From £39,1507

By mixing rugged SUV styling cues and seven-seat MPV versatility, does the boxy new GLB do enough to stand out from the crowd?

What is it?

This is Mercedes' latest addition to its SUV line-up, which now totals eight models. As its name suggests, the GLB slots into the range between the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Mercedes-Benz GLC. So far, so straightforward. As the ‘B’ part of its name suggests, however, this can be considered as a sort of rough and tumble version of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, meaning there’s more than a touch of MPV to this SUV. 

How much? Well, like the recently refreshed Land Rover Discovery Sport, the GLB is a seven-seater. And unlike it’s GLC and Mercedes-Benz GLE big brothers, but like the smaller GLA, this latest addition is available in both two and four-wheel drive guises.

Externally the GLB looks a little like a shrunken Mercedes-Benz GLS, which means it’s an upright and boxy presence on the road. You’ll have to make your own mind up about the looks, but from angles it’s slightly ungainly, while from others there’s more than a hint of Citroen C5 Aircross.

Inside matters improve markedly, the GLB getting the same slickly laid out wall-to-wall TFT infotainment and instrument cluster that debuted in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class a year or so back. That means it features the MBUX operating system that adds the handy ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control, while new to the GLB is the ability to use the system to pay directly for parking or download extra features, such as Apple CarPlay.

Overall the interior is a high quality affair that rivals anything on offer from BMW and Audi. In fact, with its neat trio of eyeball air vents, metal finished air conditioning controls and three-spoke multi-function steering wheel you could be inside an A-Class, raised driving position aside. That and the use of surprisingly low grade plastics in the lower half of the cabin.

It’s fairly spacious, however, even if the third row of seats are really only of use for very young children or occasional adult use - with the sliding second row in its rearmost setting there’s virtually no legroom behind. Speaking of space, boot capacity shrinks from a handy 570-litres with third row stowed (they fold into the floor in one easy movement), to virtually nothing with the chairs raised - a Discovery Sport offers more space with seats up and down.

Underpinning the GLB is essentially the same MFA2 platform as the A-Class, although it’s been stretched and pulled to accommodate those extra seats. The familiar architecture means a similar line-up of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, up to and including the 302bhp 2.0-litre from the A35. However, it’s the entry-level, front-wheel drive GLB200 petrol we sample here, its 161bhp 1.3-litre turbocharged four pot developed jointly with Nissan and Renault.

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What's it like?

Given the 1.3-litre unit’s small size and the Merc’s not inconsiderable 1,555kg kerbweight performance is actually fairly brisk. Peak torque of 184b ft available at just 1,620rpm, plus the nicely insulated engine will happily rev to 6,000rpm. Response is further boosted by the seven-speed DCT twin-clutch transmission that slots home it’s ratios quickly and smoothly.

In many ways it’s this unit that’s best suited to the GLB, its level of performance well matched to the car’s easy-going dynamics that are geared towards everyday comfort rather than cornering crispness.

All GLBs get strut front suspension and a multi-link rear axle, while our car further benefited from optional adaptive dampers that, on our smoothly surfaced Spanish test route at least, served up welcome plushness over bumps - this is a quiet and comfortable way to get about. And while it’s not exactly a thrill a minute in the twisty bits, there’s enough composure and grip to allow you to maintain a decent lick.

The steering is mute but progressive, while the body control is actually rather good despite the lean when pushing on. And with some load going through the suspension you can feel both axles sharing the cornering forces, helping to minimise the natural tendency to understeer. It’s not an exciting car to drive and feels a little loose and heavy at the limit, but for such a tall and hefty machine it feels feels more agile than it has any right to be.

Although not relevant to the GLB200, which is front-wheel drive only, a quick go in the 4MATIC all-wheel drive equipped 220d proved the GLB is fairly handy off the beaten track. On a testing gravel off road course complete with severe up and down hills the Merc never looked likely to get stuck, it’s trick traction control keeping it moving. Only the aforementioned Land Rover is as impressive in these conditions.

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Should I buy one?

At £34,200 this 200 Sport represents the entry point to GLB ownership, undercutting the cheapest Disco Sport by around £5,000. Factor in it’s lower emissions and smoother drivetrain than the pricier diesels, plus its likely use as a laidback and versatile family runaround, and it’s arguably the pick of the bunch. 

Comfort and refinement are the order of the day with the GLB. It’s not as crisp to steer as a Disco Sport, but seven-seat versatility makes it easy to live with, while the interior - and the widescreen dash in particular - give it a classy feel that others struggle to match. You’ll never revel in the driving a GLB, but with sales of MPVs flat-lining and more compact seven-seaters almost non existent, the GLB certainly has an undeniable appeal.

Mercedes-Benz GLB 200 specification

Where Malaga, Spain Price £34,200 On sale Now Engine 4-cyls, 1332cc, turbocharged petrol Power 161bhp at 5,500rpm Torque 184lb ft at 1,620-4,000rpm Gearbox 7-spd automatic Kerb weight 1555kg Top speed 129mph 0-62mph 9.1sec Fuel economy 36.2-40.4mpg CO2 134g/km Rivals Land Rover Discovery Sport, Audi Q3, BMW X1

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James Disdale

James Disdale
Title: Special correspondent

James is a special correspondent for Autocar, which means he turns his hand to pretty much anything, including delivering first drive verdicts, gathering together group tests, formulating features and keeping Autocar.co.uk topped-up with the latest news and reviews. He also co-hosts the odd podcast and occasional video with Autocar’s esteemed Editor-at-large, Matt Prior.

For more than a decade and a half James has been writing about cars, in which time he has driven pretty much everything from humble hatchbacks to the highest of high performance machines. Having started his automotive career on, ahem, another weekly automotive magazine, he rose through the ranks and spent many years running that title’s road test desk. This was followed by a stint doing the same job for monthly title, evo, before starting a freelance career in 2019. The less said about his wilderness, post-university years selling mobile phones and insurance, the better.

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abkq 27 November 2019

The A & B dashboard design

The A & B dashboard design with its absurd rococo air vents is very different from the restrained elegant C E & S interiors.

superstevie 27 November 2019

abkq wrote:

abkq wrote:

The A & B dashboard design with its absurd rococo air vents is very different from the restrained elegant C E & S interiors.

We are obviously looking at very different interiors. I think the design language of all of them is very similar. I like them all personally.

abkq 27 November 2019

Mercedes obviously believes

Mercedes obviously believes that its baroque grotesquely overstyled dashboard is so good that it is applied across the entire A & B class ranges. I can only hope that this abomination won't infect future C E & S classes.

superstevie 27 November 2019

abkq wrote:

abkq wrote:

Mercedes obviously believes that its baroque grotesquely overstyled dashboard is so good that it is applied across the entire A & B class ranges. I can only hope that this abomination won't infect future C E & S classes.

Have you seen the E and S class interiors? Just bigger versions

Thekrankis 27 November 2019

A Berlingo in drag

An expensive one at that....

Jeremy 27 November 2019

Thekrankis wrote:

Thekrankis wrote:

An expensive one at that....

I was thinking more Jeep Renegade than Berlingo?

jason_recliner 28 November 2019

Jeremy wrote:

Jeremy wrote:

Thekrankis wrote:

An expensive one at that....

I was thinking more Jeep Renegade than Berlingo?

I like the Renegade a lot, also!