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2019 Mercedes GLB: a Baby G-Class with MPV Space and Few Off-road Ambitions

A baby G-Class with all the rugged looks, but underpinned by a normal platform – it sounds almost too good to be true. The Germans are reporting that it will come in 2019, but some of the details about the GLB aren't making that much sense.
GLB coming in 2019 1 photo
Photo: Mercedes-Benz
We believe Mercedes-Benz are behind all the rumors surrounding the GLB-Class model. They may want us to believe it will be just as impressive as the G-Class, when in actuality, it's going to be a glorified minivan.

Auto Bild's latest reports suggest we are on the right track. According to them, the GLB will not have any actual SUV ambitions. Four-wheel-drive will be available, but at extra cost and even then it won't come near the level of sophistication the G-Class' three differentials offer.

This model will have a big boot, probably more headroom than the GLA and rear seats that slide forwards and backwards. This feature is typical to MPVs and tourers, suggesting that the GLB is a close cousin of the B-Class.

We've recently test driven the B and can tell you it sits even lower to the ground than it appears. While you can order all-wheel-drive, there's not enough clearance or body protection. So it's good that the GLB will enter production, no question about that.

As for the underpinnings, they will consist of the second generation front-wheel-drive platform, otherwise known as the MFA2. Its first application will be in 2018, a year earlier than the GLB. Rumor has it that it will be slightly lighter and a lot more modular. Mercedes have gotten so good at making these small cars that Infiniti even hired them to engineer the QX30.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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