Mercedes is saying “auf Wiedershen” to the hottest of hot hatches.
The German luxury marque has revealed that its discontinuing the A-Class, three years after it stopped selling the vehicle in the U.S., according to Motor1.com. Why is this such a big deal? Because that means the automaker has pulled the plug on its one and only hatchback.
Since its introduction in 1997, the A-Class has been Mercedes’s entry-level model. In the car’s fourth generation, a sedan edition was added to the lineup, but it has mainly been sold as a three- or five-door hatchback. As a true compact, it’s often been on the smaller end of the automotive spectrum, but there have also been several AMG versions over the years. The most recent, the wing-sporting A 45, came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that made 421 hp, making it the most powerful gas-powered hatchback you could buy.
2023 Mercedes-AMG A 45 S
Justin Leighton/Mercedes-Benz
But the A-Class’s days as the automaker’s entry-level model are now over. Last week, that role was taken over by the new CLA sedan, and this week, Mercedes has confirmed the older model won’t make it past this generation. The news comes via chief technology officer, Markus Schäfer, who told Italian magazine Quattroruote that the company will built fewer compacts, which are mainly popular in its home region, to focus on more expensive SUVs, which sell better worldwide.
“We need models that will work around the world, including China and the U.S.,” the executive said. “I know the hatchback is a favorite in Europe, but it was not part of the plan, and we had to make choices, including difficult ones.”
Mercedes may be getting out of the hot-hatch game, but there are still a couple of attractive options out there for compact enthusiasts—especially if they’re willing to go electric. The 641-hp Ioniq 5 N has won plenty of plaudits since debuting in the summer. Renault is also bringing back the legendary 5 Turbo as an all-electric “mini-supercar” that it claims will make 540 hp. And, for those who crave a more traditional powertrain, there’s also the Honda Civic Type R and Toyota GR Corolla. The cars may top out at around 300 hp, but they are both available with a six-speed manual, something that can’t be said of their more powerful battery-powered peers.
