Mercedes B-Class (2011-2018) Review

If you're looking for a tall family car without rugged off-road looks, the Mercedes B-Class fits the bill

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Practical, spacious interior
  • Economical diesel engines and electric option
  • Well-made and equipped
  • Diesel engines are noisy
  • Expensive for a small car
  • Bland design

The B-Class is a compact people  carrier, with many characteristics of a family hatchback, but with extra headroom to help make it more practical for families.

When launched in 2011, there weren’t many rivals, with the Ford C-Max the most obvious. However, in recent years, the Volkswagen Golf SV (which replaced the Golf Plus) and the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer have been launched and can be considered serious rivals.

Practicality is in plentiful supply in the B-Class, with lots of interior space, plenty of legroom in the rear, a sizeable boot with a 488-litre capacity, and lots of useful storage and stowage cubbies for keeping all the bits and pieces that keep families contented and occupied on the road.

There’s also a range of petrol and diesel engines that accommodate most users’ needs – including a pure electric variant for the eco-conscious buyer – and return low running costs. There’s nothing that offers significant performance – no AMG version, as is the case with many cars in the Mercedes-Benz model range – but that’s as it should be for a family car such as the B-Class. More concerning is the fact that the diesels, while economical, are noisy and not a match for those found in the Golf SV or 2 Series Active Tourer.

Buyers also have a choice of trim levels to fit in with different requirements – from comfort-oriented to sporty – along with a choice of additional equipment packs that add a range of optional features.

A series of updates in 2014 added some of the latest technology, including smartphone integration, Apple CarPlay and Connect Me connectivity features, which add a range of online-enabled services.

On the road, the B-Class has been engineered for comfort, despite the pretensions of Sport models. Ride quality is impressive, while it also remains stable and resists too much body roll in the corners, despite its relatively high-sided nature. Handling is also pretty accomplished for a compact people carrier, with sharp and accurate steering, good levels of grip, and good balance and agility for the type of car that it is.

A practical, premium car, on the face of it, seems a good idea for families, but with the trend for SUVs and crossovers taking a firm grip of the market in recent years, cars such as the B-Class can now be fairly considered as fairly niche.

Add into the mix elements such as high-quality materials and fit and finish that make this a (more expensive) premium model, and the B-Class becomes an even harder sell.

Key facts

Warranty 3 years / unlimited miles
Boot size 488 litres
Width 1786mm
Length 4393mm
Height 1557mm
Tax (min to max) From A (£0 per year) to D (£110 per year)

Best Mercedes-Benz B Class for...

Best for Economy – Mercedes B180d SE

Aside from the pure electric B250e, the money-saving champion in the range is the B180d diesel, which has an official fuel consumption of 70.6mpg and emissions of 104g/km.

Best for Families – Mercedes B180 Sport

For families not racking up huge mileages, the lower-powered petrol engine (with a seven-speed automatic gearbox) is a good option, with its smooth running unit returning 52.3mpg.

Best for Performance – Mercedes B220d Sport

The most powerful diesel option not only manages 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, but at the same time returns 68.9mpg.

History

  • November 2011 The current Mercedes B-Class goes on sale.
  • September 2014 The B-Class is updated, with technology improvements inside and minor styling changes outside.
  • February 2015 The Mercedes B250e electric version goes on sale.

Understanding Mercedes-Benz B Class names

Engine B200d

Every car starts with the letter B (for B-Class), followed by a number to indicate engine power. The larger the number, the more powerful the engine is, although the figures don't relate to the exact power output. If the numbers are followed by a letter d, then the car is a diesel. An e indicated that the car is electric.

Trim level Sport

There are three trim levels, each with different levels of standard equipment. SE is most basic, followed by Sport and then AMG-Line.

Mercedes-Benz B Class Engines

Petrol: B180, B200, Diesel: B180d, B200d, B220d
Electric: B250e

The petrol engines start with the B180. Combined with a six-speed manual gearbox, produces 122 horsepower (hp) and accelerates from 0-62mph test in 9.3 seconds (9.2 seconds if the optional seven-speed automatic is chosen). The 156hp B200 can hit 62mph from a standing start in 8.6 seconds (8.4 seconds with the auto). Both versions return 50.44mpg (52.3mpg) and emit 129g/km and 130g/km respectively (or 125g/km in auto form).

Both petrol units are smooth, but require high revs to get the best performance out of them, which reduces their efficiency. However, buyers who don’t cover huge annual mileages (below around 10,000 miles) should find they’re better options than a diesel.

Talking of diesels, there’s a trio of options for buyers. A 1.5-litre unit with 109hp comes badged as a B180d: official fuel consumption figures are 68.9mpg (or 70.6mpg with the seven-speed auto transmission) and CO2 emissions are an impressively low 104g/m.

The other diesels are based on a 2.2-litre powerplant and are also available with 4Matic four-wheel drive. The B200d has a 136hp output (0-62mph takes 9.9 seconds, or 9.8 seconds with an auto ’box) and fuel economy of 65.6mpg (70.6mpg with the auto or 56.5mpg with 4Matic) and CO2 emissions as low as 104g/km.

The more powerful 177hp B220d comes with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard, which means 68.9mpg and 107g/km (56.5mpg and 130g/km with 4Matic).

All the diesels, although economical, sound rough and loud, especially compared to similar engines in rivals. An overly noisy grumbling sound accompanies acceleration and the overall experience is far from satisfying, especially when everything else about the car is what you expect a premium model to be.

The B-Class is also available as a pure electric vehicle. The B250e has a 180hp of power and can go from 0-62mph in 7.9sec.

 

Fuel

Fuel economy

Power

Acceleration (0-62mph)

Top speed

B 180 d

Diesel

68.9mpg

109hp

11.6s

117mph

B 180 d 7G-DCT

Diesel

70.6mpg

109hp

11.9s

117mph

B 180 d Eco

Diesel

78.5mpg

109hp

11.6s

117mph

B 200 d

Diesel

65.6mpg

136hp

9.9s

130mph

B 200 d 7G-DCT

Diesel

70.6mpg

136hp

9.8s

130mph

B 220 d

Diesel

68.9mpg

177hp

8.3s

139mph

B 220d 4Matic

Diesel

56.5mpg

177hp

8.3s

136mph

B 180

Petrol

50.4mpg

122hp

9.3s

124mph

B 180 7G-DCT

Petrol

52.3mpg

122hp

9.2s

124mph

B 200

Petrol

50.4mpg

156hp

8.6s

136mph

B 200 7G-DCT

Petrol

52.3mpg

156hp

8.4s

136mph

Mercedes-Benz B Class Trims

SE, Sport, AMG Line

There are three basic trim levels available to B-Class buyers, with the option of adding to their features with three equipment lines.
SE cars come with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, comfort suspension, air conditioning, man-made leather upholstery, reversing camera, 7-inch display for the infotainment system, cruise control, USB input for portable media devices, smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and multifunction steering wheel.

Additional features in Sport cars include 17-inch alloys, Dynamic Select driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual), rain-sensing windscreen wipers, 8-inch infotainment display, automatic climate control, twin tailpipes and ambient interior lighting.

The range-topping AMG Line adds 18-inch alloy wheels, AMG bodystyling features, lowered comfort suspension, speed-sensitive power steering, man-made leather and suede upholstery with red stitching, AMG sports pedals and floor mats, and carbon fibre-look trim.

The Executive equipment line (which costs an additional £995) adds satellite navigation, heated front seats and parking pilot self-parking.

The £1,695 Premium equipment line – available for Sport or AMG Line cars – adds 12-colour ambient lighting, electric folding mirrors, satellite navigation, heated front seats, LED headlights and parking pilot.

Also available for Sport and AMG Line models is the Premium Plus equipment line, which (for £2,995) adds electric front seats, keyless Go system and full-length glass roof, on top of the features from the Premium package.

Mercedes-Benz B Class Reliability and warranty

There's limited data on the reliability of the B-Class itself, but Mercedes tends to have an average rating. It was ranked 18 out of 32 in the 2016 Auto Express Driver Power survey, and offers a three-year warranty. High-mileage owners get a bit more reassurance than the industry standard because the warranty has no mileage limit.

Used Mercedes-Benz B Class

The Mercedes B-Class holds its value reasonably well. Three-year-old models with average mileages (around 30,000-36,000) are worth around 44% of their new value.

Given its high initial price, it means that used car bargains are scarce - Alternatives such as the VW Golf SV or Ford C-Max are cheaper, and the difference in quality isn't as big as it used to be.

   

List price

BuyaCar new

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

Best for economy

Price

£23,245

£19,723

£15,995

£14,990

£11,480

Mercedes B180d

Save

 

15%

31%

35%

51%

Best for families

Price

£22,170

£18,788

£17,990

£14,292

£11,750

Mercedes B180

Save

 

15%

29%

35%

47%

Best for performance

Price

£28,245

£24,073

£22,495

£20,950

£12,999

Mercedes B220d

Save

 

15%

20%

26%

54%

Other Editions

B Class (2018)

A premium people carrier that packs plenty of technology, but costs more than other family cars