Mercedes-Benz is preparing a revolutionary SUV and minivan hybrid: what will replace the A-Class?

Content of the article:

• The new Mercedes-Benz concept: what will replace the A-Class?
• The end of the "Made in Germany" era and the move to Hungary
• SUS: A bold experiment with the body "Sport Utility Sedan"
• Technical base of MMA and approximate price
• Expert opinion Vnedorognik.ua: Is such a step justified?

The German auto giant Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed: the era of traditional compact hatchbacks is coming to an end. The popular A-Class will be replaced by an ambitious project that combines the practicality of a van and the passability of a crossover. What is known about the new product on the MMA platform and why is the brand changing its strategy?

Mercedes-Benz is preparing a radical update of the Entry Luxury line. Instead of the usual form factors, engineers are working on a model that should become the "space" successor of two classes at once — A and B.

The end of the "Made in Germany" era and the move to Hungary

Despite the fact that the life cycle of the current Mercedes A-Class has been extended to 2028 due to stable demand, global changes are already underway.

• Farewell to the B-Class:Production of the compact van will stop at the end of 2026.
• Relocation of capacities:In the second quarter of 2026, the main production will be transferred from Rastatt, Germany to the plant in Kecskemet (Hungary).
• New status:It is the Hungarian site that will become the "homeland" of the new mysterious model. The most affordable Mercedes-Benz will officially cease to be purely German in origin.

SUS: A bold experiment with the body "Sport Utility Sedan"

The main news is that Mercedes abandons the classic hatchback format in favor of a hybrid. EditionAutomobilwoche, referring to technical director Jörg Burzer, claims that the new product will have features of a crossover and a minivan.

Designers are inspired by the conceptVision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury. At one time, he presented the idea of ​​SUS (Sport Utility Sedan) — a car with the high fit of a crossover, but the comfort of a luxury sedan. In the mass segment, this is transformed into a "cross-vein" format:

• High fit and protective plastic body kit (from SUV).
• Maximum internal volume and interior transformation (from a minivan).

Technical base of MMA and approximate price

The innovation is based on architectureMMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture). It is designed according to the "Electric First" principle, but supports the installation of internal combustion engines (ICE). This will allow Mercedes to flexibly respond to market requests:

• Hybrids and electric cars:The platform is designed for both types of power plants.
• Price range:It is expected that the novelty will be more expensive than the current A-Class. Estimated price in Europe — from44,000 to 45,000 euros, which puts it on par with the premium CLA.

Expert opinion Vnedorognik: Is such a step justified?

For Mercedes-Benz, this project is a strategic game for survival in the segment of compact cars. The company needs big sales, but they no longer want to compete with mass-market hatchbacks.

Our analysis:

As specialists in off-road equipment, we see this as a positive trend. The combination of the comfort of a van and the geometry of a crossover is what the modern market demands. However, the question remains: will the new product retain the brand durability of the suspension? For Ukrainian roads and active recreation, it is critically important that the "off-road" appearance is supported by a reliable all-wheel drive system4MATIC.

We hope that this will not be just a marketing product for "social networks", but a full-fledged universal car, worthy of a star on the hood.