The new Mercedes B-Class offers A-Class levels of style in a more practical package, but does it live up to its potential? This is the new Mercedes B-Class. Like its predecessor, it aims to offer buyers a more practical approach to three-pointed star ownership without going for a full size SUV or, Mercedes hopes, without cramping the style. We were impressed but not blown away by the third generation model on its launch. Now it鈥檚 available to drive in the UK, and prices have been confirmed: at 拢30,825, this B 200 d in AMG Line trim costs 拢1,680 more than an equivalent A-Class. With no other As before, the latest versions of the A and B-Class share plenty of mechanicals. The B grows 120mm longer and 129mm taller than its more conventional hatchback cousin, and while it鈥檚 over-inflated look might not be so easy on the eye, the extra space inside is what really counts. Sit in the back and the difference between the two is obvious. There鈥檚 33mm more rear headroom than in the A-Class, but it鈥檚 the extra legroom - and foot room beneath the front seats - which make the biggest difference.
It鈥檚 a perfectly comfortable place for two adults. There are similar improvements to boot capacity, too. The 455 litres on offer is easily accessible thanks to a wide, square opening. Fold the back seats flat and the space expands to 1,530 litres. That鈥檚 371 litres more than the A-Class, or a greater volume than the A-Class offers up when all its seats are in place. Elsewhere inside, the pair look largely similar. The B-Class driving position is seated roughly 10cm higher than in the A-Class, which gives a slightly better view of the road ahead, but the same stunning dashboard design remains. Mercedes鈥檚 new MBUX infotainment system places two digital displays ahead of the driver, both of which offer sharp graphics and clear menu layouts. So it鈥檚 more practical and just as posh feeling as its hatchback relation, but the increase in size has done little to compromise the drive.
Unless you drove the two back-to-back, and concentrated really hard, you wouldn鈥檛 notice a difference between the way the pair behave. There鈥檚 little in the way of roll in the corners, and while it never feels really exciting, it鈥檚 stable and has plenty of grip. The steering is extremely light around town so it鈥檚 easy to park, and while it weights up a little as the speed increases, there鈥檚 little in the way of feedback to communicate what鈥檚 going on at the front wheels. The one downside to that body control is that the ride can feel quite bouncy, particularly around town where it can crash from one bump to the next. Admittedly, there is a marginally softer setup available if you don鈥檛 go for the AMG Line trim, but considering this is a car that鈥檚 designed with rear seat passengers in mind, a slightly more relaxed setup would've made sense. The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer feels a bit more resolved on road and from behind the wheel, but it doesn鈥檛 boast the luxuries of the Merc鈥檚 cabin. There鈥檚 not much to fault with motorway refinement: road noise, though not intrusive, is the most audible sound, because wind noise is extremely well suppressed, and the engine is barely stressed. In this case, that engine is a 2.0-litre diesel unit with 148bhp. A sharp throttle response and a slick eight-speed automatic gearbox really feels quite lively - every bit as quick as the 8.3-second 0-62mph time suggests. It doesn't make too much fisss getting there either: while the new 1.3-litre turbocharged petrols can sound a little thrashy towards the red line, the diesel returns near-identical performance figures with much less fuss. At 51.4mpg, it鈥檚 over 10mpg more fuel efficient than the similarly performing B 200 petrol. It鈥檒l be slightly cheaper to tax for company car drivers too, sitting two groups lower in the Benefit In Kind ratings.
Actual fuel consumption varies depending on driving conditions/style, vehicle condition, load and options/accessories fitted. Source: ADR 81/02 combined (L/100km). Driver assist feature. Only operates under certain conditions. Driver assist feature. Only operates under certain conditions. Coverage dependent on vehicle location. The Bluetooth® word mark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Compatibility and functionality varies depending on device. Available on certain vehicle models and grades only. Requires installation of a compatible app, third party information, sufficient mobile data & GPS signal. Mobile usage is at user's cost. Lexus Australia reserves the right to add, remove or modify applications. Coverage varies based on vehicle location. Driver assist feature. Only operates under certain conditions. Driver assist feature. Only operates under certain conditions. Only Qi-supported devices are compatible. Refer to device manufacturer. May require purchase of Qi-supported accessory to enable wireless charging. Service varies based on vehicle location. Compatibility and functionality varies depending on device. Multi-Terrain Monitor does not provide a comprehensive view of the area surrounding the vehicle, it is a driver assist device only and should not be used as a substitute for safe driving practices. Areas into which the vehicle is driven must be visually monitored.
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