Think about strolling as much as a model new Mercedes GLB. Inside seconds of getting in, you’re prone to shake your head on the very considered spending extra on one thing like a GLC, merely due to how roomy this sub-compact crossover is.

There may be ample headroom and knee room all through, and you may even get it with seven seats must you so want. It additionally has a bigger trunk than the costlier GLC – and by quite a bit in the event you fold the rear seat.

Now you’re in all probability pondering that this sounds virtually too good to be true and that each one potential consumers ought to drop no matter they’re doing and get themselves a 2020 GLB just because it’s the good, sensible factor to do.

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In a manner, it will be a bit like speaking your self into shopping for the BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo when it first got here out due to how sensible and roomy it was. And right here’s the issue: whereas not fairly as dynamic because the common 3-Sequence sedan or wagon, the GT nonetheless drove like a BMW. The GLB solely type of drives like a Mercedes, and it wouldn’t be overstating to say that it’s the least nice to drive Benz passenger automobile at present on sale.

Is that this a good-looking automobile?

Let’s begin with what we will see, since that’s often how a primary impression goes. The seems of the GLB will be characterised as considerably controversial. It truly has a few good angles, however for me personally, it simply doesn’t look very fashionable or costly.

When you like that kind of factor then nice, there’s nothing mistaken with a rugged-looking crossover. The GLB nevertheless merely walks that fantastic line and doesn’t appear to cross it on both facet. It’s simply type of impartial.

That is often the half the place I’d remark concerning the AMG Line bundle, which provides the beefy bumpers, sports activities steering wheel, 19-inch AMG 5-spoke wheels and so forth. When you’re shopping for a Mercedes-Benz, often you’ll be able to’t go mistaken with AMG exterior styling. In case of the GLB nevertheless, it’s weirdly higher off with out it, as a result of it simply makes it look much more boxy.

By no means thoughts all that, inform me how roomy it’s

It’s simply nice within the truest sense of the phrase. You’re actually in awe no matter the place you’re sitting or how a lot baggage you need to load. Contemplate this: the GLB is 1 inch (24 mm) shorter than the GLC total, and has a shorter wheelbase too, measuring 111.4 inches (2,829 mm) vs. 113.1 inches (2,873 mm). It’s additionally not almost as vast, however it’s truly taller by 0.6 inches (15 mm).

Right here’s the place it will get attention-grabbing, although. You get 20.1 cu.ft (570 liters) of trunk house with all the pieces in place, whereas the GLC provides 19.4 cu.ft (550 liters) – and in the event you fold the rear seats, you find yourself with an enormous 63.7 cu.ft (1,805 liters) within the GLB, versus 56.5 cu.ft (1,600 liters) in its bigger sibling. It’s greater than you get with a Porsche Cayenne and almost as a lot as in a BMW X5.

Other than AMG Line goodies, our Polar White GLB 250 4MATIC check automobile additionally got here with heated seats, ambient lighting, Keyless-Go, wi-fi cellphone charging, 360 parking digicam, the Evening Package deal (black roof rails, tinted home windows), illuminated door sills, multi-beam LED headlights with an adaptive high-beam perform, blind spot monitoring and extra.

It had about 10,000 euros’ ($12,000) value of choices for a remaining worth (taxes included) of 61,206 euros ($72,723). Nonetheless, due to the distinction in foreign money and the truth that the GLB 250 is a flagship variant in lots of European international locations, it prices fairly a bit greater than in the USA, the place it kicks off from $36,600 ($38,600 for the 4MATIC).

In reality, the GLB 250 and 250 4MATIC are the one two variations out there within the states, and even in the event you load the latter up with the entire choices we had on our tester, it will solely price about $46,500.

Nonetheless, we’d positively advocate ticking as few choices as attainable, particularly since this isn’t considered one of Mercedes’ most interesting interiors with regards to overall build quality.

What’s it prefer to drive?

On paper, the GLB 250 4MATIC has sufficient pulling energy for on a regular basis use. Its four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline unit places down 221 HP (224 PS) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque and is mated to an eight-speed computerized gearbox and an all-wheel drive system.

It wants 6.9 seconds to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) and can max out at 146 mph (236 km/h). Whereas it by no means actually feels underpowered, it would take some time to discover a good steadiness for the throttle, even in Consolation mode. So within the metropolis, you’ll typically end up revving the engine far more than you’d have favored to although you’re probably not giving it that a lot throttle.

As for the trip, earlier I mentioned the GLB solely type of drives like a Mercedes – and right here’s why. It soaks up bumps nicely sufficient and whereas it truly handles and grips fairly OK in the event you’re cornering extra aggressively in Dynamic mode, there may be an preliminary physique roll that you just’ll have to beat, or at the very least come to phrases with early on. This isn’t a enjoyable crossover to drive by any stretch of the creativeness and it truly feels greater than it truly is whenever you’re on the transfer. Guess its peak doesn’t assist with that.

Is it a greater purchase than the GLA or GLC?

From a price standpoint, in the event you want the room, then sure. It completely demolishes the GLA when it comes to practicality because of the longer wheelbase and better roof line, whereas outshining the GLC in a number of vital methods too. When you dwell in Europe, skip any of the inline-4 turbo gasoline engines and go for a diesel, ideally the GLB 200d or 220d.

Within the U.S., your solely alternative is the GLB 250, so in the event you’re dead-set on one, ensure to take it out for a spin first as a way to perceive that it doesn’t deal with in addition to the GLA, nor does it have as clean a trip because the GLC. By the way in which, it will price you simply $6,600 extra to get the GLC 300 4MATIC as an alternative of the GLB 250 4MATIC.

Pictures: Sergiu Tudose / CarScoops