Mercedes-Benz GLB arrives priced from $59,900

Mercedes-Benz’s first ever seven-seat compact crossover, the GLB, has arrived priced from $59,900 plus on-road costs.

Described as a more practical and roomy alternative to the GLA, the GLB is available with the option of seven seats. To accommodate the extra row of seats, the GLB is significantly bigger in all directions compare to the GLA or even the B-Class.

Put side-by-side with the GLA – which itself is due for an update – the GLB is 53mm longer, 30mm wider and 164mm taller than its sleeker sibling, while its wheelbase is 130mm longer.

The GLB claims a segment-best rear headroom of 1,035mm and 967mm of legroom in the five-seat model, along with 560 litres of boot space which is expandable to 1,755 litres with the rear seats folded. The company says there is enough room for people up to 168cm tall in the third row of seats.

Fulfilling its family-friendly brief is ISOFIX child seat anchors and top tethers to fit up to four child seats across the two rear rows.

Mercedes-Benz has cleverly wrapped up all the practicality in an off-road design with a bluff front featuring a chunky six-point grille flanked by a pair of rectangular headlights.

Its profile is highlighted by square-off wheel arches with black cladding, muscular shoulder lines, short overhangs, upright glasshouses and distinctive window line kink. Around the back, the rectangular theme continues with in the rear light clusters.

Inside, the dashboard comes across as a more rugged interpretation of the A-Class’ dash. While the massive flat-screen display and turbine-style air vents remain, there is now a large cutout in the dash where the screen sits, as well as a large aluminium-look tubular trim piece in front of the passenger.

The MBUX infotainment system is now available with mood-lifting Energizing comfort control that links up with select Garmin smart watches to improve its precision. Amenities to the third-row include one-touch Easy Entry function, twin cupholders and non-slip cubby holes, each with its own USB port.

The GLB will be offered with a choice of two petrol and diesel engines at launch, kicking off with the GLB 200 sporting a Renault-derived 1.33-litre M282 turbocharged four-cylinder petrol producing 120kW at 5,500rpm and 250Nm from 1,600 to 4,200rpm.

It is mated with a Getrag seven-speed dual clutch transmission that enables a claimed 0-100km/h time of 9.1 seconds, en route to a top speed of 207km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at between 6.0 and 6.2 litres per 100km.

Moving up to the GLB 250 will score you an in-house 2.0-litre M260 turbocharged four with 165kW at 5,800rpm and 350Nm from 1,800 to 4,000rpm.

It is paired with Mercedes’ new eight-speed 8G-DCT that promises a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.9 seconds before topping out at 236km/h. The engine is rated to return 7.2 to 7.4 litres per 100km.

Topping the range is the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 powered by an AMG-tuned 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine pumping out 225 kW and 400 Nm. Driving through an eight-speed auto with AMG Dynamic Select and 4MATIC all-wheel-drive, the AMG GLB 35 propels from rest to 100km/h in just 5.2 seconds.

An extensive suite of AMG performance-focused features fitted to the AMG GLB 35 includes an AMG exhaust system with silent start, an AMG high-performance braking system, AMG speed-sensitive power steering and AMG Ride Control Sports Suspension with adaptive damping.

On the safety front, the GLB comes with the expected range of driver assistance systems, including Distronic adaptive cruise control that can now adapt the speed to corners, crossroads and roundabouts, as well as automatic restarts if Active Parking Assist is selected. The Active Steering Assist function now comes with hands-free Active Lane Change Assist.

Mercedes-Benz GLB pricing (excluding on-road costs)

Mercedes-Benz GLB 200: $59,900

Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC: $73,900

Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4 MATIC: $88,900