The B-Class is the Mercedes of mid-sized MPVs. This third generation version has been usefully improved. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

This improved version of the MK3 model Mercedes B-Class represents the brand's continuing attempt to create what it calls its family 'Sports Tourer'. As for what exactly one of those might be, you can get a feel for the answer at first glance. Here's a car that's clearly more practical and versatile than a Golf or Focus-sized family hatch. But not as frumpy and high-set as a typical mid-sized MPV. It's the Mercedes take on compact, upwardly-mobile motoring for a compact, upwardly-mobile family.

Background

Mercedes has always struggled to build compact, affordable cars that feel like, well..... a Mercedes. Not so long ago, you tried an original A or B-Class and thought it nicely built but not quite special enough, ultimately a very expensive way to buy a very expensive badge. And that was a problem. Executives, you see, rarely question the Three-Pointed Star price premium in their large, smart saloons and SUVs, its necessity obvious every time they ease behind the wheel. Without that extra class, choosing one of this brand's smaller models can sometimes seem like a colossally costly way of buying what in essence was a fairly ordinary family hatchback. The suits from Stuttgart knew it and in response have in recent times invested more than ever before in new, more Merc-like generation of compact models. This third generation B-Class, which arrived here in late 2018, was one of them. Four years on, the brand lightly updated it to create the car we're going to look at here.

Driving Experience

Like its A-Class showroom stablemate, the B-Class has been getting progressively more sporty as model generations have come and gone. Which is another of the reasons why Mercedes wants to position it as a 'Sports Tourer' rather than an MPV. It certainly doesn't drive like an ordinary People Carrier. Thanks in part to the stiff, sophisticated MFA2 platform used with this third generation model, body roll's kept well in check and you're favoured with prodigious grip that's impressively untroubled by mid-corner bumps. Not much has altered dynamically with this updated model, the changes primarily centred around the adoption of more efficient mild hybrid tech for the familiar petrol and diesel powerplants still on offer. These now incorporate the brand's 48V mild hybrid system including the usual MHEV belt-driven starter-generator: that'll give you a 13hp boost when moving off. All variants have to be had with DCT auto transmission, with either 7 or 8-speeds. The B200's 1.4-litre petrol powerplant offers 163hp. The alternative is the B 200d diesel, which has the brand's familiar 2.0-litre conventional unit. As before, the B-Class is able to drive semi-autonomously in certain situations. That's assuming you specify the optional 'Driving Assistance package' with its 'Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC' feature which uses camera and radar systems to anticipate the traffic up to 500 metres ahead, while predictively and conveniently adjusting the speed when approaching bends, junctions or roundabouts.

Design and Build

The changes made to this updated B-Class model are subtle and aimed at further underlining what Mercedes claims is this model's 'premium' feel. There are slightly smarter LED headlamps, a light restyle for the front bumper and radiator grille and revised two-part LED rear lamp clusters. As before, there's a relatively long wheelbase with short overhangs, a slightly lowered roof line than you might expect from a family MPV and wheel sizes of between 17 and 19-inches. The cabin spruce-up is equally subtle, with materials quality improved, plus Mercedes has updated the steering wheel (trimmed in soft Nappa leather), revised the 'comfort' seat design of more affordable models and added a standard reversing camera, along with an extra USB-C port with a higher charging capacity. More significantly, the MBUX infotainment system has been updated and can now be ordered with fingerprint sensor access. It also gains more advanced speech recognition and wireless 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. And there are three fresh screen display styles - ''Classic', 'Sporty' and 'Discreet'. Otherwise, it's as you were. All variants now get a 10.25-inch centre-dash screen which, above base trim, is joined with a 10.25-inch virtual instrument display to create one continuous monitor, much as you get in larger Mercedes models. As before, the fascia's five round air vents feature a high-grade turbine look with finely styled air ducts, inspired by the world of aviation. On the back seat, the rear bench base can slide and the backrest angle can be altered to enhance luggage space, which can therefore vary between 455 and 705-litres with all seats in place. Fold the rear seat down and up to 1,540-litres of space can be freed up.

Market and Model

You won't be expecting this B-Class to be priced to the level of the volume brand mid-sized MPVs that used to populate this class. It isn't. But if you were looking at an upper-spec version of a contender like that, this Mercedes could still appeal. Prices sit primarily in the £35,000 to £45,000 bracket. There are four mainstream trim levels - 'Sport Executive', 'AMG Line Executive', 'AMG Line Premium' and 'AMG Line Premium Plus'. As you'd want for the money, every B-Class model comes well equipped. All variants get a 10.25-inch central touchscreen with a MBUX multimedia system featuring 'Hey Mercedes' voice activation. And if you avoid base trim, you'll get a 10.25-inch instrument cluster screen too. Plus there's comfort suspension, a DAB radio, Artico man-made leather upholstery, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Limit Assist, a Keyless-Go starting function and air conditioning. Along with LED high performance headlights, alloy wheels of at least 17-inches in size and automatic climate control. This improved fourth generation B-Class is of course very well connected. Navigation functions, for example, can be based on traffic feedback from so-called 'Car-to-X communication' where information gets fed in from other similarly-equipped road users. As usual, there's a dowloadable 'Mercedes Me' app that connects you into your car and can tell you things like local fuel prices or the availability of parking spaces at your destination.

Cost of Ownership

Let's get to the WLTP figures. As usual with mild hybrid tech, don't get your hopes up too high for the difference it'll make: full-Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid powertrains cost more for a reason (namely that unlike MHEVs, they allow the engine to run fully electrically). Anyway, B 200 petrol manages up to 47.0mpg on the combined cycle and up to 136g/km of CO2. But the economy champion of course, is the B 200d diesel variant, which in base trim exhales up to 133g/km of CO2, while only drinking a gallon of fuel on the combined cycle every 55.4 miles. With respectable performance figures, it's still a tempting package. The warranty may be an industry standard 3 years but is for unlimited miles, handy to know if you spend a lot of time on the road. Just remember that a mid-range diesel is the sensible option for high resale figures. With that in mind, something like a mid-spec B 200d model might well represent the sweet spot of the range.

Summary

Ferrying the family around isn't something most of us especially look forward to doing. But Mercedes doesn't see why it shouldn't be. In this improved version of the third generation B-Class, Stuttgart has made decent strides in engine efficiency and media connectivity. Its real importance though, still lies in proving its maker capable of delivering Mercedes quality to the mainstream, True, it isn't perfect. This model's BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is a fraction sharper to drive. But dynamic handling won't typically be a priority for likely B-Class folk. In compensation, this Mercedes serves up a completely different level of cabin quality and technology than you might be expecting to find from this class of car. You pay for that of course, but at least you'd get quite a lot of the extra premium back at resale time. And in the meantime, you'll have enjoyed a very Mercedes-style perspective on compact family motoring.

Body Glass

Privacy glass

4 Electric Front and Rear windows

Heated glass rear windscreen + timer control

Heat insulating dark tinted rear and rear side windows

Rain sensing windscreen wipers with two sensitivity settings

Rear windscreen wiper

Brakes

Sports braking system

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Active brake assist includes forward collision warning system with autonomous braking

Adaptive brake assist with hold function and hill start assist

Electric parking brake

Curve dynamic assist

Electronic stability programme with acceleration skid control

Carpets/Rugs

Floor mats with AMG lettering

Chassis/Suspension

Lowered comfort suspension

Communication

Wireless charging

Hey Mercedes Voice activation

Preinstallation for Mercedes Benz link

Dual bluetooth interfaces

GPS aerial

Driver Aids

Speed sensitive power steering

Cruise control + speed limiter

Attention assist - Monitors steering behaviour and long journey fatigue

Direct steer system

DYNAMIC SELECT with a choice of driving modes (ECO, Comfort, Sport and Individual)

Mercedes me remote services

Driver Convenience

Remote boot closing

Tailgate

Engine start/stop button

ECO start/stop function

Driver Information

Outside temperature gauge

Head up Display

Service indicator (Active Service System)

Brake pad wear indicator warning light

Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android auto

10.25" Digital instrument cluster display screen

Lamp failure indicator

Mercedes me connect including emergency call system, accident recovery, breakdown management and maintenance

Fluid level warning indicator for fuel, oil, coolant and washer fluid

Owners manual and service booklet in English

Trip computer in multifunction display with current consumption indicator

Pre-installation for car sharing

MBUX augmented reality for navigation

Hard disk navigation

10.25 inch touchscreen central media display

Live traffic information

Fingerprint scanner

Driving Mirrors

Electric adjustable and heated door mirrors with integrated LED side indicators

Interior mirror with black reading lamps and frameless

Embellishment Trims

light linear longitudinal grain aluminium trim

Entertainment

DAB digital radio tuner

Mercedes Benz advanced sound system (225 W) with 10 speakers, 1 central speaker, speakers on doors, a tweeter on door,one sub woofer + boost amplifier

MBUX multimedia system

Exterior Body Features

Body coloured bumpers

Panoramic sliding sunroof

Body coloured side skirts

Exhaust system with 2 Visible tailpipe trim elements and rear apron with trim in chrome

Car wash function

Rear side wing doors

AMG body styling - AMG front apron with front splitter and AMG rear apron and visible exhaust tailpipe trim elements

Chrome window line

Diamond radiator grille with pins in fine star pattern

Exterior Lights

Rear fog lamp

Adaptive brake lights

LED daytime running lights

LED tail lamp

Headlamp assist automatic headlamp activation

High level LED third brake light

Multibeam LED headlamps with adaptive highbeam assist and cornering function

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Air conditioning - Two zone thermotronic luxury automatic climate control with display

Air conditioning - air vents with silver chrome surround

Interior Features

Black roof lining

Twin front cupholders

Brushed stainless steel sports pedals with rubber studs

Front centre armrest with stowage

Manually height and reach adjustable steering column

Freight packaging without tie-down hooks

Galvanished gear shift paddles on steering wheel

Illuminated glove compartment stowage

Luggage net on driver/front passenger seat backrest

Folding rear armrest

Stowage compartment in centre console with retractable cover

Illuminated front door sills with changeable cover

Artico man-made leather/ MICROCUT microfiber upholstery with contrast topstitching

Fluorescent jacket

3 twin spoke multifunction sports steering wheel in nappa leather with flattened bottom and perforated grip area

Interior Lights

Interior lighting - 64 colour Ambient lighting

Packs

Seat comfort pack - B Class

Interior lighting with light and sight pack - B Class

USB plus pack - B Class

Mirror package with self dimming mirror - B Class

Parking pack with 360 degree camera - B Class

KEYLESS-GO comfort pack - B Class

360 degree guard vehicle protection pack - B Class

Winter Pack - B Class

Night pack - B Class

Safety

Black seat belts

Warning triangle and first aid kit

Dual stage driver/passenger airbags

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Front passenger airbag deactivation

Front and rear seatbelt reminder

Crash responsive emergency lighting

Childproof locks manually operated for rear doors and electrically operated for rear power windows

Airbags - kneebag for driver

3 rear three point seatbelts

Active bonnet pedestrian safety measure which detects an impact and raises bonnet

Driver and front passenger windowbags

Driver and front passenger head and sidebags

Seats

Heated front seats

Rear headrests

3 seat rear bench

Seat occupancy sensor for front passenger seat

Automatic child seat recognition sensor

Sports seats with adjustable head restraints

40:20:40 split folding rear seats with backrest

Two outer rear seat isofix and top tether child seat fixing points

Electrically adjustable front memory seats with four way lumbar support

Single front passenger seat

Security

Remote central locking and crash sensor with emergency opening function

Alarm system with immobiliser and interior protection -Thatcham category 1

Towing

Pre-installation for trailer coupling

Vanity Mirrors

Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors

Wheels

Summer tyres

Wheels - Alloy

19" AMG multi-spoke light alloy wheels,aerodynamically optimised, painted in black with high sheen rim flange

Wheels - Spare

Tirefit tyre sealant kit

Emissions - ICE

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

NOx: 0.018

HC+NOx: 0.024

Particles: 0.0008

HC: N

CO: 0.031

Noise Level dB(A): 69

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 145

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 94.3

Cylinders: 4

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Number of Valves: 16

Camshaft: DOHC

Fuel Delivery: COMMON RAIL

Catalytic Convertor: No

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Compression Ratio: 15.5:1

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Gears: 8 SPEED

CC: 1950

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 82

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low: 7.1

WLTP - MPG - Low: 39.8

WLTP - MPG - Medium: 48.7

WLTP - MPG - High: 60.1

WLTP - MPG - Extra High: 51.4

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 51.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium: 5.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High: 4.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High: 5.5

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 5.5

General

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 90

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 24E

Service Interval Mileage: 15500

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 96

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: 0

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 78

NCAP Safety Assist %: 75

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 5

Badge Power: 150

Badge Engine CC: 2.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

AdBlue: No

Generation Mark: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Coin Series: AMG Line Premium +

Coin Description: d

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 30

Performance

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Power - BHP: 150

Top Speed: 136

0 to 62 mph (secs): 8.5

Engine Power - KW: 110

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - RPM: 3400

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 236

Engine Torque - NM: 320

Engine Torque - RPM: 1400

Engine Torque - MKG: 32.6

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Space Saver?: 0

Alloys?: No

Wheel Style: AMG MULTI-SPOKE

Tyre Size Front: 225/40 R19

Tyre Size Rear: 225/40 R19

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 19" ALLOY

Vehicle Dimensions

Height (including roof rails): N

Wheelbase: 2729

Width (including mirrors): 2020

Height: 1545

Width: 1796

Length: 4419

Weight and Capacities

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2090

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Minimum Kerbweight: 1580

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 43

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1600

Max. Loading Weight: 510

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 445

No. of Seats: 5

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 11

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1530

Max. Roof Load: 75

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Body coloured door handles with chrome insert for keyless entry

Manufaktur metallic paint

Manufaktur magno paint

Packs

Driving assistance package - B Class

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Cosmos black

Metallic - Mountain grey

Metallic - High tech silver

Paint - Solid

Solid - Polar white

Solid - Night black

Paint - Special

Manufaktur metallic - Patagonia red

Manufaktur magno - Mountain grey

Trim - Leather

Artico man-made leather/ MICROCUT microfiber - Black with contrast topstitching in red

Artico man-made leather/ MICROCUT microfiber - Bahia brown/black