Mercedes-Benz GLB Review 2024
The Mercedes-Benz GLB is a luxury seven-seater SUV that appeals to families looking for practicality and style. With a comfortable drive and loads of tech, the GLB embodies a modern SUV.
Rivals to the Mercedes-Benz GLB include the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Kia Sorento, BMW X5, and Hyundai Santa Fe.
Our Mercedes-Benz GLB review covers:
- Stylish exterior design
- Comfortable interior with a superb infotainment system
- 570 litres of boot space
- Two petrol and two diesel engines
- Four trim levels
Pros:
- Looks great
- Comfortable to drive around town
- Great infotainment system
Cons:
- No hybrid option
- Rivals are a bit more premium
- Boot space on the small side
Like all Mercedes-Benz cars, the GLB's exterior is a fine looking thing. Your eyes are first drawn to its bold front grille that houses the logo in an almost star-studded formation. As you move towards the rear, the GLB strikes a balance between rugged versatility and elegance with its boxy silhouette reminiscent of the iconic G-Class.
The GLB is one of those cars that surprises you with just how spacious it is. Although more compact than its rivals, like the Hyundai Sante Fe or Kia Sorento, there's still plenty of room inside the GLB. Passengers in the first and second rows have plenty of room, while space becomes a little more cramped in the third row.
Boot space comes in at 570 litres for the GLB, which is slightly smaller than the Skoda Kodiaq and much smaller than the Land Rover Discovery Sport. However, Mercedes makes up for this with plenty of features like cargo nets and straps, a 12V socket, and hooks for shopping bags.
The GLB offers a modern and comfortable interior. The cabin features a range of premium features, such as soft plastics and artificial leather, and the seats are comfortable wherever you're sitting. The only downside is that a few cheaper-looking materials appear as you drop below the eyeline, unlike in the Audi Q5 or BMW X5.
Arguably, the standout feature of the GLB is its infotainment system. On the dash is a 10.3-inch screen that displays crisp graphics and is responsive. It has a built-in sat-nav, smartphone mirroring, and wireless phone charging on the AMG Executive Line trim. There's also voice control as standard, meaning you can control the system completely hands-free—just call out, "Hey, Mercedes."
Four trim levels are available for the Mercedes-Benz GLB: Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium, and AMG Line Premium Plus.
Sport Executive has 18-inch alloy wheels, LED high performance headlamps, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and media display, heated front seats, automatic climate control, attention assist, and guard 360 vehicle protection.
AMG Line Executive adds 19-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, ambient lighting, sports seats, a leather steering wheel, and a wireless charging system.
AMG Line Premium has luxury automatic climate control, blind spot assist, and Mercedes-Benz advanced sound system.
AMG Line Premium Plus has 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a memory package for the seats, a driving assistance package, and traffic sign assist.
The GLB's engine range is made up of a pair of petrol engines and a pair of diesels. For the petrol units, you can choose between a 1.3-litre turbo with 163hp or a 2.0-litre unit with 306hp.
If you want a bit more fuel efficiency, you might opt for one of the diesel units. Both 1.5-litre units produce either 150hp or 190hp and return fuel economy in the mid-40s.
Our top pick is the 1.5-litre diesel with 190hp. Available on the GLB 220d, it reaches 60mph in 7.8 seconds and tops out at 135mph, which is more than respectable for a seven-seater SUV.
On the Mercedes-Benz GLB Sport Executive trim, it comes standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission, but for all other engines you'll get an eight-speed automatic.
If you're considering leasing the GLB, you'll be happy to know it's a great car to drive around town. Its high driving position gives great visibility on the road, and its light steering makes navigating tight city streets relatively straightforward for a seven-seater SUV.
As you increase up to motorway speeds, acceleration is decent regardless of the engine. The diesel engines are relatively quiet, which contributes to a pleasant drive, but it's worth noting that there is some tyre and wind noise.
On a country lane, there's not much to write home about for the GLB, but that's to be expected for a car of its size.
Prices for the new Mercedes-Benz GLB start from £35,270.00 OTR* or to lease from £278.24 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz GLB? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
