2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Review

The fact that both BMW and Volkswagen have invested in what most consider boring cars seems strange until you drive the B-Class and realize what it is. You see, for a number of years, this was the best-selling car in Germany, topping even the Golf. It's not just a cavernous space for large families; it's also a much more comfortable version of the 5-door hatchback designed with 50-year-old customers in mind. The Mercedes tourer is easier to get in and out of, has more outward visibility, and the suspension is comfortable on long trips without compromising grip. As a result, more than 1 million people bought one so far.

The first-generation B-Class was introduced in 2005, when it practically invented the premium compact sports tourer market. The successor arrived in 2011 and was the first Mercedes model built on an all-new modular platform called MFA (short for Modular Front-wheel drive Architecture). It not only became larger, but also brought all-wheel drive, a 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox and improved fuel economy.

The 2015 B-Class facelift aims to re-sharpen the tool used in battle for four long years, and reposition it in accordance to new buyer preferences. With upgraded LED-infused headlights and the AMG-Line body kit, this humble family car tries to look like the chubby yet cute baby sister of the E-Class. The design doesn't give you goosebumps or an urgent need to buy a B-Class, but if you are a smart buyer and do your homework for a month or two looking for the best model in this segment, you might end up buying this Mercedes.

The mid-life facelift for the car can be described as a minor one. But even if they had changed it more, the B-Class is not the type of car you can call beautiful. It's the exact opposite of a fashion statement; it's the well-made piece of furniture you keep all your fancy clothes in – very useful and practical, but not "lovable".

From the side, the car appears too tall, like Abraham Lincoln wearing a top hat. The increased height is the only "compromise" made by the B-Class, as the length and width are about the same as a Ford Focus. So when you park it next to other cars, it almost looks like somebody squashed it from both sides. Details make or break a car and we think white or red with the optional LED High Performance headlights (about €900 extra) are the way to go. After spending some time with it, we grew fond of the bright "follow me home" lights and the white speedo dials, which gave way to the nickname "The Car for Cool German Grandpas".

In Deutschland, the B-Class starts at around €27,000 and can go as high as €38,000 for the biggest diesel engine in combination with 4Matic AWD, even before adding options. That makes it about €7,000 more expensive than a Golf Sportsvan, but once you enter the car you begin to notice where the money was (well) spent. All the surfaces feel premium to the touch, especially the new steering wheel they added this year. Mercedes calls this type of interior design Central Purity, and it consists of overlapping elements that hide the panel lines underneath so you can't see them.

Even though I'm not a fan of the old-school telephone-style buttons on the dashboard that are rarely used, I still think Mercedes makes some of the best interiors in the business. From the X-shaped metal air vents to the buttons for the electric windows, everything feels like it's been taken off an E-Class. Even though it's a bit hard, the leather is also of good quality though you have to pay a premium for this privilege. In fact, the only trim piece we didn't like is the chrome surrounding the informant system. Mercedes designed it to look like a tablet PC, but it's dated and slightly tacky, essentially a Huawei not an iPad.

While we're on the subject of negatives, I have to mention the way Mercedes automatic gearboxes work (except on AMG models), even though this is not something specific to the 2015 B-Class. Instead of a small stick on the central console, you get a stalk behind the steering wheel on the right. Most cars have the wiper controls there, but German engineers have decided to crowd every single function onto the left stalk, which makes things confusing.

Because the B-Class doesn't have an auto hold button, you either have to keep your foot on the brake while waiting for the light to turn green or put it in neutral, in which case you might be slower to start than everybody else. Sure, a Mercedes needs to be relaxing, but people are sometimes in a rush.

Doing a 3-point turn with the auto also takes a little more time, but the 7-speed DCT itself is good. It doesn't become jerky when starting, like other twin-clutch units do, and it's clear German engineers gave it the smoothness you expect of a Benz.

The area where the B-Class shines is the storage compartment. Its trunk has a minimum of 486 liters, which is more than the 468 liters of the BMW rival. The rear bench seats slide forwards and backwards, just like on most MPVs, and when folded flat there's very little in the way of a lip. However, the Golf Sportsvan has 500 liters, and its seats can be folded flat using small levers in the trunk, while the Mercedes-Benz, unfortunately, doesn't have this practical feature.

The rear hatch opening is huge and the low lip is perfect for putting in heavier items. However closing the trunk is not as easy as it could be, and you may have to get your hands dirty by touching the bodywork.

Dynamically, the new B-Class is much better than the first generation because the center of gravity was lowered by 15 millimeters.

The rear suspension is the biggest improvement, being both more stable and comfortable. The AMG Line setup is to be avoided unless you have perfect roads to deal with because the lowered suspension and larger 18-inch wheels can make life hellish. But its redeeming feature is the progressive Sports Direct-Steer, which also has more feedback.

You might wonder what a boring family car can benefit from the letters A, M and G. The Affalterbach fellows actually considered making a full-on B45 AMG with a 360 hp turbo engine and AWD, just like they did with all the other small Mercs. However, they couldn't build the business case, and the project didn't get production approval. Instead, we got a body kit they developed. The AMG Line kit is a great way to tune up your family car, giving it a sporty touch. So if you have a large family and you need a premium tourer vehicle, it doesn't mean you can't enjoy a chunky steering wheel or red seatbelts.

Both around town and on the highway, the B-Class is perfectly quiet and refined. It feels nothing like a darty A45 AMG, but once you get up to speed, the amount of grip and stability surprise you. Because of wide tires, the car grips, and grips, and grips without letting go of the road. From behind the wheel, you could never tell it's an MPV, as the handling is more like a saloon.

The B-Class has a very particular set of skills and many shortcomings, but fortunately, it has a number of twin brothers and sisters. If you're young and want a more beautiful hatchback, the A-Class is there for you, whereas the GLA-Class has better ground clearance and longer suspension travel. As for the CLA, it seems to be the most accomplished Mercedes-Benz with US customers, and it even has a Shooting Brake version now. So as you can see, Mercedes has a variety of front-driven cars while BMW only has one at the moment.


The engine range hasn't changed all that much for 2015. Mercedes just made refinements and slightly reduced fuel consumption for some models. But the B-Class is offered with four types of powertrains. There are five diesel models with consumption ranging from 3.6 to 5.0 l/100 km (78 to 56 mph UK), four petrol engines between 5.4 and 6.6 l/100 km (52 to 43 mpg UK), a natural gas model and the B-Class Electric Drive.

Our friends in North America can only buy the B-Class Electric Drive, which costs a whopping $41,450 (€39,150 in Europe). This EV is just as powerful as the BMW i3, and it offers a lot more space, but it suffers from an image problem. It was designed from the offset to carry an electric battery under the floor, but the B-Class is not as spectacular to look at as the Bavarian i car, which is made from carbon fiber and has futuristic lines.

Our test car was the B180 CDI Sports Tourer, which will be renamed as the B180 d later this year. Under the bonnet is a 1.5-liter turbodiesel engine made by Renault and producing 109 hp at 4,000rpm and 260 Nm of torque (192 lb-ft) at 1,750rpm. Is that enough? Not really, especially when the car weighs the best part of 1.4 tons empty. Especially when the Eco mode is engaged, there is a definite sense of sluggishness. If you floor the right foot, it will get from 0 to 100 km/h in under 12 seconds, but rough diesel noises will inundate the cabin.

The upside is that the B180 CDI is the first car I have driven in many years that has exceeded expectations in terms of fuel consumption. The same 1.5-liter diesel was in the Captur I tested a few week before, with less power I might add, but the heavier Mercedes-Benz actually got better fuel economy and nearly matched manufacturer claims.

By driving conservatively, highway fuel consumption reached 4.2 l/100km (67 mpg UK) and around town, the B-Class achieves 5.5 l/100km (51 mpg UK) or a little higher on congested days. Because the accelerator pedal travel is extremely long, you can't be aggressive with a car designed to be frugal and civilized. If your B-Class will spend 99% of its time in the city at up to 60 km/h, this model is perfect for you.

But if the idea of a slow Mercedes bothers you, then I suggest looking a more powerful model, such as the 136 horsepower B200 CDI or one of the petrol turbos, which are going to be quieter but less economical. The monster of the range is the B250 4Matic, which rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds while the B220 CDI 4Matic is the fastest diesel with standard sprint times of 8.3 seconds. Our recommendation would be to buy the 136 hp B200 CDI or the B220 petrol, both being available with all-wheel drive.

I know that Mercedes engines are built to fit within certain tax brackets based on horsepower or emissions, but the technology isn't as up-to-date as that of its rivals. For example, all BMW 2 Series Active Tourers come with B series engines while the Golf Sportsvan has EA288 diesels, both being a bit more refined and/or powerful than what Daimler has to offer. The differences are small, however, and refinement or brand preference are likely going to play a bigger role than outright acceleration.

As we've mentioned, 2015 B-Class prices start at €27,100, in which case you get a 122 hp 1.6-liter petrol engine, and can go up to €38,200 for the B220 CDI 4Matic, which is both fast and economical. We would buy one of the mid-range diesel engines in combination with the automatic gearbox because they have the necessary torque to move a heavy car. Our test B180 CDI had a sticker or €33,877 and didn't have that many options added. However, the only thing that felt lacking was the power.

Since this is a family car, we have to quickly talk about safety as well. Euro NCAP didn't re-test the model when the facelift was introduced and the 5-star rating from 2011 is still in place. Four years ago, the B-Class actually set the benchmark in its class with a 97% adult occupant safety rating. Despite being tall, it's also totally stable at high speed, unlike the previous generation, and the grip it provides inspires confidence without actually letting you have fun.

One major reason why the 2015 model became safer is the fact that it has been equipped with an advanced Collision Prevention Assist system, or CPA for short. At normal town speeds, it will stop the car completely or reduce the damage. It works well in real life and we think CPA should be fitted to all cars as standard in the future.

The updated B-Class remains a high-ticket item for customers that can afford to buy the best. There are cars that are cheaper or more fun to drive. But if you really want E-Class quality in a family hatchback, the 2015 B-Class is your best bet.