Mercedes-Benz B-Class Review (2011-2018)
Mercedes-Benz B-Class cars for sale
3.0
Expert review
Pros
Unusually cheap to buy for a premium-badged car
Lots of cabin space
Affordable running costs
Cons
Dull looks and bland to drive
Sportier models have a very firm ride
Not as clever inside as the best MPVs
The CarGurus verdict
If anything, the B-Class has become a more appealing car with age. It may not be the most desirable looking motor, but the pull of owning a three-pointed star for relatively little money shouldn’t be underestimated.
'Decent' is probably the best way of summing up the B-Class. Dissenters may argue that it isn’t a particularly inspiring car to drive and in some guises - sport suspension versions in particular - it isn’t the most comfortable car either, but that doesn’t mean the B-Class is entirely devoid of appeal. Family focussed buyers will be far more positive about the light steering, solid cabin quality, comfortable driving position, excellent visibility and affordable running costs. Factor in the positive space and practicality aspects, and all of a sudden things start to look a good deal more appealing.
Box clever, by choosing the engine and trim that best suits your needs, and a price point that matches your budget, and a B-Class should reward you with many years of sturdy, reliable service.
The second-generation B-Class was launched in 2011 with high hopes of arresting the downward sales spiral of its predecessor. By this point, Mercedes had figured out that no one actually wanted a portlier version of the A-Class. So, out went the rather quirky, top-heavy styling, so-so practicality and lacklustre driving experience, and in came a larger, sharper-looking B-Class, which was better to drive and provided a huge uplift in interior space, quality and practicality.
Unfortunately, what Mercedes failed to anticipate was the dramatic swing towards SUV ownership and the detrimental effect this would have on anything that wasn’t. This proved to be a devastating turn of events for Mercedes’ sales teams but it also meant the B-Class became a bit of a used car bargain for buyers who knew their onions.
Undoubtedly, it is the overall sense of airiness and space that makes the B-Class such a good family car. Although there’s loads of knee-, elbow- and headroom wherever you sit, it is particularly good in the back. So much so, with some additional help from the wide-opening rear doors, it’s a simple task to lever toddlers in and out of their booster seats. Well, as simple as that undertaking can ever be.
Whether you use it to indulge in a spot of toys and nappy barricading, or designate it as a makeshift kennel, at 486-litres, the square-shaped boot is big enough to cope with most people’s needs. Even with the rear seats in place, there’s enough room for Fido to stretch out and indulge in a spot of itchy-ear scratching, and if that still isn’t enough, flipping down the rear seatbacks grows the volume to 1545-litres of end-of-term, shifting space.
It’s just a shame the B-Class doesn’t drive better. While many of its engines are quite vocal and somewhat strained when asked to rev beyond their comfort zone, the suspension can all too often be caught out by our less-than-perfect roads, sending significant judders into the cabin in the process.
Of course, many this will see these below-par driving manners as a cross worth bearing to own a three-pointed-star for used Vauxhall Astra money.
Thankfully, there are only three trim levels to get your head around. SE models roll on 16-inch alloy wheels and comfort suspension, while inside you can access information via a 7.0-inch infotainment screen, while you also get steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, a couple of USB ports, smartphone integration and air-conditioning.
Upgrade to the Sport trim and larger 17-in alloys come standard, as do automatic lights and wipers, a larger infotainment screen and climate control in place of basic air-conditioning. Range-topping AMG Line trim models add a sportier body kit, lowered, sports suspension and leather upholstery.
If you can find a car with sliding rear seats, so much the better. As well as moving back and forth, the seatbacks can be propped upright to maximise boot space and when the seats are folded and used with the height-adjustable boot compartment floorboard and front folding front seat, you effectively turn your B-Class into a small delivery van.
Keeping your spend to a minimum is the name of the game here. Anyone who buys and sells cars for a living will tell you, you don’t make money when you sell a car, you make money when you buy it. With this in mind, we’d suggest you do not spend more than £10K on a used B-Class as depreciation is pretty savage and it won’t take long before your outlay is cut in half.
Cars being advertised close to five figures should be in near perfect condition. So, only consider low-mileage examples that have a full main dealer history, plenty of tyre life left, unblemished bodywork and near immaculate interiors.
Before buying, ask yourself questions like: Is it worth paying more for an AMG car and do those looks compensate for the firmer ride? Or, do I really need a diesel, given the limited amount of miles I drive? Crucially, be prepared to make a much lower offer than that being asked, then walk away, leaving your number. You’ll be amazed how much you’ll save by giving the vendor a couple of hours to mull things over.
Obviously, you can stick with a Mercedes main dealer for servicing and pit stops are normally scheduled annually. You can spread the cost of maintenance with one of Mercedes' servicing plans. Roughly speaking, expect to fork out around £30 per month to cover general maintenance, but anything that falls outside of the usual fluid and filter changes will incur additional costs.
That said, there’s nothing particularly complex about the B-Class, so if you are looking to save some cash and can do without the shiny suits and showrooms, there are plenty of reputable independent specialists who will keep your car in good fettle.
Bear in mind, Sport models were originally fitted with run-flat tyres. You can swap the run-flats for cheaper, non-run flats but if you do then you should also invest in a pump and glue kit in case of punctures.
In terms of fuel economy, even the petrol cars will better 50mpg if driven considerately and the diesel-engined cars are good for 60-plus mpg returns, according to official figures. Insurance groupings for the B-Class line up, meanwhile, range between 12 and 27 out of 50.
Being a Mercedes, lots of B-Class models - almost two-thirds if some reports are to be believed - were sold with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. While some owners have reported problems, including inconsistent gearshift response, this is primarily due to a lack of maintenance regarding the gearbox oil. Check and double-check the service documentation to ensure these vital fluid changes have not been skipped.
Like many modern cars, all B-Class’ are fitted with stop/start, which helps reduce emissions in start-stop traffic conditions, but this strategy does take its toll on starter motor longevity. Of course, this problem is by no means unique to Mercedes, and a starter motor is a relatively cheap part to replace.
Some issues have also been reported regarding air-conditioning pulleys, and leaking fuel injector seals are also not uncommon. Additionally, diesel models driven predominately in town can be prone to a blocked DPF filter. If you’re lucky, you’ll blow this out by taking the car on an elongated journey at a decent motorway speed, but if the warning light remains on the dashboard it is likely to be a failed DPF sensor, or in some cases, the DPF needs to be to cleared out manually.
Overall, though, the B-Class is a sturdy, reliable motor and the fact Mercedes' three-year new car warranty is supplemented by an unlimited-mileage back up indicates the faith the company has in the longevity of its powertrains, which can only be good news when buying older cars.
Sadly, Mercedes doesn’t do particularly well in various reliability and customer satisfaction surveys. Take the JD Power UK Vehicle Dependability study as an example. In the 2019 survey, Mercedes came 19th out of the 24 carmakers assessed.
- Given the relatively modest numbers of B-Class models sold in the UK, you could forgive Mercedes if it decided to bite the bullet and rationalise the line-up. Not a bit of it. The engine line-up is an absolute labyrinth, so hold on and we’ll walk you through it. Petrol engines include 121bhp and 154bhp versions of a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, which are classified B180 and B200 respectively, followed by a 107bhp 1.5-litre turbo diesel, badged B180d. There’s also a 134bhp 2.1-litre diesel, for some reason only known to Mercedes, badged B200d and this is trumped by the range-topping 175bhp 2.1-litre diesel, designated B220d. See, clear as mud! Mercedes also made an electric version of the B-Class badged 250E but they are incredibly rare. More logically, a six-speed manual gearbox or a 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic is available with most engines.
- Despite significant styling revisions, compared to funkier candidates such as the Citroen C4 Picasso of the same era, the B-Class still looked a bit of a plain Jane, but all that glitters is not necessarily gold. For similar money as its flashier rival, the B-Class is on another level in terms of build precision and quality. That solid construction is augmented by impressive material quality, so even if you’re running the rule over a relatively pauper spec model, you’ll find a good many soft-touch interior plastics that look and feel more substantial than those in many rivals.
- The B-Class comes with a fair bit of safety kit including audible warnings and active emergency braking, to help avoid collisions. EuroNCAP also gave the new B-Class five-stars for crash safety, although that was under the older, less-stringent testing regime. Other items like, blind spot monitor, lane-keeping assist and Pre-Safe - which pressurises the brakes and tightens the seatbelts - were also available as options, so it is well worth checking to see if the car you are considering has these features.
- If you’re buying on a budget: There’s absolutely no point in breaking the bank to buy a B-Class. Basically, the cheaper the pricing, the better. With this in mind, a petrol-powered B180 or a B200 with SE trim will probably be the most affordable option. Even so, we have seen lots of higher-spec cars advertised around the same sort of price point as the more basic cars, as used dealers look to incentivise sales.
- If you’re after the best economy: It’ll come as no surprise to learn that the diesel engines deliver the best fuel consumption and when it boils down to it, there’s very little between all of them, as all should easily better 60mpg. Mercedes isn’t particularly brilliant when it comes to refining four-cylinder diesel engines and generally speaking, the lower the power output, the sweeter they are. Therefore, the B180d fitted with a manual gearbox is probably the best option. A power output of 107bhp may not sound like a lot, but a decent amount of low- and mid-range pulling power compensates and keeps the B-Class rolling along at a decent lick.
- If you want the looks and the toys: The range-topping AMG cars look a fair bit edgier than the cooking models thanks to their larger bumpers, lower suspension and bigger alloys, and if you pair it with the potent 220d powertrain, you’ll get the performance to match the looks.
