Mercedes-Benz B-Class review (2012 onwards)

Driven
What - Mercedes B180 CDi SE
Where - Vienna, Austria
Date - October 2011
Price - £22,060
Available - March 2012
Key rivals - Ford C-Max, Renault Scenic, VW Golf Plus

GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2012 onwards)
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Summary - Dramatic development of the B-Class makes the 2012 Mercedes compact MPV a car to be reckoned with.

We like - Comfort, space, economy and safety
We don't like - Firm ride in Sport specification, entry-level B-Class the same price as top competitors

First impressions

The A-Class has struck a real chord with buyers looking for a way into Mercedes ownership at an affordable cost, as well as those wanting a useable small car to run alongside their bigger Mercedes.

The B-Class that followed was meant to have the same appeal in a bigger package. British buyers were far from convinced this time. It was dull to look at and equally boring to drive.

The unusual double floor system from the A-Class also didn't work as well, with drivers and passengers less happy to sit with their legs stretched out ahead rather than tucked downwards like in a regular hatchback.

So for 2012, Mercedes has dramatically reconfigured its B-Class. Structurally it is now much more like all the other cars it contends with, rivals like the Ford C-Max, Renault Scenic and Volkswagen Golf Plus.

This is an important car for Mercedes in more ways than one. Next year's A-Class will be a smaller version of the B-Class, with the same engines and chassis beneath. There will also, in future, be a four-door coupe, estate car and an SUV.

Whether the design of this second generation B-Class is sufficiently different to the original to convince British buyers it's now a proposition worth considering is hard to tell. But we reckon the transformation is a success.

Performance

All four engines initially on offer are brand new, direct injection turbocharged examples. The diesels are 1.8 litres, the petrol 1.6 litres, each offering two power outputs.

The lowest powered diesel has just 109hp, which doesn't sound like a recipe for success in a car of this weight. Yet there is sufficient torque to make the B180 CDI feel lively in town and on the open road, a real pleasure in fact.

The engine is quiet too, in contrast to the more powerful version, which has an audible diesel gruffness that, while not a worry, doesn't offer the same level of refinement as the cheaper model.

Both petrol engines are sweet running and enthusiastic performers. Later on Mercedes will offer a super-efficient E model based on the 109hp diesel but with even better economy and lower emissions.

Ride and handling

It's here that really big changes are revealed. The new B-Class has a completely different chassis and drives with real competence.

That appeal is not just for enthusiastic drivers either, although the precision of the electric steering certainly helps. The B-Class deals comfortably with everything but the worst bumps.

That said, the SE version fitted with the standard 16-inch wheels rides a lot better than the stiffer Sport chassis with bigger wheels. That should be no real surprise, but we'd opt for the SE every time.

Interior

This is, at last, a nice place to be. The seats hug you and there's plenty of room, both lengthwise and sideways, front and rear. And the now conventional structure means a more natural seating posture too.

The dashboard is a substantial construction that gives a feeling of solidity and quality. The five fresh air vents are a visual and tactile treat, looking like small aluminium rotors from some 1950s airliner.

The mix of options is as long as you'll find in any Mercedes, with a delightful sat-nav screen that resembles an iPad, floating above the air vents. It's the most up-to-the-minute design we've come across.

Air conditioning is standard, climate control another option. So too are the clever rear seats that slide back and forth so luggage and passenger space can be balanced. That option also includes a fold-flat front passenger seat to give space for long loads.

Boot space is average to good, with an additional area beneath and a neat twin-height floor arrangement if you specify the sliding seats. It's a pity the rear backrests, that simply flop forward onto the cushion, don't leave an entirely level load platform.

There's a sense, then, that spending a few extra grand is necessary to make the B-Class complete. That's not strictly true, but it certainly helps.

Economy and safety

Mercedes makes much of how aerodynamically efficient its new car is - good for cruising but no use in town. Either way the official average of 64.2mpg is better than 2.0-litre rivals from Ford and VW and our trip computer was regularly showing mid-50s on our test.

CO2 is 115g/km, making both figures impressive for a car that doesn't drive like everything has been compromised for economy. Safety credentials are equally laudable with airbags galore and a Collision Prevention Assist system as standard.

CPA gives an audible and visual warning, and primes the brakes so they reach max power as soon as you touch the pedal when the inbuilt radar detects a collision with the car in front is imminent.

It's even cleverer than that. To minimise the chance of the car behind running into you, the brakes ensure that your B-Class slows, if possible, so that your Mercedes gets as close as possible to the car in front, giving the car behind the maximum possible chance to react.

The MSN Cars verdict

At a stretch, the B-Class could be considered to have been transformed from an ugly duckling to something that's, maybe, brutally handsome. At a stretch.

But as an ownership proposition it's now very desirable indeed. But don't overlook the fine rival cars that offer similar attributes for rather less outlay.

GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2012 onwards)
Read another Mercedes review on MSN Cars

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