Mercedes Is Making Big Headway With Compact Models

2015 Mercedes GLK (Credit: Mercedes )

Mercedes has been duking things out with BMW in the United States as well as worldwide, but it is making some headway in the fight with various compact models. It used to be that luxury vehicles were all about being obnoxiously large and brash. A number of consumers are now figuring out that there are benefits to owning (or leasing) a smaller model that still packs plenty of amenities and solid performance.

During May of 2015, Mercedes reported 11.1 percent sales growth in the U.S. and even bigger gains in areas such as Canada, Japan and Europe. The brand is also the number one luxury option in Japan, Germany, Italy, Canada and Portugal. Worldwide sales of compact Mercedes models were up 22.3 percent for the month, while compact SUV model sales rose 18.7 percent in May. One of the biggest winners was the C-Class line with a 59.5 percent spike in sales during the month.

Recently, Mercedes has pushed hard to market its two smallest models, the CLA sedan and GLA crossover. Both vehicles have been crafted to offer a more affordable version of the factors that make the luxury brand desirable among consumers worldwide, including a premium feel and solid all-around performance, something that seems to be working.

With Mercedes’ upcoming model nomenclature shift, the GLK will become the GLC. Already, the new vehicle has launched in Germany and will be rolling out to other markets in the near future. It’s a favorite among consumers in many areas of the world, which is why it’s the top-selling SUV for Mercedes and has been for a while.

Even though Mercedes is pushing its compact models big time, its larger vehicles are still a presence to be reckoned with. The United States is the second-biggest market for the S-Class Sedan, right behind China.