Mercedes-Benz's small B-class "compact sports tourer" sedan, the B200, has been sold in Europe and in other markets since the spring of 2005; it made its way to North America by landing in Canada in the fall of that year.
Mercedes basically took its mini-sized A-class vehicle and lengthened it, while keeping the same engine and suspension components, as well as its notable "sandwich floor" construction, in which the engine is positioned in such a way that if there is a big frontal impact, it slides under the passenger cell, rather than ramming into it (the floor of the passenger compartment is raised almost 8 inches to facilitate this safety feature). Design-wise, some have dubbed it "R-class lite," saying that it reminds them more of a small MPV than a "hot hatch."
Consumer Reports recently purchased a B200 in Montreal and drove it across the border to its proving grounds in Connecticut in order to test it for a forthcoming article on small cars. They liked it, dubbing it a "baby minivan." CR's website is saying--without attributing any M-B sources--that the B200 could be imported into the States.
The B200 (the first front-wheel-drive Mercedes to be sold in North America) was to have made its appearance on this continent on both sides of the 49th parallel; Canada and the U.S. were originally scheduled to launch the B200 at the same time. But Mercedes-Benz USA decided not to go ahead and import the small car, citing unfavorable euro-dollar exchange rates as the reason. If they were to sell it at the price they were targeting, they would not be able to make money (or so the reasoning went).
Mercedes-Benz of Canada, though, went ahead and started importing the B200 into the Great White North in 2005. It has been mostly well-received, with some reviews lauding its superb fit and finish and excellent cargo-roominess, thanks to its tall-wagon layout. Yet other reviews have harped upon a glaring elephant-in-the-living-room feature of the vehicle, namely its elephantine price: $31,400 Canadian, which when you do the loonie-to-greenback conversion, winds up at US$28,835. Now, throw every option in the book on the B200, including the turbo engine and leather seats and the iDrive-like COMAND system, and the price jumps to C$57,434 (which is $52,743 U.S., taking into account the jump in exchange rates recently).
Our take? Over fifty grand for a car roughly the size of an Audi A3 (or even some of the Japanese and Korean small cars, which sell for considerably less)? Mercedes-Benz USA may adjust the price for the U.S. market a bit, but it seems as if bargain shoppers had better look elsewhere if this makes it to the States. Mercedes fanboys with cash to spend, on the other hand, will probably snap up this cleverly-designed small (and tall) wagon.
|