The Mercedes A-Class Saloon is a Maybach SUV mini-me

Like the new Mercedes-Maybach SUV but wish it was a bit less bulky? The new Mercedes A-Class Saloon – boasting an extraordinarily similar body shape – is here to end your woes. (Just check the image comparison below...)

For now, it's only for China, where the traditional saloon shape is still big news. Called the A-Class L Saloon, its wheelbase is 6cm longer than the A-Class hatchback’s for better loungability. It’s a word. Promise.

There’s a wealth of tech on board, including a voice-control system that’s apparently fluent in several Chinese dialects. It’ll be made in China, too; it’s Merc’s biggest market these days, and in 2017, two-thirds of the 590,000 cars sold there were made locally.

What does it mean for other markets? We'll probably get a shorter-wheelbase A-Class Saloon, while it’s also a potential hint at what the next CLA four-door coupe will look like, though we’d expect that to be a bit swoopier in roofline and perter in rear styling. This L Saloon appears to have practicality top of the priority list.