Only in Canada You Say... Pity!
Go north to Canada, and other than a few oddities it doesn't seem much different than in the U.S. But, due to higher priced fuel (taxes),
less expendable income (taxes) and greater European influence (especially in Quebec), there are a few cars sold up there that aren't available down here. The compact Mercedes-Benz B-Class is a fine example of something that should work well in Canada, but not necessarily in the U.S. Or am I wrong?
Certain markets, California springs to mind, might really like the fuel efficient yet versatile B-Class, and what better way to find out than to drive one.
So much more than a 'Mercedes Echo,' as one well-dressed man quipped to me in reference to Toyota's compact commuter (R.I.P. or good riddance depending on your point of view), the B-Class offers all the logic of an urban run-about (great gas mileage, loads of interior space and a wheelbase that makes parallel parking
a breeze), combined with Mercedes-Benz production values.
Available north of the 49th in two models for 2006 (B200 and B200 Turbo), the front-wheel-drive B-Class is based on Mercedes' very successful A-Class. That model line, sold in Europe, served as a bit of a testing bed for the B-Class, with both sharing a remarkable engineering design developed by Mercedes-Benz. The so-called 'sandwich floor' allows for the engine and other drivetrain components to be located under the vehicle's floor, not in the nose of the car. Not only does this design give passengers much more legroom, it provides incomparable safety -- in the event of a front end collision, the engine and other bits and pieces slide under the cabin's floor rather than into the cabin and its occupants.
Go north to Canada, and other than a few oddities it doesn't seem much different than in the U.S. But, due to higher priced fuel (taxes),
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| The second wave of a Teutonic assault has made a beachhead on Canadian shores. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz Canada) |
Certain markets, California springs to mind, might really like the fuel efficient yet versatile B-Class, and what better way to find out than to drive one.
So much more than a 'Mercedes Echo,' as one well-dressed man quipped to me in reference to Toyota's compact commuter (R.I.P. or good riddance depending on your point of view), the B-Class offers all the logic of an urban run-about (great gas mileage, loads of interior space and a wheelbase that makes parallel parking
 |
| The so-called 'sandwich floor' allows for the engine and other drivetrain components to be located under the vehicle's floor. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz Canada) |
Available north of the 49th in two models for 2006 (B200 and B200 Turbo), the front-wheel-drive B-Class is based on Mercedes' very successful A-Class. That model line, sold in Europe, served as a bit of a testing bed for the B-Class, with both sharing a remarkable engineering design developed by Mercedes-Benz. The so-called 'sandwich floor' allows for the engine and other drivetrain components to be located under the vehicle's floor, not in the nose of the car. Not only does this design give passengers much more legroom, it provides incomparable safety -- in the event of a front end collision, the engine and other bits and pieces slide under the cabin's floor rather than into the cabin and its occupants.