Mercedes-Benz Reveals All-New GLA-Class Compact SUV

Haverhill, 08/23/2013 / SubmitMyPR /

As drivers continue to downsize their rides, the line between car and SUV is becoming more blurred. In the luxury market, the latest, and potentially greatest, example is the recently revealed 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class compact crossover SUV, which will make its public debut at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt next month before arriving at Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the fall of 2014.

About five inches shorter and three inches narrower than the current Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, the all-new GLA-Class will be the fifth SUV in the brand's lineup, designed to take on vehicles like the Range Rover Evoque and BMW X1. With a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, class-leading aerodynamics and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class will be highly maneuverable and efficient in urban settings, producing 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The compact model will also be Mercedes-Benz's first SUV offered with the next-generation 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, ensuring stability during inclement weather.

"Luxury buyers are becoming more and more willing to opt for a smaller model with better fuel economy, as long as it still has the style, performance and amenities they've become accustomed to in their larger rides," said James Buckley, general manager of Smith Motor Sales, a Mercedes-Benz dealership based in Haverhill, Mass. "The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class blends all of those characteristics perfectly with its efficient-yet-responsive engine, its well-appointed cabin and its flowing exterior design, which belongs in a class of its own."

With a low roofline, a high beltline, flared fenders and a variety of contoured surfaces, Mercedes-Benz's GLA-Class sports a modern and aggressive design while maintaining the sophistication of the German luxury brand. Inside the cockpit, the GLA-Class features a large, iPad-like display and five round air vents on its sweeping dashboard, which is available in aluminum or satin-finished wood trim.

The GLA-Class pulls much of its look and feel from another new compact model, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class four-door coupe, which goes on sale next month. Priced starting at $30,825, the CLA-Class will share the same 2.0-liter engine and front- or all-wheel-drive MFA platform as the GLA-Class, as well as a similar exterior and interior.

"The GLA-Class and CLA-Class should attract a lot of first-time luxury buyers to the brand with their city-friendly designs and affordable pricing," noted Buckley. "At the same time, many longtime customers might consider downsizing because both vehicles offer many of the same amenities found in more expensive Mercedes-Benz models."

About Smith Motor Sales:
For more than 75 years, Smith Motor Sales has brought Mercedes-Benz ownership to customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Smith Motor Sales has remained an elite Mercedes-Benz dealer throughout the years through its commitment to customer service and its wide selection of new and used Mercedes-Benz vehicles, as well as its expert service and parts staff. Browse their inventory online at www.smithmercedesdealer.com, stop by their showroom at 420 River Street in Haverhill, Massachusetts, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SmithMercedes, or reach them by phone at 978-372-2552.