MERCEDES GLB 250, ONE OF LIFE’S LITTLE LUXURIES

WITH MORE VERSIONS OF CROSSOVERS, MID TO SMALL SUV’S AND HATCHBACKS THAN ONE PERSON CAN REMEMBER CAN A LUXURY ENTRY STAND OUT?

BUMPER2BUMPERTV SAYS MERCEDES IS TRYING VERY HARD WITH THE GLB 250.

THIS IS A BRAND WHICH HAS BECOME PRETTY WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR LARGE SUV’S LOADED WITH COMFORT AND TECHNOLOGY FEATURES.

SO, WHAT IS IT LIKE WHEN THEY BUILD A SMALLER UNIT, AT A LOWER PRICE POINT TO COMPETE IN A SEGMENT WHERE THE COMPANY’S SUCCESS HAS FACED CHALLENGES?

WITH THE GLB, MERCEDES BENZ OFFER A PLATFORM THAT IS JUST INSIDE THE MID SIZE VEHICLE SEGMENT AT 183 INCHES IN OVERALL LENGTH.

Mercedes has made a big investment in this segment.

Especially in the small luxury crossover.

The reason why?

There are a lot of buyers here and there is a lot of demand.

IT IS OFFERED AS EITHER A FIVE OR SEVEN PASSENGER UNIT.

BUT FOR LIFE OF US, WE CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS A NEED TO CROWD A THIRD ROW INTO IT.THE TEST MODEL WAS A FIVE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL DRIVE PLATFORM THAT CARRIES OVER THE DESIGN DNA EVIDENT IN THE GLS AND OTHER SUV’S.

THE SEATING FOR THREE IN THE SECOND ROW CAN ACCOMMODATE THREE ADULTS WITH A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF HEAD AND SHOULDER ROOM.

THAT IS A KEY FEATURES BUYERS IN THE NICHE SEEK, SINCE THEY MAY BE TRANSPORTING A GROWING FAMILY OR FRIENDS WHO NEED THE SPACE AND COMFORT.

WITH THIS CONFIGURATION THERE IS MORE THAN 24 CUBI FEET OF CARGO SPACE AVAILABLE BEHIND THE SECOND ROW.

FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS GET THE EXPECTED LUXURY TREATMENT WITH GOOD SIGHT LINES AND EASY ACCESS TO A CENTER DISPLAY SCREEN LOADED WITH MERCEDES TECHNOLOGY.

THAT INCLUDES TRAFFIC SIGN RECOGNITION CAPABILITY, A FEATURE OTHER CAR MAKERS HAVE BEEN OFFERING FOR A FEW YEARS.WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE USB PORTS, THEY ARE USB-C WHICH DELIVER MORE POWER, BUT REQUIRE AN ADAPTER CABLE TO BE USEFUL WITH THE CURRENT CROP OF PHONES AND OTHER DEVICES.

(NAT SOT) THE DRIVE TRAIN IS WHERE THE GLB250 STANDS OUT.

IT IS A 2.0 LITER TURBO ASSISTED FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE, CRANKING OUT 221 HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND FEET OF TORQUE.

OF COURSE, TO GET THE MOST FROM THE ENGINE PREMIUM GRADE FUEL IS REQUIRED.

AS WE MENIONED EARLIER THE TEST CAR WAS A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE SETUP.

THE TRANSMISSION IS AN 8 SPEED DUAL CLUTCH ARRANGEMENT THAT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE CONFIGURATION.

WE LIKE THE WAY THE SYSTEMS MATCH TOGETHER FOR A SMOOTH DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC THAT PROVED TO BE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION WHEN PASSING.

WITH COMPETITION FROM EUROPEAN AND ASIAN AUTOMAKERS THE GLB250 IS A STRONG ENTRY IN THE SEGMENT AS LONG AS IT DOESN’T BECOME A VICTIM OF PRICE CREEP OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

I’M GREG MORRISON.