Mercedes Benz

B-Class

With a wide choice of powertrains, the Mercedes B-Class offers bags of room along with a wealth of on-board tech. It’s a great all-rounder with plenty of punch beneath the bonnet.

Test Drive

Mercedes B 200 d AMG Line Executive – First Drive (2023)

The Mercedes B-Class often drifts gently unnoticed under the radar, and in all reality, that’s a mistake because it’s quite the all-rounder and certainly packs a punch.

It’s a five-door family model that sits slightly higher than most hatchbacks but is lower and more streamlined than an SUV.

Customers can select from a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines as well as a plug-in hybrid model. In addition, trim levels called Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus allow owners to choose the ideal model to suit their needs.

All models feature either a new eight-speed DCT automatic gearbox or a seven-speed auto transmission and the car is packed to bursting with high-end fixtures and fittings.

We opted for the B 200 d AMG Line Executive model costing £38,510 (£39,135 with specialist paintwork). It was powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to the eight-speed DCT automatic gearbox and, with 150hp and 320Nm of torque, this hatchback could reach 62mph from a standing start in 8.5 seconds and topped out at 136mph. According to official WLTP figures, it could deliver a combined 51.4-55.4mpg with carbon emissions of 137g/km.

The B-Class is certainly an attention-grabber with its dynamic lines and sharp styling. The ‘AMG’ name means the test model gained lots of sporty design cues, including an AMG front apron with front splitter, AMG side sills, an AMG rear apron with visible tailpipe trims and model-specific 18-inch AMG wheels.

The chrome Mercedes emblem sits proudly in the centre of the radiator grille and the LED high performance headlamps feature integrated LED daytime running lights and adaptive high beam assist. Chrome window trims, privacy glass, along with body-coloured door handles and door mirrors complete the appearance.

The interior takes much of its inspiration from the flagship S-Class model with upmarket upholstery and high-end fixtures throughout. The sports seats can be heated and have been designed using man-made leather microfibre and their dark shade is complimented by neat red stitching that also features on the steering wheel, doors and central console.

There are carbon fibre inserts to the dash and the trio of centrally-positioned air vents resemble jet engine turbines with additional vents at each end of the dashboard. The elegant styling is completed with 64-colour ambient lighting, AMG carpets and sports pedals.

The main focal point and nerve centre is the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen that merges into a 10.25-inch driver information display behind a single pane of glass. This is the access point to many of the on-board systems, such as the innovative MBUX multimedia system which is controlled via voice control or touch input.

Expect to find a navigation system, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, Bluetooth, a DAB radio, live traffic updates which is free for the first three years, and plenty more besides.

The driver-focused cockpit layout has been really well thought out with all  controls, dials and readouts easy to operate on the fly and there is a separate control panel for all the air con functions to avoid driver distraction.

When it comes to performance, the Mercedes B-Class is sharp out the blocks and the acceleration through the automatic gearbox is both smooth and responsive. It’s a car that can be pushed hard through twisting country lanes with utmost confidence thanks to its excellent grip and impressive body control.

It is beautifully balanced and can also eat up motorway miles with ease, cruising effortlessly at 70mph. Drive modes called Comfort, Eco, Sport and Individual alter the reactions of the car and there are steering wheel mounted paddles for added driver engagement.

Occupants are well protected from outside noise and the car’s excellent suspension set-up smooths out most bumps and dips along the way.

In addition, the cabin is deceptively spacious with ample room for two six-footers up front and two more in the rear. Three adults in the back would be a bit of a squeeze, but it would be ideal for children.

The boot, which is power-operated, is well-sized with a capacity of 445 litres, increasing to 1,530 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats lowered. In addition, there are numerous handy storage compartments throughout the cabin, including a central cubby bin with two USB-C ports, seat back nets, door pockets with space to store a bottle, a glovebox, trays and front cup holders that can be concealed by a sliding cover when not in use.

The rear doors open nice and wide and that offers easy access to any child seats and the outer rear seats both have Isofix child seat fixtures.

When you also factor in the wealth of safety equipment and driver assistance aids that helped the B-Class secure a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, this car is clearly an excellent all-rounder that delivers on style, tech, performance, practicality and efficiency.

Test Drive

Mercedes-Benz B 180 CDI Sport 5dr auto

The price people are prepared to lay out on a car these days obviously depends on what they can afford, but one thing is constant, they all want value for their money.

The Mercedes B-Class is not exactly cheap rolling in at a cool £20k-plus, but, and it’s a very big but, if you do splash out on this car then every penny will be well spent.

For the B-Class is crammed with quality features, class-leading technology and performance credentials to blow your socks off.

Admittedly, my test vehicle also included some added extras such as leather seating upgrades and a more advanced transmission system, but believe me, the basic spec is anything but basic.

There is central locking, air con, electric windows, automatic wipers and headlights, a six-speaker CD player, multi-functional steering wheel and much, much more.

Powered by a 2.0-litre engine, the B-Class offered excellent all-round visibility and a smooth drive both in and around town and out on the open road.

The automatic transmission eased gracefully through the gears with no slack areas and both engine and cabin noise was eerily quiet even at higher speeds, which was most impressive in a diesel-powered vehicle.

Comfort levels throughout are exceptional for driver and passengers alike and even rear seat occupants of the taller variety are treated to plenty of leg room.

A large boot and numerous storage compartments throughout the cabin means there is ample space for transporting all those little extras too.

As one might expect from Mercedes, the B-Class is kitted out with some state-of-the-art safety features which include anti-lock brakes with brake assist, a tyre pressure warning system, numerous airbags and a hill start assist system to name just a few.

And when you add in some mighty impressive fuel economy figures, this vehicle really does appeal on so many fronts.