The little Mercedes-Benz GLB SUV is tall and square, bucking the trend of small crossovers with sloping roofs that began in the 2020s. Although it has many of the exact dimensions of the company’s enormous GLS-Class, the GLB is a much smaller vehicle. But when the doors are opened, the design purpose is obvious. The upright appearance produces a large interior. The GLB has more excellent interior space for luggage overall and more back seat legroom than other vehicles in its class.
The company’s creative re-engineering and extension of the smaller GLA-Class provided this room. The GLB, which will be available in 2020, will share the same front- or all-wheel-drive (AWD) architecture and many mechanical components with the GLA, including its turbocharged, 221-horsepower 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. The 2021 AMG GLB35 launched with 302 horsepower, and this year’s updates to both models are mild.
Although it is shorter than the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, or Mercedes-Benz’s own GLC-Class at 182.4 inches, it is more significant than any of them in most measurements. In addition to the vehicle’s primary two rows and five seats, a little third row is available. Only two premium crossovers have such a feature, and the GLB is one of them. It reduces the GLB’s generally excellent cargo space. Still, it also adds some allure for families who occasionally desire the convenience of a third row without buying a bigger car.
The standard GLB 250 with front-wheel drive costs $39,650 while adding 4Matic AWD raises the price by $2,000. All high-performance AMG GLB 35 prices start at $51,000 and include a $1,050 delivery charge. Although the GLB 250’s engine may be loud when pushed, it is a responsive, elegant, and entertaining vehicle. The AMG GLB35 provides faster acceleration and somewhat quicker responses but at the expense of a rough ride and a much higher price. Neither one is a perfect off-roader.
The GLB is a base-model Benz with many available amenities and technology, but adding those extras may rapidly increase the price. A $1,700 all-or-nothing option is the only way to have heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic roof. Advanced driver-aid technology is also only available with these extras. Despite the abundance of optional systems, ranking in our safety review is worse without them since only forward emergency braking and blind spot warnings are included.
The GLB’s value offer is a roomy SUV with space for a growing family and all of their things right off the shelf. It has a lot of freedom when set up as a two-row vehicle. It features an appealing outward appearance and a well-thought-out interior, which ticks the majority of the boxes for a starting luxury SUV. However, better deals are available for those who want more horsepower and the newest technology without paying for pricey add-ons.
Performance: Mercedes-Benz GLB
The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the GLB 250 variants produces 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, much as in the GLA. An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox is used in front-wheel and all-wheel drive variants. Though there is considerable turbo lag, most drivers will have more than enough power, and the engine becomes noisy when the power is pushed. On the highway, there is also a lot of wind and traffic noise, which contrasts sharply with the tranquil stillness of the bigger GLC.
The GLB’s car-like underpinnings, which it shares with the A-Class and CLA sedans, help it handle nicely. Although it doesn’t have the same athletic qualities as the BMW X3, which also has more power, it is predictable, neutral, and enjoyable when driven hard. The GLB is not designed for major off-road excursions; however, the 4Matic AWD system is reasonably competent on snow, ice, or gravel paths.
A more potent version of the same 2.0-litre engine powers the AMG GLB 35. It has the same eight-speed gearbox, producing 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Its highly stiff suspension and large 19- to 21-inch wheels provide a hard ride on cracked pavement and a noticeably jarring experience on gravel or dirt, but this results in a livelier performance on the road.
Fuel Economy: Mercedes-Benz GLB
Though there’s plenty of noise generated from the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, the upside is that the GLB is highly efficient and gas-light. The 250 and 250 4Matic models are estimated to return 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway for a combined fuel economy of 26 mpg, better than most competitors save for the Lexus NX hybrid.
For comparison, the Land Rover Discovery Sport, the only other three-row compact luxury crossover, is rated at 19 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, and the BMW X3 is estimated to achieve 21 mpg city and 28 on the road.
The GLB 250 tested by Forbes Wheels returned closer to 25 mpg but nailed its city mpg target at 23 mpg. The faster AMG GLB 35 trades slightly less fuel economy for more horsepower and is rated at 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway for a combined 23 mpg.
Safety & Driver Assistance Tech:
The GLB offers advanced driver assistance tech like adaptive cruise control, active lane-keeping assist, evasive steering, automatic emergency braking, cross-traffic alerts, and active lane change assist. Unfortunately, they’re only available for a $1,700 driver assistance package. That isn’t too expensive, but some less-expensive competitors offer standard features. By comparison, the base GLB comes only with blind spot warning, exit warning, and forward emergency braking, which lowers its score in our evaluations.
The $1,090 parking assistance package includes a 360-degree surround view system that helps navigate tight spots, and active parking assistance automatically maneuvers the vehicle into parallel or perpendicular spaces. The Exterior Lighting Package adds adaptive high beams and dynamic LED headlights for $900.
Regarding crash tests, the GLB hasn’t been evaluated by the IIHS yet, but NHTSA gave it an overall five-star rating. The European New Car Assessment Program (EuroNCAP), an EU agency that performs similar tests, also gave it a top five-star rating.
Comfort & Room: Mercedes-Benz GLB
Supportive and roomy seating is a top selling point for the GLB, which includes 12-way power adjustment with three memory settings as standard equipment up front and 38.1 inches of second-row legroom. However, the most crucial option for most GLB shoppers is the $850 optional third row. Only one other premium compact crossover offers a similar opportunity, the Land Rover Discovery Sport, and the third rows of both vehicles are tiny.
Mercedes-Benz puts a warning label on the door jamb indicating that the third row is strictly for persons under 66.5 inches tall, and even little kids will find it hard to access. With munchkins in the way back, the second row has to slide forward six inches, so it’s a compromise in comfort for all concerned, just like on the larger Lexus RX-450hL.
Without the third row, however, the interior feels vast. There’s plenty of room for front passengers, and the seats are comfy and supportive. There’s more rear-seat head and legroom than most rivals, though Lincoln’s Corsair bests the GLB in a couple of dimensions, and a six-foot-five adult can sit comfortably in the back on a long trip. It’s also kid-friendly and readily configurable, with substantial side doors and room for baggage sans a third row.
Infotainment:
The base Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 models make do with a 7-inch infotainment screen and driver’s display. However, they’re hidden under the same broad expanse of glass as the optional 10.25-inch units, part of the $1,750 Premium Package. A 64-color LED ambient lighting option ($310) is a cool party trick but not essential.
The GLB uses Mercedes-Benz’s newest MBUX infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard integrations. Navigation is available in the $1,300 multimedia package and includes an augmented video for more precise directions on display. However, the head-up display is public only on the AMG GLB. With a touchpad, steering wheel controls, a touchscreen, and voice control, the infotainment system is easy to use and very visual, but it looks best on the optional large-screen displays.
Although GLB has four USB-C ports with at least one in each row, it’s apparent that not every driver has upgraded their devices similarly. A USB-C-to-USB adapter is included with the vehicle.
Cargo Area and Storage:
Despite being physically smaller than its competitors, the Mercedes-Benz GLB is one of the most roomy compact SUVs. It has 27 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the back seat without the optional third row, a 40/20/40 sliding bench, and 62 cubic feet with it folded. This is much higher than the national average and falls short of the bigger BMW X3 (62.7) and Volvo XC60 (63.6).
When folded, the third row takes up 3 to 4 cubic feet of capacity, and with both seats upright, there are just 5.1 cubic feet of luggage space behind them. Standard chrome roof rails may assist in accommodating larger objects.
Design & Style:
While spacious, the GLB lacks the luxury of the GLC or other premium competitors. It comes standard with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lamps, but it depends on costly cosmetic options, like the $2,700 AMG Line with optional Night Package, to add sportiness to its plain-and-tall design. The AMG GLB35 comes standard with sporty styling and cooler wheels.
The cabin materials are decent, and interior extras like wood trim or LED ambient lighting are moderately priced. However, the GLB still doesn’t appear as luxurious as the bigger GLC. However, in nearly every aspect, its cabin outperforms mainstream rivals, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan.
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLB a good buy?
Mercedes-Benz automobiles do not have traditional trim levels; instead, they opt for an a-la-carte menu approach to vehicle customization. The basic front-wheel-drive GLB 250 gives a lot of capacity in a small footprint for $39,650, which includes a $1,050 destination tax, but the standard equipment list is frugal. The GLB comes familiar with the power and front memory seats, a power tilt/telescope steering wheel, blind spot assist, and forward automated emergency braking. However, numerous options, including heated and ventilated seats, are optional.
Buying the $1,700 driver aid package is nearly necessary to preserve that substantial investment and its valuable cargo. The optional third-row seats seven, but given its height constraints and how much luggage room it takes up, it’s only valid for drivers who intend on transporting children small enough to fit back there but large enough to need car seats no longer.
The racier GLB35 has more power and attractive aesthetics. Still, the 250 is a fun machine to drive even if it isn’t as fast, and the price difference in what is essentially a family car tips the scales in favor of the ordinary GLB 250 versions.
How Much Does Mercedes-Benz GLB Insurance Cost?
The GLB is somewhat more expensive to insure than its competitors. A typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean driving record may anticipate an annual premium of $2,188, albeit this figure applies to all 50 states. The Lincoln Corsair costs $2,024, the Land Rover Discovery Sport costs $2,222, and the Acura RDX costs $1,821. Other three-row options include the Volkswagen Tiguan ($1.738) and the bigger Lexus RX450hL ($2.296).
illation
The Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class deviates from the trend of sleek, sloping-roof “tall hatchback” SUVs in favor of a big-and-tall profile. The boxy design gives it an actual SUV appearance, as does the spacious inside, which can even be outfitted with a little third row. The GLB is comfortable, practical, fuel-efficient, and enjoyable, but its engine works hard and may be loud. The AMG variant is quicker, but the ride is harsher on uneven roads. The GLB is a luxury machine for an entry-level Benz, but it isn’t as luxurious as its bigger brothers, and many good extras are optional.
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