Mercedes GLB Adds New Entry-level Option to GL-Class Family
GLB, the latest addition to GL-Class starts at $36,600, has room for five, motivated by new 2.0-liter turbo-four.
The Mercedes GL-Class family has something for everyone. The top-of-the-line GLS takes the best of the flagship S-Class, and drops it into a rugged-yet-luxurious SUV package. On the other end, the GLA is the perfect complement to the CLA in the entry-level game, offering potential life-long customers the chance to experience all that Mercedes has to offer.
That said, the GLA may not be always be the right path to Stuttgart. For those customers, Mercedes has the solution: the all-new GLB, set to hit the showroom floor near the end of 2019 for the 2020 model year.
The newest entry-level option in the GL-Class family, the GLB 250 will start at $36,600, while the 4MATIC version starts at $38,600. Whichever one you choose, you’ll get a compact luxury crossover that is 5.1-inches longer than the GLA, seating for five (seven with the optional third row), and the ability to handle any terrain you can come across.
Inside the GLB, the driver has access to the MBUX infotainment system via a seven-inch touchscreen. The system includes a customizable display, voice controls with natural speech recognition, plus optional full-color HUD and augmented video navigation. The whole affair will make driving a pleasurable, stress-free experience.
The other thing that will make driving the GLB a joy is the compact crossover’s engine. The all-new 2.0-liter turbo-four makes 221 horses and 258 lb-ft of torque to the front pair of 18-inch wheels or all corners via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. The combination delivers excellent launching power and smooth shifts all around.
The 4MATIC option adds more to the GLB package, thanks to its drive modes and variable torque distribution. In Eco/Comfort mode, most of the power goes to the front wheels in an 80-20 configuration, while Sport mode takes it to 70-30 for a little more push off the line. Off-Road mode splits the power distribution down the middle, while the Off-Road Engineering Package (standard for the GLB 250 4MATIC) improves the crossover’s trail-tackling abilities via power delivery and ABS braking control.
“With one in three Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold globally being an SUV, and one in four a compact model, the all-new GLB is poised to tackle the heart of an energized SUV market,” Mercedes-Benz says. “The GLB offers a compelling combination of high versatility, compact SUV proportions, innovative technology and high everyday usability.”
Photos: Mercedes-Benz
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