise in popularity.

#China #Crossover #Europe #Mercedes-Benz #Mercedes-benzGla #PremiumCrossover #SmallCrossover

Derek Kreindler

3 of 34 comments

Sportyaccordy on Apr 18, 2013

I cant believe this is the same company that made Mercedes in the 70s and 80s. Coming from the W201 190 this thing is an embarrassment. A travesty. I get that MB needs to move more volume but they don't have to do it this way.

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- Summicron on Apr 18, 2013
  
  "they don’t have to do it this way." I think the sad point being made is that nowadays, yeah, they do.
  
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Wallstreet on Apr 18, 2013

I'm surprised nobody ask about brown diesel version with stick.

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Lorenzo Yes, more sedans, but NOT "four-door coupes" with low, sloping rooflines. There's a market: The Malibu sold only 39,376 in 2021, but 115,467 in 2022, and130,342 last year. Surely GM can make money at that volume, even though it's the 4-D-C design. Auto executives need to pay less attention to stock price and more to the customers.
1995 SC The sad thing is GM tends to kill cars when they get them right, so this was probably a pretty good car
Mason Had this identical car as a 17 year old in the late 90's. What a ball of fun, one of many I wish I still had.
FinnEss At my age, sedans are difficult to get into without much neck and hip adjustment.I apologize sincerely but that is just the way it is. A truck is my ride of choice.Pronto
Ajla The market for sedans is weaker than it once was but I think some of you are way overstating the situation and I disagree that the sales numbers show sedans are some niche thing that full line manufacturers should ignore. There are still a sizeable amount of sales. This isn't sports car volume. So far this year the Camry and Civic are selling in the top 10, with the Corolla in 11 and the Accord, Sentra, and Model 3 in the top 20. And sedan volume is off it's nadir from a few years ago with many showing decent growth over the last two years, growth that is outpacing utilities. Cancelling all sedans now seems more of an error than back when Ford did it.