Mercedes GLB 250 test drive

Last year, while we were still waiting for the debut of the new GLB in Frankfurt, the automotive media quickly gave it the nickname "baby G-Class". Which only proves that sometimes the media can be trusted no less than television astrologers.

Here is finally the serial GLB. We hasten to tell you that it is as similar to the mythical G-Class as a five-pound hammer is similar to a portion of chocolate soufflé. One is a reliable tool to get the job done. The other is made for fun.

Its boxy shape and accentuated masculine design really set it apart from other Stuttgart crossovers. But they must not deceive you. This is not a strong SUV for bearded men ripping cigarette filters. Beneath its beefy façade hides the ubiquitous Mercedes compact platform – exactly the same as you'll find under the casual GLA exterior, under the new B-Class, and even under the A-Class.

But here the maximum is squeezed out. This crossover is 21 centimeters longer than the B-Class and only two fingers shorter than the GLC, but thanks to its clever design, it actually offers more interior space than its big brother. It even offers a third row of seats.

Mercedes assures that the two rear seats will comfortably accommodate two adults up to 180 centimeters tall. They might as well have told us it was a support service. Both are more or less blatant lies. However, the third row is fine if you have small children. 

There is plenty of room in the cabin, and the second row of seats now comfortably accommodates tall people without unnatural folds.

From the outside, the GLB also looks more impressive than it actually is. With it, you will receive the same respect from others as with the larger GLC and GLE. But at a much lower cost.

The baseline, designated as 200, starts at $ 42. True, only with front-wheel drive, and under the hood is the same 000-liter turbo engine that you find in the A-Class, Nissan Qashqai and even the Dacia Duster. However, forget about the "connoisseurs" on the forums announcing this as a Renault engine. Kindly, the two companies call it joint development, but the truth is, it's Mercedes technology and the French are only adding peripherals and some tweaks to their models.

It's an enviably nimble engine that, with moderate use, can be quite economical. But if its 163 horses still sound like a pony to you, trust our test car, the 250 4Matic. Here the engine is already a two-liter, 224 horsepower and with a rather tight 6,9 seconds from 0 to 100 kilometers. The drive is four-wheel drive, and the gearbox is no longer a seven-speed, but an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Runs smoothly under normal loads.

The suspension has MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link at the rear, and is set up quite well - despite the large wheels, the car absorbs bumps well. At the same time, on sharp turns it behaves very dignified.

When we mentioned at the beginning that the GLB isn't exactly an SUV, we weren't joking at all. The all-wheel drive system works great and takes you carefree to the ski slopes. But nothing else is planned for this car on the asphalt. Our heroic attempt to storm the drying puddle unhooked the rear shield. The minimum ground clearance is 135 millimeters, which also does not imply hunting trips in the mountains.

Finally, of course, we come to the main reason why no one drives such cars through the mud: their price. We said the base GLB is under $42, which is lucrative. But with all-wheel drive and a more powerful engine, the cost of the car is $000, and the price of the one in front of your eyes, with all the extras, is more than $49. 

There are also three diesel options, ranging from 116 to 190 horsepower (and from $ 43 to $ 000). At the top of the range is the AMG 50 with 500 horses and a starting price of nearly $ 35.

By the way, the basic level here is not bad at all. It includes leather upholstery, a sports steering wheel, 7-inch digital gauges, a 7-inch MBUX screen with easy voice commands, and automatic air conditioning. Standard are Automatic Lane Keeping Assist, which turns the steering wheel for you when necessary, and an Automatic Speed ​​Limiter that recognizes and reduces signs.

But since we're still talking about Mercedes, it's unlikely that many will buy a base car. Our test is done with the optional AMG lineup, which gives you a different grille, 19-inch wheels, sports seats, diffusers on the failed rear crust and all sorts of additional decorations. Prices for additional equipment are the same as for Mercedes: 1500 USD. For a head-up display, 600 for a 10-inch multimedia, 950 for a Burmester audio system, 2000 for a leather interior, a reversing camera $ 500.

In general, GLB has nothing to do with our preliminary expectations. Instead of a tough, adventurous car, it turned out to be a practical and very comfortable family car. This will give you the prestige of a big crossover without being too expensive.