Okay, let’s be honest, there are very few of us who are going to read about the B-Class and wonder really if it isn’t just the A-Class, only bigger.
While the A-Class is, no doubt, a great vehicle in it’s own right, nobody really wants a vehicle that offers just slightly more than another, slightly cheaper vehicle in the range.
And so the B-Class makes its entrance into what is fast becoming a very saturated and cynical South African market.
Yes, the first impression one gets is that it looks like the A-Class, but I think that’s only because we haven’t seen much of the B-Class and as we see more of them on our roads, we will, in time, realise just how different it is from the A-Class.
Mercedes-Benz executives tell us that the B-Class is supposed to be a mini-MPV of sorts and given the ride height and abundance of interior space, it falls easily into that category.
But then we’re told that the B is not only going to try to steal sales from Honda F-RVs and such, but that it’s also going to duke it out with the Audi A3 Sportback! Yes, the same Sportback that won the South African Car of the Year competition. Obviously, that’s when I thought that MB had well and truly botched its marketing campaign, but we’ll get back to this a little later.
On the MPV front, the vehicles mostly offer six or seven seats and while there isn’t much legroom in the last row off seats, it gets the job done of safely transporting quite a few sprogs who, while being somewhat cramped, will at least have their own seatbelts.
The B-Class has five seats and a very decently-sized luggage area, but no option for an extra two seats and Mercedes-Benz has no plans to bring out a B-Class with an additional two seats. MB execs don’t see this as a problem as they point out that there are other vehicles in the DaimlerChrysler range with seven seats.
Given the similarities in price between the B- and the C-Class, one has to assume that some sort of cannibalisation is going to occur between these segments, but I don’t see potential B-Class buyers wanting to own a C-Class or vice versa. For once you start driving the car, you realise that it is in a class all of its own and while that class might not be easily indentifiable, it is nonetheless a confident car in its own right.
My test unit was the B200 Turbo with a respectable 142kW of power and 280Nm of torque from as low down as 1 800rpm. This amount of vooma definitely puts it into the category of hot hatches such as the Sportback and the six-speed manual gearbox makes this far more enjoyable to drive than most MPVs, mini or large and it therefore makes the B-Class one of the most impressive Mummy Mobiles on the market. It’s not really a manic car on take-off, but the in-gear acceleration is truly exceptional. I was surprised at how effortless it was to pass vehicles at high speeds.
However, the problem with this amount of power is that you’re going to want to push it a little and while the handling is good given its ride height, I can’t help but wish that MB had made a proper hatch out of this one.
If MB had dropped the car significantly, it might have lost its appeal to the mummy market, but it would have created a hatch that would have easily taken on hot hatches such as the Audi 2,0lT FSi Sportback and given it a good enough go for its money. It would have also opened the door into the young exec market that, except for the A-Class and C230 coupe, it doesn’t have any proper representation in.
And that’s my only gripe about the B-Class because it’s impressive on practically all aspects from looks to space as well as comfort and on-road dynamics.
Safety features include ESP, ASR, ABS with brake assist and six airbags, while interior features include a multi-function steering wheel, leather seats with side supports, tinted electric windows, aircon and much more.
Perhaps MB didn’t expect it to be quite such an athletic performer. Perhaps they feel mummies want a little excitement and speed for the boring task of the daily school run. Perhaps they see the performance attracting the younger market, despite the body roll owing to the ride height.
I’m not entirely sure what MB was hoping to achieve with this car, but I do see it selling for the simple ÂÂreason that it’s a great drive.
The facts
Model: B 200T
Price: R266 000
Engine: 2,0-litre turbo-charged
Tech: 142kW, 280Nm
Top speed: 225kph, 0 to 100kph in 7,6 seconds
Tank: 55 litres
Services: 15 000km