Photo: Catalin Garmacea
We've had encounters with all the other cars Mercedes has built using the MFA platform, including the sexy CLA four-door coupe and the more practical GLA. Each is different, bringing unique benefits and disadvantages, but the B-Class is the car that started it all, arriving in 2011, before its sister cars.
We tested the 2015 version of the B-Class, which benefits from a mid-life facelift and tech update. At a glance, it looks the same as before, but upon closer inspection, influences from newer models like the C-Class begin to get noticed.
The B-Class has been on sale since 2005 and in that period over a million were sold. This was the best-selling car overall in Germany for a number of years, which surprises you when you consider prices start at €27,000.
The B-Class is arguably the least interesting of all the compact Mercedes-Benz models. The design is very understated, with only a couple of character lines on the side. The tall roof gives you excellent visibility and a good driving position, but for some people, the B-Class isn't as cool as the Citroen C4 Picasso.
What it lacks in curb appeal, the German equivalent of the MPV makes up for in build quality. Its interior is finished with the same attention to detail as other Mercedes-Benz models. After spending some time behind the wheel, we can honestly say that the steering wheel is among the best on a sub-€50,000 car, though it lacks feel.
The engine range for the B-Class offers you plenty of choices, from 90 HP diesels to 210 HP turbocharged petrols. There is even an electric model, but we decided to test the B180 CDI because it the one most Europeans will be interested in. Matched to 7-speed automatic, the 1.5-liter engine is almost as economical as Mercedes says it is, but hasn't got enough punch for a premium car in our opinion.
Overall, the 2015 Mercedes B-Class is not the sort of car that makes you go "Oh my God, what a beautiful car!". But it's still a well built German car that will hold onto its value over time. If you want to see it in more detail, check out the HD wallpaper collection in our review.
The B-Class has been on sale since 2005 and in that period over a million were sold. This was the best-selling car overall in Germany for a number of years, which surprises you when you consider prices start at €27,000.
The B-Class is arguably the least interesting of all the compact Mercedes-Benz models. The design is very understated, with only a couple of character lines on the side. The tall roof gives you excellent visibility and a good driving position, but for some people, the B-Class isn't as cool as the Citroen C4 Picasso.
What it lacks in curb appeal, the German equivalent of the MPV makes up for in build quality. Its interior is finished with the same attention to detail as other Mercedes-Benz models. After spending some time behind the wheel, we can honestly say that the steering wheel is among the best on a sub-€50,000 car, though it lacks feel.
The engine range for the B-Class offers you plenty of choices, from 90 HP diesels to 210 HP turbocharged petrols. There is even an electric model, but we decided to test the B180 CDI because it the one most Europeans will be interested in. Matched to 7-speed automatic, the 1.5-liter engine is almost as economical as Mercedes says it is, but hasn't got enough punch for a premium car in our opinion.
Overall, the 2015 Mercedes B-Class is not the sort of car that makes you go "Oh my God, what a beautiful car!". But it's still a well built German car that will hold onto its value over time. If you want to see it in more detail, check out the HD wallpaper collection in our review.
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