It’s been more than six years since Mercedes-Benz introduced the GLB, and in the intervening time it has carved out an interesting niche in the premium segment. To this day, there is no other compact SUV with three rows of seats from the established brands, which is probably why Stuttgart has chosen to press ahead with a second generation unveiled today, at the expense of the beloved A-Class.
The GLB is built on the same Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) as the also new CLA and shares all components of that car, including a first series of pure electric powertrains. It is slightly larger than before and promises to offer more functionality and a higher level of technology and intelligence.
At launch the car will be available as a GLB250+ or a GLB350 4Matic, both with the rather cumbersome suffix ‘with EQ technology’. The base model has a single rear engine producing 272 hp (200 kW) and 335 Nm of torque, along with a Porsche Taycan-style two-speed transmission to improve efficiency without sacrificing acceleration. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and has a top speed of 210 km/h.
With dual-motor all-wheel drive, the GLB350 increases power only slightly to 354 hp (260 kW) and 515 Nm, taking almost two seconds off the 5.5-second century sprint. Both variants come with an 85 kWh (net) NMC battery that delivers a WLTP range of 542 to 631 km on the GLB250+ and 521 to 614 km on the less efficient all-paw GLB350.
Thanks to an 800-volt electrical architecture, the GLB can support up to 320 kW DC fast charging, providing an additional 260 km of range with just ten minutes of charging. Unlike the CLA, it will also be able to charge at 400-volt stations at launch, although this is only possible via a DC converter which, frustratingly, is still optional. As for AC charging, the car accepts a maximum of 22 kW; Bi-directional charging is also available, made possible via a future wireless update.
The GLB range will later be expanded with additional variants, such as an entry-level version and three hybrid models. The latter, available with front- or all-wheel drive, feature a motor and inverter built into the 8F-eDCT eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, plus a 1.3 kWh 48-volt battery and the ability to recover up to 25 kW through rain braking. The M252 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbo engine is reportedly developed in collaboration with Geely and is likely related to the BHE15 mill in the Proton X50.
All models feature MacPherson struts at the front and a new multilink setup at the rear – adapted to the larger Mercedes models. They also come with a brake-by-wire system and are available with wheel sizes up to 20 inches in diameter, after which the car comes with adaptive dampers as standard.
The new GLB largely retains the proportions of the previous car, its square shape and the characteristic thick, upright D-pillars. At the front, the rectangular LED headlights are connected by an illuminated strip and feature Mercedes’ large and bold three-pointed star graphic, which forms the daytime running lights on models with the optional Multibeam matrix units.
Lower down is a huge octagonal grille with a dinner plate-sized badge, twin spars and 94 small stars. This entire panel is illuminated, including the central star in whole or in part, depending on market regulations. The side profile has been cleaned up with pop-out door handles, while the rear lights are now a continuous, inverted U-shaped light band that spans the entire width of the car, again with the star graphic. The rear license plate recess is pressed down into the bumper.
Mercedes has paid more attention to aerodynamics this time to make the GLB more efficient. The streamlined front and rear, sealed closed lines at the front, an optimized design of the A-pillar and door mirrors, an almost completely covered underbody with front and rear wheel spoilers and aerodynamic wheel designs ensure a drag coefficient of just 0.28, with minimal spread across model lines and options.
Get out the measuring tape and you’ll see that the new GLB is longer, wider but lower than its predecessor, measuring 4,732mm long (+98mm), 1,861mm wide (+27mm) and 1,687mm high (-14mm). The 2,889mm wheelbase is 60mm longer, increasing second-row legroom by 68mm.
The use of a bespoke electrified platform also means that despite the lower height, the GLB offers significantly more headroom in the second and third rows compared to the old EQB. The last row is said to “comfortably” fit adults up to 171cm tall (three centimeters more than that EQB), although it still loses a scant two millimeters in headroom compared to the previous petrol GLB.
As previously revealed, the interior continues to mimic the CLA with a blunt, upright dashboard that serves as a full-width display panel, devoid of almost all buttons and switches. This can be equipped with up to three screens as part of the optional MBUX Superscreen, with a 10.25-inch instrument display and two 14-inch infotainment touchscreens for the center and passenger.
These run the latest Mercedes-Benz operating system (MB.OS) introduced on the CLA, packed with generative AI support for ChatGPT and Google Gemini. It supports Disney+ and Sony’s Ridevu streaming services, as well as Boosteroid cloud gaming that can be paired with a Bluetooth controller. Audio is provided via an optional Burmester 3D surround sound system with 16 speakers and 850 watts of power.
In response to customer feedback, the steering wheel now features physical rocker and roll switches to adjust cruise control speed and volume respectively, although the rest of the steering wheel controls are still capacitive touch units. According to the CLA, you also now get just two window switches on the driver’s door, requiring users to press a thumb on the button to switch between the front and rear controls.
Elsewhere you get circular turbine-style vents and rectangular center vents that lead to a tall center console. This houses a limited number of buttons, a Qi wireless charging pad and dual cup holders. There’s also a large panoramic glass roof, without an electric sunshade, but with a UV-reflective coating to reduce the sun’s heat; an electrochromic Sky Control unit with illuminated stars is optional.
As with the current model, the new GLB has an optional third row with ISOFIX child seat mountings; together with the second row of seats and the front passenger seat, five child seats fit at the same time. The 40:20:40 split second row has an optional sliding function, improving ingress and egress for the third row thanks to a one-touch tilt and slide function that moves a further 32mm compared to the previous car, combined with larger rear doors.
The boot measures 540 liters on the five-seater model and 480 liters on the seven-seater (with the third row folded), expandable to 1,715 liters and 1,605 liters respectively with the second row also folded. There is also a front luggage compartment of 127 liters on the electric version, the largest among Mercedes’ updated compact car models.
In terms of safety, the GLB comes with nine airbags as standard, including a center airbag and knee airbags for both front occupants; Back pockets are optional. In Europe you also get a complete package of sensors as standard that enable a full suite of driver assistance systems, all now packaged under the MB.Drive banner.
Optional features must be unlocked via the Mercedes-Benz Store, including MB.Drive Assist Level 2 semi-autonomous driving with automatic lane changing, MB.Drive Assist Plus with enhanced automatic lane changing on the highway and MB.Drive Assist Pro with highly automated urban driving, the latter initially only in China. There is also an improved MB.Drive Parking Assist that supports diagonal parking spaces, which can be expanded with a 360-degree camera system as part of MB.Drive Parking Assist 360.
The new GLB is now available to order in Germany, with a market launch planned for spring. Prices start from €59,048 (RM283,000) for the GLB250+ and €62,178 (RM298,000) for the GLB350.
Do you want to sell your car? Sell it with Auto.
#MercedesBenz #GLB #7seat #SUV #charging #400V #optional #hybrid #paultan.org