Mercedes confirms plans for new compact 7-seater

The Mercedes-Benz model range is more diverse now than ever before, no doubts about that. But the world’s most valuable car brand never really had a proper seven-seater compact car to rival the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer. The B-Class never came with a seven-seat configuration, and only had the 2 Series Active Tourer to contend with.

Well, the wait may finally be over. In a report by Automotive News Europe, Mercedes-Benz’s global sales boss Britta Seeger said there are plans to produce a compact seven-seater model. Apparently, the model is in the works for markets like China, but it’s unclear what name or form it will take.

“In our new compact family, we will also bring seven-seat vehicles to market. We see a growing desire for seven-seat vehicles in China and we must satisfy this demand,” she said. “Will it be a minivan or an SUV? You will have to wait and see. So far you have seen the first new model, the A-Class, which is really a lovely car and a very substantial product.”

Mercedes-Benz GLB spyshots

So where does this leave us? For starters, there’s a good chance the car will materialise in the form of a larger (next-gen) B-Class with three-row seating. That will take on the 2 Series Gran Tour head on, filling the niche premium compact MPV segment gap that’s currently occupied by the bulbous front-drive Bimmer.

The second and more interesting option is a 5+2 version of a compact SUV, which could potentially be the all-new GLB. It will ride on the company’s next-gen transverse-engine architecture, dubbed the Modular Front Architecture 2 (MFA2). If the GLB comes in a three-row configuration, it will be the only offering in the premium car category. Currently, no other premium brands offer such a vehicle type of the size.

Now, it’s no secret that the MFA2 platform will form the basis of eight new models by 2020. Even if we take into account the standard B-Class along with the new GLA and both coupe and shooting brake versions of the CLA, there’s still four additional new models to come. With the GLB and A-Class sedan also confirmed for production, that leaves two more spots – perhaps a B-Class L for China? What do you think?

GALLERY: Next-gen Mercedes-Benz B-Class spyshots