Consumers’ appetite for SUV/CUVs is insatiable, everywhere I go, I’m seeing less and less sedans/coupes and more and more of these “utility” vehicles. There are many different segments in this class of vehicles, one of the newer one is the subcompact CUV. As the name would suggest, this class of CUVs are the smallest in size… for now at least. Not to miss out on sales, Mercedes-Benz recently introduced the GLB, in addition to the GLA that has been on sale since 2014. Last week we had the opportunity to review a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC compact SUV.
Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 Canadian Prices
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC is offered in only one trim, with a starting price of $43,990. Like other MB products, there are a number of additional packages that can be added, depending on a customer’s taste for tech and gadgetry. With all the boxes ticked, prices can reach well into the mid $60,000 range, before taxes and fees.
Engines/Driving
The only available engine is a twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4, producing 221 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque between 1,800 – 4,000 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 4MATIC AWD system is standard in Canada, in America you can get the GLB 250 with FWD.
Driving the GLB 250 feels almost like driving a sub-compact sedan, or more accurately, a sub-compact hatchback. That’s what it basically is, with a bit of higher seating position, and higher center of gravity. Surprisingly, the GLB 250 is quite fun to drive, it’s very zippy and weaving in and out of city traffic is quite satisfactory. The addition of AWD helps with loads of grip, which should also come in handy in snowy Canadian winters, with proper winter tires of course. The availability of max torque at such low rpm makes the drive very enjoyable.
The suspension is neither too firm nor too soft, it has a perfect blend for a vehicle like this. The GLB 250 can handle twisty roads quite well. The availability of low-end torque, combined with a good suspension setup and AWD, twisty roads are no problem for this “cute-ute”. The 8-speed transmission changes gears fairly quickly and has the option to manually change gears via the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. I didn’t bother with the paddle shifters, leaving it in automatic does a good enough job for normal driving.
Like most modern Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the GLB 250 comes with various driving modes, ranging from eco/comfort to sport and off-road.
Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 Styling
The GLB 250 is the boxiest Mercedes-Benz vehicle you can currently get, if we don’t count the super boxy G-Class SUV. The GLB isn’t as boxy as the G-Wagon, the shape is boxy but with soft line rather than squared edges. I personally like the way it looks. Just looking at pictures of the GLB, you’d think it’s a large vehicle, but seeing it in person shows it’s a sub-compact.
The design is distinctively Mercedes-Benz. The huge three-pointed star in the front grill let’s you know this is a Mercedes-Benz. There are two different styles of the front grill, ours came with the Sport Package, which features those jewel looking things surrounding the three-pointed star. The regular grill is more understated and features twin bars running across the length of the grill.
Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 Interior
The interior on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC has a very familiar look, it looks similar to other MB vehicles we’ve reviewed over the last year or so. It’s unmistakably a modern MB interior. The centerpiece of the interior is the huge wide screen that starts from the gauge cluster and ends up at the infotainment screen. A big one-piece digital display. Below the infotainment part are three air vents, which have become a signature of modern Mercedes vehicles. Below these is a separate section with buttons/switches for the climate control. This layout is great, as you don’t have to go through various screens to change the temperature or air speed.
The interior may share its looks with other high-end Mercedes-Benz vehicles, however, there is more soft and hard plastic here than other MB vehicles. Which is to be expected, the GLB 250 is on the lower spectrum of the price range.
The interior is quiet and comfortable, it certainly feels luxurious. The seats are comfortable and provide good support. The second-row seats had plenty of leg room for my 5’ 8” frame and there was more than enough head room, thanks to the boxy shape. Surprisingly, the GLB 250 can also be equipped with seats in the third row, our review car didn’t come with this option, as I would’ve loved to see how an actual human being would be able to sit there.
Technology, Safety, & Convenience
Just because the GLB is an “entry-level” crossover, doesn’t mean you can’t get all the latest tech and gadgetry, albeit at a price. Below are the available packages that add a bunch of equipment to the GLB.
Sport Package – $1,700
- 19-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke aero wheels
- AMG body styling
- Aluminum shift paddles
- AMG floor mats
- Brushed aluminum pedals
- Sport steering wheel
- Chrome diamond-block grille
- Sport front seats
- Enhanced engine sound
Night Package – $2,200
- 19-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke aero wheels, bicolour
- AMG body styling
- Gloss Black exterior accents
- Black roof rails
- Aluminum shift paddles
- AMG floor mats
- Brushed aluminum pedals
- Sport steering wheel
- Chrome diamond-block grille
- Sport brake system
- Sport front seats
- Enhanced engine sound
Technology Package – $1,600
- MULTIBEAM LED headlamps
- Adaptive Highbeam Assist
- Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
Premium Package – $3,300
- 10.25-inch touchscreen multimedia display
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster display
- LINGUATRONIC voice control with Natural Language Understanding
- “Hey, Mercedes” keyword activation
- Off-Road Engineering Package
- Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR)
- Blind Spot Assist
- Vehicle Exit Warning
- KEYLESS-GO
- EASY-PACK power tailgate
- Foot-activated tailgate release
- 64-colour LED ambient lighting with illuminated vents
- Inductive wireless charging and NFC pairing
- Apple CarPlay
- Android Auto
Navigation Package – $1,000
- MB Navigation
- Live Traffic Service
- No-charge navigation map updates for 2 years
- MBUX Augmented Video for Navigation
- Traffic Sign Assist
Intelligent Drive Package – $1,900
- Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
- Active Steering Assist
- Evasive Steering Assist
- Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
- Active Emergency Stop Assist
- Active Speed Limit Assist
- Active Lane Keeping Assist
- Active Blind Spot Assist
- Active Lane Change Assist
- PRE-SAFE
- PRE-SAFE PLUS
- Enhanced Stop-and-Go
- Route-based Speed Adaptation
Final Thoughts on the Mercedes-Benz GLB 250
The 2020/2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC is a fun little SUV, it’s quite practical with its boxy design, and surprisingly fun to drive around town. It can also be equipped with a lot of technology, safety, and convenience features found on the more expensive and larger Mercedes-Benz vehicles. For more information on the GLB 250, visit mercedes-benz.ca.
