Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class Review (2019-present)
Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
Impressive practicality and space
Seven seats when most rivals have five
Wow-factor of MBUX infotainment system
Cons
Panoramic sunroof reduces headroom
Not as capable off road as a Land Rover Discovery Sport
The AMG model is a bit OTT
The CarGurus verdict
The GLB enters the fashionable sub-compact SUV marketplace by offering exactly what people have moved into SUVs for, that being practicality and space. The trade-off is style, as that usefulness does mean there’s only so much the stylists can do in relation to appealing looks. Still, it’s got a certain ruggedness to it, and that’s never done its G-Class relation any harm.
Seven seats is a rare, and useful, commodity in SUVs of this size, and the promise of plentiful technology, a fine-looking cabin and great safety means it’s an appealing choice for family buyers. We’d be tempted to wait to see if Mercedes-Benz offers it in 250e plug-in hybrid guise before taking the plunge, although we do worry that if it does, those third-row seats, and the usefulness they bring, could be lost to house the battery.
To drive, the GLB follows the pragmatism of its styling, so it’s not going to thrill or excite, but instead do everything with a level of competence that you’d wish for. It rides commendably, the engines perform adequately and it steers and stops as well as you could possibly ask for. All of which makes the existence of an AMG model at the top of the range seem a bit over-reaching, but should you really need your seven-seat family-carrying SUV to have 302bhp from a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine, along with AMG-tweaked looks and handling, then that’s exactly what’s on offer with the lengthily-badged Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4Matic Premium Plus.
All-wheel drive – 4Matic as Mercedes calls it – is available, but the GLB is unlikely to get you as far into the wilderness as you might manage in a Land Rover Discovery Sport. That said, the likelihood is you’ll not need it to. It’ll cope with a wet field at a farmer’s market, or muddy car park when out walking your French Bulldog, and, if you’re towing, the four-wheel drive will add stability. If your GLB-Class isn’t ever likely to get any muck on its tyres, the petrol engine and lower-power turbodiesel come with front-wheel drive (the only option on the sole GLB 200 petrol-engined model). All come with automatic gearboxes, with the GLB 200 petrol having a seven-speed automatic, and all the others coming with an eight-speed automatic.
The Mercedes GLB might wear a premium badge on its grille, but it should be relatively inexpensive to run. That’s helped in no small part by its upmarket status, as retained values for it will be higher than those of mainstream rivals, which will lead to cheaper monthly payments if you’re ‘buying’ via PCP or hire purchase.
In relation to fuel consumption the 200d diesel is currently the best on mpg, with a combined consumption figure, via WLTP testing, of 49.6mpg. Choose the 4Matic and that drops marginally to 47.9mpg and if you buy the more powerful (187bhp) GLB 220d, which only comes with 4Matic all-wheel drive, that figure drops to between 47.1mpg and 47.9mpg. CO2 emissions for the diesels run from 148g/km to 157g/km, all the diesels being RDE2 compliant, so not being hit with any BIK (for company car users) or VED diesel surcharges.
The petrol GLB 200 emits 163g/km and returns an official combined consumption figure of 39.2mpg. The range-topping AMG is more expensive to buy, and run, its 2.0-litre turbocharged AMG engine consuming 32.1mpg on the combined cycle and emitting 200g/km. Servicing and maintenance will also be considerably more expensive on the range-topper.
Servicing costs can be covered in a monthly subscription, while insurance rates for the regular models spans groups 27-30 for the GLB 200 and GLB 200d, with the GLB 220d in groups 35-36 and the AMG up in group 41.
You’ll be doing well to avoid the £40,000 threshold for additional VED charges on your new GLB, because the entry-level model is just under that threshold, and a few options will push it above, meaning a higher initial VED rate and for the subsequent four years, after which it’ll be £150 annually.
If you’re looking to maximise economy and emissions, then it might be worth hanging on until Mercedes-Benz offers the GLB in 250e guise, it being somewhat inevitable that the same plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain from the A-Class will be fitted to the GLB. We’d expect that to arrive sometime in 2021/22.
That three-pointed star on the bonnet is an assurance of reliability and quality, right? It should be, but Mercedes-Benz’s reliability is no better than that of many mainstream manufacturers, and in many cases it’s worse. The GLB-Class is too new to make any impact on Merc's reliability figures itself, but it’s closely related to the big-selling A-Class, that’s been around long enough to factor.
Extrapolating from that, then, the GLB should only prove moderately reliable, though the problems most commonly cited in relation to the A-Class are related to electrical issues around the plentiful technology, both for driving aids and assistance, as well as its MBUX digital infotainment and instrumentation. Actual mechanical worries seem to be rare, although the diesel engines are cited as being more reliable than the petrol choices.
It’s not uncommon for new vehicles to be subject to recalls, and the GLB has had a few. These relate to things like the fuel tank ventilation pipe, the fitting of the rear spoiler, an oil supply pipe for the turbocharger and incorrect fitment of bodywork around the front wheels leading to water ingress and potential electrical issues. Make sure you have any GLB purchase checked to ensure any recall work applicable to it has been undertaken.
Mercedes-Benz offers a three-year unlimited-mileage warranty for the GLB, as well as a 30-year pan-European breakdown assistance.
- Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system not only works well, but has the looks to wow. It’s at its best when sampled in the AMG Line Premium models and above, where the two seven-inch screens of the entry-level AMG Line model swell to a far more satisfying - both visually and operationally - pair of 10.25-inch screens in a seamless bonded glass panel. AMG Line Premium trim also adds an augmented reality function on the satnav, a 10-speaker advanced sound system, wireless charging for compatible smartphones and, crucially these days, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
- In the unlikely event that you’re planning on taking your GLB into the wilds, then be sure to choose a 4Matic model in AMG Line Premium or AMG Line Premium Plus guise. Do that and you gain the Off-Road Engineering Package, which adds an off-road drive mode to the dynamic select options. Select it and the power delivery and ABS system is adapted for better off-road control, while there’s a Downhill Speed Regulation function, and additional off-road specific displays on the instrument panel, while the off-road light function activates the cornering lights permanently up to speeds of 31mph. The AMG does without any of this, its four-wheel drive system optimised for on-road performance.
- If outright passenger space is a priority, then be careful in specifying your GLB. Picking the range-topping (GLB 35 AMG aside) GLB AMG Line Premium Plus might mean it comes fully loaded with tech and equipment, but it also adds a Panoramic Sunroof, which significantly reduces rear headroom. This is particularly noticeable in the middle-row of seats, though, usefully, not in the third row.
- The cheapest to buy and run: The GLB 200d AMG Line might not be the cheapest model – that being the GLB 200 petrol in AMG Line trim – but picking the diesel adds significantly to the possible mpg and lowers emissions, which means it’ll be the cheapest to run in the long-term. It’s likely to be worth more than its petrol equivalent when you eventually part with it, too.
- The sweet spot: A GLB 200d AMG Line Premium has the most economical engine, is front-wheel drive and comes with that oh-so-desirable upgrade to the larger, far more neatly integrated MBUX dual 10.25-inch screen set-up. It also adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into the mix, which these days is a necessity in a new car purchase. It also benefits from a better stereo with a greater number of speakers.
- The safest one: Mercedes has an enviable reputation for safety innovations, and while all the GLBs come with plentiful safety kit like attention assist, a reversing camera, Active Braking Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist, the AMG Line Premium Plus adds Mercedes’ Driver Assistance Package. It adds (take a deep breath) Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Braking Assist, Active Distance Assist, Active Steering Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Pre-Safe Plus and Traffic Line Assist. That’s a lot of Assists, if you feel you might need them. There are four ISOFIX seat mounts, with two in the second-row seats, as well as two in the third-row.
- The silly one: We’re not entirely sure who looks at something as sensible as a GLB-Class and thinks what’s really needed is a version with 302bhp from a turbocharged AMG four-cylinder engine, capable of dashing from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds. But, evidently, somebody does. If you’re that person then behold the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4Matic Premium Plus, which makes sure you’ll not be beaten to that prime parking spot outside the gates when you’re on the school run.
