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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.
34 Comments on “Mercedes-Benz GLA: This Star Points Down...”
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Best looking infiniti SUV I’ve ever seen.
I think it looks a bit like the Buick Encore. But that’s mostly due the fact that both of these crossovers are so short in length that the only way to include the rear-quarter-panel window is to wrap the rear windscreen around the sides.
They actually did a pretty good job of keeping it from looking tiny if it is only 4″ longer than an Encore.
Between the CLA and GLA, the streets are gonna be a mess…
“Mercedes-Benz “leaked” (i.e released)”
Haha – so true.
BMW even got a smaller X6 in before this.
Next X6 is gonna be bigger. I am guessing to make room for an X4, X2, X0, X-2 etc.
Does it have a foot-wide 3-pointed star on front like the tacky one on the GL-Class and the GLK-Class (aka Gotta Look Kardashian)? It sort of looks like it does.
It sort of looks like a cross between a Lexus RX and an Infiniti EX, if it weren’t for the angry grille.
“BEATcha!”
-Buick
I like it, well the exterior anyway. The interior is typical concept car nonsense of course, but I think from the outside it’s a very handsome vehicle.
Quite frankly I don’t understand all the hate for these car/crossover/SUV/wagon things lately. I like wagons, I have an A4 Avant myself actually, but I realize not everybody does. Some of those folks don’t want a gargantuan full-size SUV either though, so these little dudes fit the bill just fine the way I see it.
It looks like a Volvo XC60.
I like its looks, but it won’t be a good value.
As for the interior, I’m searching for a stronger word than “grotesque”. Clearly, Mercedes doesn’t do cheap very well. On the other hand, maybe their style studio has a future designing sneakers or saftey razor packaging.
Remove two doors, reduce grill/logo by 50%, lower 4″ and then they’ll have something I want. As much as hate to admit it someone at work has BMW X1 and I love the look of it, so maybe this MB will be OK. Once they fix that grill and height issue.
This thing is grotesque; the front grill reminds me of a large mouth bass
and the interior is totally bizarre. It looks to much like a copy of an Infinity or a Lexus.
I see a lot of Q3 in the back.
I somehow like the interior. The blue “Pimp my Ride” interior lighting has to go, but the whole theme is refreshing.
Spot on, we are going to see a lot of these in the future
By the way, this is the same car depicted in the other Benz thread, but lifted and made slightly more tacky, ja?
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/04/mercedes-benz-going-after-mini/
…and no doubt at least twice the price.
closest thing we will get to an A45, i like it. If it weighs in closer to 3500 lbs than 4500 it might be nice.
Am I the only one that can see a prewar Ford or an early Volvo in this. It seems to all run in cycles.
“see a prewar Ford or an early Volvo in this”
Wish I could. Which of its design elements make you say that?
Just the silhouette reminds me. I think I see it in the Honda crosstour as well. Just remember I’m old and half blind. No reason for you to see the same stuff.
I think you may be on to something, it has an upright grill, rounded fenders, and similar proportions to the old Fords; looks to be roughly the same size too.
@teacher
I get it now, the Volvo PV series which look like smaller, tighter versions of Fords of that period. Yeah, the front/rear proportions, blunt nose and reemerging fenders of this MB are definitely reminiscent of those.
And the Volvo greenhouses were almost as scrunchy as this thing’s, too.
(scratches head)…which war?
Won’t lie 2 u, it’s #2.
There were actually a lot of cars that were, in general, styled pretty much the same. Sort of like now. That continued in American cars basically till 49. The nose on this one is a little too high and lumpy for me but the rest of the car fits the mold. That is, if you treat it as a silhouette. When you look at the whole car there is a bunch different.
I kind of like it but that is probably what was imprinted when I was too little to remember it.
The vents look like those computer case fans with LEDs that seem popular with gaming nerds.
They certainly display storied German thoroughness in exterminating every possible cubic foot of interior space.
At least the wheels are larger than the grille ornament.
If it weren’t for the new M-B design language grille, I would have guessed that was an Infiniti FX. Very handsome car.
Only seats four!.
This is crazy. Even subcompacts seat five.
Maybe it looks better in person……..
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.
“they don’t have to do it this way.”
I think the sad point being made is that nowadays, yeah, they do.
I’m surprised nobody ask about brown diesel version with stick.