Mercedes-Benz GLB Class

On the inside, the Mercedes Benz GLB Class offers a familiar sight, as the overall layout of the dashboard and panels are very much similar to those we have already seen in cars like GLA Class and A-Class hatchback and sedan.

The cabin looks very youthful, with the large horizontally laid digital cockpit behind the steering wheel adding much-needed fanciness to the car. The cockpit houses two different 10.25-inch screens – one TFT screen for the instrument console and one touchscreen infotainment screen towards the centre console. Like in other entry-level Mercedes Benz offerings, the GLB Class also gets propeller-like rounded AC vents in the centre console and on the dashboard corners. At the bottom of the centre console, there are toggle-like switches for the dual-zone automatic climate control.

While the Mercedes Benz GLB Class might be an entry-level luxury offering for the carmaker, it is a well-built and well-equipped car with a lot of modern amenities like powered and ventilated front seats, plush leather upholstery, wireless charger, touchpad in the centre console, panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting and more. The GLB Class is offered as a seven-seater vehicle, but the third row has limited room and is good enough for only smaller kids.

While the Mercedes Benz GLB Class is pitched to the potential buyers as an SUV, its overall profile and stance look more like a traditional MPV, which might not be wholly accepted by those who love their SUVs to be big, bulky and tall. However, in a true Mercedes Benz fashion, the GLB Class is high on style and has a smart visual appeal throughout its profile.

At the front, the Mercedes Benz GLB Class seeks inspiration from the bigger GLS Class SUV, which is evident from its big and wide front grille. The grille here has tapered lower edges and comes with two horizontal slats within it, which are studded with chrome highlights. The block-shaped headlamps here are full-LED units with LED projectors and dual L-shaped daytime running LEDs. The front bumper gets big fog lamps and a nice looking satin chrome skid plate in the middle.

It is the side profile of the Mercedes Benz GLB Class, which makes it look more like an MPV. The ground clearance is more than acceptable, but not high enough to give it a stance of a traditional SUV. The SUV here comes with a kink on the window waistline at the bottom of the C-pillar, with the waistline finished in chrome. To add some ruggedness to the design, the wheels arches and bottom of the door panels come with black plastic moulding, with the latter also getting chrome garnish strips. There are big chunky roof rails also on offer.

The rear profile of the Mercedes Benz GLB Class again seeks some inspiration from the bigger GLS Class SUV, with the sleek and horizontally stretched LED tail lamps, big rear windscreen and long and chunky looking satin silver skid plate which also accommodate dual exhaust pipes.

The Mercedes Benz GLB Class is a more comfort-oriented SUV, which despite having a rather softer setup and a long wheelbase, is decently dynamic to drive as well. The SUV gets McPherson struts at the front and a multi-link axle at the rear, which can be electronically adjusted with the suspension settings on offer. The range-topping GLB 35 AMG also gets the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive setup, while the others get a simple front-wheel-drive setup.

The Mercedes Benz GLB Class is offered in five different variants, out of which four are petrol-powered. The entry-level GLB 180 Progressive has a 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which produces 129 bhp of power and 200 Nm of torque. The same engine is in a different state of tune in the GLB 200 Progressive, where it makes 161 bhp of power and 250 Nm of torque. Both these variants get a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Then comes the GLB 250 AMG Line, which has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine good enough to pump out 221 bhp of power and 350 Nm of torque. The range-topping GLB 35 AMG gets the same 2.0-litre engine, but in a higher state of tune – 302 bhp of power and 400 Nm of torque. These two variants get a more advanced 8-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

There is also a 2.0-litre diesel engine on offer, which is available in the GLB 220D AMG Line and is paired to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. This engine makes 188 bhp of power and 400 Nm of torque.

Apart from a range of modern autonomous driver assistance systems, the Mercedes Benz GLB Class gets the conventional safety equipment like airbags all around, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree parking camera, hill start assist, hill descent control and electronic stability control.

For a small family, the Mercedes Benz GLB Class is a perfect combination of luxury and practicality. It offers a third row of seats, which none of its direct rivals is offering, which can be folded down for added space in the boot compartment.