2020 Mercedes--Benz GLB SUV Introduce - Mercedes GLB Crash test

2020 Mercedes--Benz GLB SUV Introduce - Mercedes GLB Crash test https://youtu.be/9YHxFL7tkCQ

The Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class is one of the better offerings in the compact luxury SUV space. Quiet, comfortable and easy to drive, it makes a solid case for being considered amongst a growing crop of small, premium offerings.

But if you're like me, you miss the GLC's predecessor: the GLK. Boxy and charming, it had a certain curb appeal that the new GLC, good as it is, simply can't replicate. That's where the 2020 GLB-Class comes in.

Sandwiched in the middle of Mercedes' alphabet soup of SUVs, the GLB splits the difference between the subcompact GLA and larger GLC. Compact and cute, the squared-off look of the GLB is something I can really get behind -- and Mercedes hopes many of you will, too.

The 2020 GLB isn't quite ready for prime time just yet; expect it to hit Mercedes-Benz dealers right around the end of this year. But back in July, I spent a day riding shotgun in an almost-done GLB250 prototype on a scenic drive through Colorado's Rocky Mountains, in the hopes of getting a better sense of what Mercedes' new little guy has to offer. Here's what I learned.
Street-parked outside a hotel in downtown Denver, the GLB doesn't blend in to its surroundings anonymously. In the same way that the GLK had a bit more presence than other compact SUVs, so too does the GLB.

Dimensionally, the GLB is only slightly smaller than the GLC. It's 182.4 inches long, riding on a 111.4-inch wheelbase -- both measurements just 1.4 and 1.7 inches shy of the GLC. Standing 65.3 inches tall, the GLB is basically the same height as its bigger brother, though at 79.5 inches wide, it's actually 3 inches narrower.

All GLBs come standard with 18-inch wheels, with different designs depending on whether or not you pick the AMG styling pack. I like the way the gray, plastic cladding lines the wheel wells and blends into the front fascia -- it gives the GLB a little extra rugged je ne sais quoi, even if this is an SUV that'll definitely see more use in the city than out on a dusty trail.
The cabin is where the GLB's upright design really pays dividends. Both front and second-row passengers have lots of headroom, and despite it being narrower than a GLC, you don't sit uncomfortably close to your passengers. The second-row seats can slide fore and aft for increased legroom, and the seat-back angle is adjustable, too.

The GLB is super easy to get in and out of, and once you're seated up front, there's a commanding view of the road ahead. The SUV has a low beltline for great outward visibility, and its gauge cluster and infotainment screens are positioned below the driver's line of sight on the dashboard; an optional head-up display helps here. The look of the three central air vents will be familiar to anyone who's been in one of Mercedes' recent products, as will the simple row of climate controls underneath. Large door pockets offer plenty of space for water bottles and snacks, and overall, the interior's design is clean and modern, with high-quality materials on most surfaces.

Mercedes will offer the 2020 GLB with an optional third row of seats, and that's where my "mostly" caveat comes in. The GLB250 prototype I sampled in Colorado didn't have this option, which is comprised of two individual flip-up seats. After climbing around in the second row and having a gander at the cargo area from the back hatch, I don't see how those way-back chairs could be even remotely useful for adults. Kids? Maybe, but only on short trips. Of course, I'll reserve final judgment for when I can actually shoehorn myself into said third row, but I have to imagine that, all loaded up with seven passengers, the second-row seats slid forward to accommodate, the GLB will feel super cramped.