Test drive: Mercedes-Benz GLB 200 d, a long-distance family SUV

Getting into a Mercedes-Benz GLB requires a minimum outlay of around 41,100 euros, which is what the entry-level version of the range currently costs: the 180 petrol with 136 CV. And the puzzling difference with the GLB 200 d, which costs 44,500 euros, is enough to make you think twice. Because 3,400 euros (just a few months ago this difference was not even 2,000 euros) will cover a lot of kilometres in fuel.

Even so, I think in an SUV of this type the best option is still the turbodiesel. It’s not that the 180 petrol isn’t a very reasonable minimum, because it is. But the 200d is more suitable for a car whose buyer will normally want to take advantage of its qualities for long-distance journeys.

Equipment and price of the Mercedes GLB 200 d

To sum up and put things in context: the price of the Mercedes-Benz GLB 200 d is 44,528 euros, according to the manufacturer’s configurator. But you know how it is: I recommend visiting the dealership, because although there are officially no offers, interesting discounts can be obtained, especially linked to financing.

I’ll also say in advance, just in case, that the 150 CV of the 200d are by no means lacking, and there’s no need to look at the 220d with 190 CV. The latter is associated with 4MATIC all-wheel drive, which takes the price up to 49,000 euros. If we compare it with the 200 d 4MATIC, which costs 2,500 euros more than the 200d with front-wheel drive, the difference due to the engine alone is 2,000 euros. In my opinion, except for a very specific kind of use, you don’t need 4MATIC traction (invest in a good set of All Season tyres), nor the extra 40 CV of the 220d.

Although the standard equipment is quite complete, if you’re willing to invest a bit more I would go for the recommended Premium package. The equipment list of any Mercedes-Benz can keep you busy for days working through combinations and figures, but for 2,600 euros this package bundles items at a very advantageous price compared with ordering them separately. You get parking sensors, the active parking assistant, anti-dazzle mirrors, heated seats, keyless entry, ambient interior lighting (up to 64 colours), Advanced sound system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch multimedia screen with navigation.

As for the bodywork and interior styling, you can choose at no extra cost between the AMG Line trim, with a more sporty focus, or the Progressive line with a more elegant touch.

If you don’t need seven seats, and you also don’t mind losing space in the rear seats or boot capacity, I’m sure that when considering a GLB at some point your eyes will have wandered to the GLC. And I won’t deny that I also find it prettier. But the GLC 200 d is only offered with 4MATIC traction and has a starting price from 56,000 euros. They are not entirely comparable, because there are differences in equipment and also in the engine, which is slightly more powerful in the GLC, with 163 CV. But in any case, the difference is 9,000 euros. You need to be very clear about that.

Among its possible alternatives, looking for premium SUVs with a similar approach and a turbodiesel engine, one of its most direct rivals is the Audi Q5 35 TDI S tronic, which starts from around 49,000 euros. Another SUV I really like as a family car for covering many kilometres at the wheel, for its quality, comfort and dynamic behaviour, is the Volvo XC60. The B4 version, with a 197 CV engine, starts from 53,100 euros.

The Mercedes GLB inside: an SUV with MPV qualities

One of the virtues of the Mercedes GLB, which incidentally shares its platform with the A-Class and B-Class, is that it offers the versatility of use typical of an MPV. It is a spacious car in general terms, and very roomy in relation to its external size.

The second row of seats has about 15 cm of longitudinal adjustment, which allows the cabin to be configured with plenty of legroom for passengers, or with lots of boot space. It’s a pity it doesn’t offer a few more centimetres of width, which would make the GLB one of the few cars in its segment ideal for those who need to travel with three people in the rear seats.

Luggage capacity is 570 litres in the 5-seat versions with the second row in the position most favourable for passengers, and 500 litres when the optional third row of seats is fitted, a very good figure. Moving the second row forward gains almost 200 litres. As for the third row of seats (optional, for about 1,100 euros), as is usual in these cases you can’t expect much. It can be used for child seats using the Isofix anchorages, or to accommodate children. Adults will have two problems: little headroom and a very cramped position with the knees raised high, since the bench is very low to the floor.

Instrumentation and MBUX multimedia system

Debuted in the A-Class, the MBUX multimedia system of the GLB, as well as the digital instrumentation, is already familiar from its use in many other models of the brand. In the case of our test unit the two screens are the largest, at 10.25 inches, although versions with 7-inch screens also exist.

They sit one after the other, sharing a housing, as if they were a single unit. The look of the assembly can seem rather plain when the system is switched off, contrasting with the rest of the dashboard, which has a modern and very clean design. It’s a bit as if the instrumentation and the screen were “not much”… and then you also notice that some materials, for example in the lower part of the dashboard or on the door panels, don’t convey the same sense of “Mercedes quality” as the rest.

But when you press the start button and the screens come to life, things change, especially if the car has the ambient interior lighting system, which adds a very sophisticated touch. It is true that the multimedia system requires some adjustment, because the abundant information, the large number of graphics and the customisation options can be overwhelming. But once you get used to the system, it has to be acknowledged that it is among the best, both for speed and for image quality.

I’m not entirely won over by the steering wheel controls, which combine conventional buttons with small touch surfaces over which you have to slide your finger to move through the menus; you have to be precise to avoid skipping two or three steps, something that doesn’t happen with the classic wheels or buttons. In return, between the seats there is a touch surface with some buttons on the sides, which is comfortable to use, with an element that might look like the joystick on the gear lever but is simply a wrist rest.

On top of that, the voice control system of Mercedes-Benz is among the best, and if you get used to using it you can operate many functions without taking your hands off the wheel. Optionally you can even fit a gesture control system, but I don’t find it practical or necessary.

The large glazed area and the small footprint of the instrumentation make visibility outstanding. And to make things easier, for example when parking, the images from the camera are impeccable.

A very capable diesel engine

For the least powerful diesel in the range, the 150 CV of the 200 d move the GLB with a ease that surprises. It quotes a top speed of 204 km/h and 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 9 seconds, and for normal use, even when carrying a load, you’ll hardly find situations where you miss more pulling power or a more forceful throttle response.

It is perhaps not as refined as the 2-litre 4-cylinder of BMW, which I think is the reference engine in this respect. But in no case can we speak of a harsh or noisy engine; moreover, the GLB stands out for its good overall soundproofing, from the engine as well as from wind and bumps.

The best thing, even above the performance level and driving pleasure that the engine provides, is its consumption. Using the ECO driving mode, in which the throttle response is clearly limited, it is as easy to achieve averages of 6 l/100 km as it is hard to exceed 8 l/100 km even if you select the Sport programme. In this way, covering more than 800 km on the 52-litre fuel tank is a piece of cake; by the way, the AdBlue tank holds 24 litres, which also means we can forget about that dreaded additive for a good number of kilometres.

The excellent 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox contributes greatly to the pleasant driving and outstanding consumption. It is quick when you use it in manual mode with the paddles on the wheel, it anticipates well by choosing the right gear in automatic mode, and it doesn’t demand a particularly delicate touch on the accelerator when manoeuvring.

On the road with the Mercedes GLB 200 d: a great cruiser

Although Mercedes has clearly aimed the GLB at ride comfort, the reality is that when driving it you’re surprised because, for its size, especially its height, and how comfortable it is, it also feels agile. Of course it’s not an A-Class, but the suspensions really do their job well when it comes to containing body movements. Stability is very good, which even makes us rule out the adaptive damping option from the outset.

What I mean is that the GLB doesn’t turn its nose up at any type of road, although its qualities are best appreciated on the motorway, where the pleasant use of the engine and gearbox, the good insulation and the comfort provided by the suspensions come to the fore. Both the steering and the brakes earn a good mark.

The driver assistance systems also work very well, with special mention for the intelligent speed control, which takes navigation data into account to recognise roundabouts, bends or town entries. Some can be a little intrusive, for example the way the lane-keeping assistant warns you; but its intensity can be adjusted.

The Mercedes GLB also allows occasional use on tracks or dirt roads without needing 4MATIC all-wheel drive, as long as they are not too rough. Even here the suspensions maintain a high level of comfort, and no rattles or creaks are heard. Only if you’re clear that you’ll often leave the tarmac should you consider the all-wheel drive option, which features an off-road driving mode that splits torque 50/50 between the two axles, as well as the hill descent control system.

Photo gallery of the Mercedes-Benz GLB 200 d