When Mercedes first showed off the US-bound A-Class, we were extremely excited. This is the first time Mercedes has ever sold its entry-level A-Class in the US, although we did receive the A-Class-based CLA. Our excitement slightly dissipated when we learned the only A-Class to be sold in the US would be the sedan, while the hatchback model would remain forbidden fruit. Hatchbacks don't sell as well as sedans in the US, so we can't say this news was surprising.

Even though the US won't be receiving the A-Class hatchback, it doesn't mean the more practical baby Benz will be off limits for North America. According to MBPassionBlog, Canadian dealerships are starting to receive the A-Class hatchback while the US gets left in the cold.

Canada will receive two variants of the A-Class hatch - the A250 and A250 4Matic - both of which are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 221 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This is more powerful than the US-spec A-Class sedan, which only produces 188 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque.

Not only will the Canadian A-Class get more power than the US sedan, but it will also have a few more standard features than the European ones. The Canadian A-Class will have standard heated front seats, a rear-view camera, LED front lights, and automatic climate control.

For now, Canada is only getting the standard A-Class hatchback, so it's too early to say if Mercedes will also offer the sportier A35 AMG hatchback in the North American market. The A35 has 306 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque on tap, making it a strong rival for the Volkswagen Golf R and Honda Civic Type R.

Seeing the A-Class hatchback come so close to the US is rather upsetting. Canada has its own safety and emissions regulations but we wonder how much effort it would take to certify the A-Class hatchback for the US market.