2020 Mercedes-Benz SUV GLB 250 4Matic Introduce

2020 Mercedes-Benz SUV GLB 250 4Matic Introduce https://youtu.be/pNFiUXGPheE

Where is the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB built?
The new Mercedes-Benz GLB, a compact 5- or 7-seat SUV, is built in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in the same plant that also builds the A-Class sedan.

Is there an AMG version of the new GLB?

Not yet, but the GLB 250 can be ordered with an AMG steering wheel, black 20-inch AMG wheels and an AMG option package that includes unique body styling, vented brake discs and a diamond-block grille. Look for a Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 to appear for model year 2021.

What’s in the GLB’s Off-Road Package?

The Off-Road Package, standard on all 4Matic GLBs, alters the power delivery and ABS for improved control in the dirt. In off-road mode, power delivery is locked at 50/50 front-to-rear (it’s 80/20 normally). All the while, an animated display shows the gradient of the hill you’re climbing and the GLB’s side angle of inclination.

KBB Editors' Overview

The new Mercedes-Benz GLB slots between the GLA and the GLC in the company’s growing lineup of SUVs. It’s closer in size to the GLC than the GLA, and its long wheelbase and transverse powertrain translate to a vehicle that’s roomier inside than its compact dimensions would suggest. Front legroom for taller drivers is outstanding, and headroom is similarly generous, even with the available panoramic sunroof.

Although the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB is available with a 3rd-row bench seat for two, the 2-person bench is small. Mercedes acknowledges this, stating with refreshing candor that the rearmost seat is suitable only for people 5-foot 6-inches or shorter. With two or three rows of seats, the second row of the new GLB slides fore or aft about six inches to create extra legroom or cargo volume, whichever’s needed.

With its upright windshield and high hood, the new GLB looks boxier and more trucklike than either the GLA or GLC, though not as squared-off as the big Mercedes G-Class SUV. Its chassis, related to that of the A-Class sedan, feels stout but is lithe enough to give this compact-crossover SUV carlike agility. The GLB’s engine, a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with excellent bottom-end torque and almost no turbo lag, endows this small Mercedes SUV with plenty of power and impressive EPA fuel-economy rating of up to 31 mpg on the highway.

On sale now, the new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB is an impressive new compact SUV, a competitor for models as varied as the BMW X1, Lincoln Corsair, Range Rover Discovery, Volkswagen Tiguan and Audi Q3. But Mercedes may find that there’s one other competitor: the company’s own GLC, which is only slightly larger than the GLB and is based on the more traditional C-Class sedan with its longitudinal powertrain.

Driving the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250

KBB recently sampled a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250, a 4Matic model fitted with just about every possible option. As such, it carried an MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) of $58,250, a huge jump from the GLB 4Matic’s starting base price of $38,600.

That stated, how did this new Mercedes SUV feel? Great. The GLB is quiet, easy to see out of and a delight to drive around town, with ample power, natural-effort steering and powerful brakes. The upright windscreen makes it easy to see the front corners of the GLB, and the 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission always seems to be in the right gear, without being too busy. And whenever it does shift, it’s silky-smooth. The standard shift paddles on the back of the steering wheel are much appreciated, especially when a downshift or two is ideal for keeping speeds in check on long downhills

Throughout our day-long drive in Arizona, we experimented with the latest generation of the standard MBUX voice-activated user interface, using the spoken “Hey, Mercedes” prompt to change the interior temperature, get a weather report or set destinations on the navigation system. While its ability to understand commands is impressive, sometimes a quick nudge of a rocker switch is a much easier way to adjust the interior temp of the GLB.