Brisk Boxy Baby Benz
Crossovers, love them or hate them, are practically a staple of North American car culture. While many enthusiasts prefer wagons, the fact of the matter is, those who actually buy, put their money in this market. In a sweeping generalization, I find many crossovers generally have the same amorphous blob-esque look. It’s something I took issue with in Cadillac’s CT4. I wished it was a little more reminiscent of the boxy, baller Escalade. My desire for trickle down design seems to have been fulfilled with this – the new Mercedes-Benz GLB. Unlike Benz’ GLA and GLC, the B is distinctly boxy, like its legendary sibling, the G Wagen. But realistically, more GLS than G. But that’s okay too. And thanks to some handiwork from AMG, it looks as potent as it goes.
Despite its name, the GLB 35 is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder. 1.991L if you want to be really specific. It’s a spiffy version of the same engine from the GLB250, except this little unit churns out 302 horsepower – up from 221. Managing that power is an AMG-tuned 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Proportionally, it’s quite compact. But that distinctly boxy shape means it’s incredibly practical – more so than the standard rounded-off shape the average crossover adheres to. Our tester upped its aggressive presence with some matte black 20” AMG wheels, over a Night Black Metallic body.
Inside, the GLB dazzles with its funky multi-coloured lighting options, aircraft engine-esque illuminated vents and a fully digital and configurable dashboard that spans from the gauge cluster to the centre console. Small touch-sensitive thumb pads on the steering wheel can be used to configure the corresponding sides of the screen. So the left thumb pad works on the gauge cluster portion, and the right pad configures the centre console portion. It’s a little fiddly if you’re not used to it, but it becomes second nature very quickly – and almost feels more intuitive than the more traditional approach to navigating infotainment systems – which is also doable in the GLB.
We enjoyed the vast array of visual customizations available to drivers in the GLB. From interior lighting to gauge cluster styles, there’s a lot available to give drivers some small slice of personal expression behind the wheel. There is also a setting called Energizing Seat Kinetics, which Daimler describe as ‘active sitting.’ Despite the seemingly contrasting terminology at work, what this system does is make minute adjustments to the seat throughout your journey, which is meant to keep your back and posture healthy and minimize strain. Thanks to its shape, the interior feels roomy and airy. The large windows make for excellent visibility. We found the second row seat setup was a little higher up than we expected, which could bode poorly for taller passengers. There is also an optional third row, but it was not featured in our tester.
But as high tech as this cockpit is, there was some seriously questionable exclusions relegated to the options list, or outright omitted. Adaptive cruise control is virtually a standard feature across makes and marques, regardless of cost. Yet Mercedes-Benz saw it fit to make it part of the $1,000 Navigation Package. Something as basic as seat memory with power for the driver is part of the $3,900 Premium Package. You won’t even find a heated steering wheel. Not that such a thing is a standard feature across the board – but this is a luxury brand. You won’t even get a blind spot monitor for free.
So it may lack some comforts and conveniences, but does it make up for it with the way it drives? If you need to get there fast, with room for four, absolutely. Put the GLB 35 AMG in its sportiest setting and this thing tears up the roadway. Its power figures may not seem like much on paper, but the thick tires, big brakes, tuned engine and stiff suspension all work together in harmony to make it feel rapid. You’ll even get some exhaust crackles!
Despite feeling initially somewhat goofy trying to take a little hot hatchback/crossover blend on some spirited driving routes, the little Benz does remarkably well. The throttle is punchy and responsive – as is its steering setup. The funky ambience of the cabin really livens up night drives, making you feel like you’re in your own 80’s synthwave fever dream. It’s surprising - yet completely expected how much fun this thing is to drive – and that reflected on our fuel consumption. It wasn’t terrible, but not great either. By the end of our evaluation period, we averaged around 11 L/100km. You could absolutely make an effort to drive frugally but where’s the fun in that.
We recognize that hardcore driving isn’t often a daily mantra. A Mercedes-Benz should still be comfortable at the end of the day. We found the GLB 35 AMG to be quite stiff, even on its softest settings. It’s not jarring or painful, but you will feel every bump even if you’re trying to quietly cruise around the city. While its acceleration may tempt a heavy foot, the braking requires a gentler touch, lest you lurch forward with every touch of the pedal. It’s sensitive, but you will get used to it. What you might not get used to is the start/stop feature. The transition from ignition off to on isn’t seamless and ended up being mildly nauseating in severe stop-and-go traffic.
We like how it looks, we like how it drives, but what we don’t like is how much it costs. Obviously a Mercedes-Benz is going to be a pricier investment, but it’s disappointing how many seemingly basic and common features demand pricey option packages. The base price of an AMG GLB 35 is reasonable at $57,500. But after options, ours ended up just shy of $66,000 – and it still lacked further option packages. We like the GLB very much – just not the price tag and features that come with it. If value is your game, consider BMW’s X2. It’s quite hard to argue with the way the AMG drives though. Sometimes the experience alone may be enough justification.
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