Mercedes-Benz B-Class review

Settle yourself behind the wheel of the B-Class and you’ll agree this is a cabin that’s a cut above most other small MPVs.

Tech and features

In front of you, there are a pair of screens.

One has all the driving information you need; the other is the infotainment screen to handle everything from the sat nav to the stereo.

There are more ways to work this screen than you can shake a stick at including a touch pad, touch screen and voice control.

Driving position

The driver’s seat is comfortable (you might go as far as to say plush and luxurious) and we recommend choosing a model with electrical adjustment if at all possible.

The manual adjustment can be a bit fiddly to get in the right position.

Mercedes has certainly pushed the boat out when it comes to the materials featured in the cabin with quality soft-touch plastic on the dash and brushed chrome air-vents.

Higher-spec models also let you choose and adjust the ambient lighting – a feature that’s more usual at the luxury end of the market.

Handling and ride comfort

Mercedes has pulled off an impressive trick with the B-Class that a lot of cars this size fail to do. It both handles well and is pretty comfortable.

The suspension is soft enough to soak up the lumps and bumps that are everywhere on roads these days, yet also firm enough to make this relatively top-heavy car avoid any feelings of nausea while going round corners.

Engines and power

There’s a choice of manual or seven/eight-speed manual gearboxes and a good range of petrol and diesel engines too. The B180 engines are the pick of the lot if you want a decent bit of power with fewer trips to fill up.

Rear seats

Headroom is great for everyone, except maybe pro-basketball players. There’s plenty of room for passengers too. The lack of legroom for the fifth passenger means that there’s really only space for a child.

Boot space

The amount of space you get depends on whether you have a conventional engine, a mild hybrid, or a plug-in hybrid. The lowest amount of space you'll get is 420 litres, with some cars getting up to 445 litres of space.

Although this is slightly more than you get in a typical family hatchback, like the Mercedes A-Class on which this B-Class is based, many MPVs and compact SUVs offer more space.

Fuel economy

You’ll enjoy good fuel economy from the B-Class. Bear in mind you need to choose the engine size carefully.

If you’re going for petrol, the B180 will give you up to 47.1 mpg. If you enjoy the site of tarmac and road signs, then a diesel is a more economical choice.

Go for the B180d and you’ll be getting up to 60.1 mpg on those long drives.

Reliability

Older generations of the B-Class have had a few issues. These are typically to do with non-essential electrics like sat nav glitches but you should have no issues with them now.

A service with a Mercedes dealer is also going to be more expensive compared to the likes of Ford or Vauxhall. So, if you’re looking to save money this is another factor to consider.