Mercedes Benz B-class review

Mercedes-Benz kicked off their Indian innings on a high-note, but eventually lost the race to their closest German rivals like Audi and BMW owing to their limited product portfolio. Despite a sizeable number of luxury sedans, convertibles, SUVs and even a van or two, Mercedes-Benz failed to make it "really large" in India. However, seems that the marque is keen to change all that now by expanding its coveted line-up of cars by adding a brand new Compact Sports Tourer. The premium-priced, practical hatch from the house of Mercedes-Benz definitely takes the game to the next level for this German auto major. Mercedes-Benz B-Class is the first-of-its-kind of a luxury compact Tourer to roll out of Merc's mill and certainly the most affordable and the most exciting so far.

Powertrain & Performance

The all-new B-Class is certainly an improvement on the old one. Under the hood, this tourer gets an all-new, direct-injection, transversely mounted, turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine that unleashes a modest 120bhp of power at 5000rpm and a mind-blowing torque of 200Nm at 4000rpm. A quick-acting, highly responsive seven-speed, dual clutch transmission gives this car an unfathomable sense of urgency sans the jerkiness that you normally experience with this kind of transmission. Its smooth motor makes more shove than revs.

As for the suspension, the B-Class comes with an optimized McPherson strut front axle and a specially designed four-link rear axle. The chassis, developed to suit your needs, offers greater driving stability and matchless ride comfort. The B-class is an impressive cruiser too, but again, has enough grunt for highway hauls. Overtaking is a cinch, thanks to the strong mid-range which makes this Compact Tourer feel quicker than it actually is.

So far the ride is concerned, the B-Class displays good body control, a reasonably direct steering and unmatched grip levels.

Build & Styling

The first thing that catches your attention about the new B-Class is its design. Apparently, it's the "most significantly changed Mercedes-Benz ever introduced". It comes with a wad of styling flourishes designed to create an impression of visual width ? the big grille, distinct nose, short bonnet and high roofline lends it a new identity. But it's the unswept flanks and lines and cuts that really holds your gaze. On the surface, the new B-Class bears an uncanny resemblance with the R-Class. But the similarity ends just there. This Compact Tourer is larger than it appears. It's way taller than the C-Class and comes with a noticeably longer wheelbase.

On the inside, the B-Class gets generous head and knee room. The rear legroom is particularly big. The seat base, however, is short and can cause discomfort to some. The boot space is suitably big though. The quality of the interiors is matchless. The nice, sporty three-spoke wheel, triple AC vents in the centre, and sheer quality of leather and plastic makes you feel that it's no ordinary hatchback. Plus, it has a practical cabin with plenty of storage spaces scattered across.

Mercedes-Benz is committed towards safety. The new B-Class Compact Sports Tourer comes with state-of-the-art safety facilities like Attention Assist, Adaptive Brake, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Anti-Lock Braking System, Hills Start Assist with Hold function Acceleration Skid Control, Tyre Pressure Loss Warning System and more.

But if you thought the magic just ends there, hold your breath! The new and improved B-Class is more comfortable that you can imagine. The height-adjustable driver seat, 4-way lumbar support for driver, big luggage compartment and panoramic sunroof would leave your jaws dropped in awe.

And to top that all, this absolutely mind-blowing Merc comes in three stunning shades of Jupiter Red, Cirrus White and Polar Silver Metallic.