Mercedes-Benz B Class

Mercedes-Benz's turbo-powered new mid-sized offering is anything but B-grade…

What's New
Chances are you've never heard of the B-Class, but we wouldn't blame you. It's the latest model from Mercedes-Benz in a product drive so aggressive that industry watchers must be wondering by now if there are enough letters in the alphabet to accommodate the company's ambition.

Rather neatly, though, the B-Class slots in between the A-Class and C-Class models in terms of price and positioning. Mercedes-Benz calls it a Compact Sports Tourer, most likely because "mini-MPV" doesn't sound expensive enough, but also because it's actually quite nicely muscular in design, with bulges and creases in all the right places to create a sense of visual athleticism.

Appropriately, that is matched with real sinew, at least in the range-topping B 200 Turbo version, with 193bhp under the bonnet and sports suspension as standard equipment.

How it Performs
The B 200 Turbo is no slouch, with enough torque from the engine to give the Electronic Stability Control system plenty to think about. Because it has a Continuously Variable Transmission, though, which has infinitely variable drive ratios, the experience is deceptively less than dramatic.

Floor the throttle and the engine's revs rise and hover there while the car accelerates to catch up. There's enough lag-free oomph to chirp a front wheel if you're exiting a corner at the time, but the power deliver is so smooth and linear that you'll have to rely on the speedo to tell you if you're on the wrong side of the law.

If the transmission is silky, though, the engine is anything but, buzzing harshly when worked hard.

No complaints about the handling, though, which is secure and confidence-inspiring. There's massive cornering grip from the tyres, and the suspension keeps the body neatly composed through bends. The price to pay is a distinctly firm ride that's uncharacteristic of a Mercedes.

It's the cabin that impresses most about the B 200 Turbo. Based on a stretched A-Class chassis, it offers an enormous amount of room, especially for rear passengers, who are treated to legroom rivalling that of an S-Class.

Boot space is equally generous too, with 544 litres on offer, stretching to 2,245 litres when you fold the seats.

Best of all, the B 200 Turbo is built like a Benz. The dashboard's plastics put those of the last A-Class to shame, and the car itself feels robust and nicely put together.

How it Stacks Up
If you were inclined to be shallow, you might go with a B 200 Turbo for three simple reasons: it's got a Mercedes badge, it's turbocharged, and it's 'only' a hundred and thirty-one grand.

A more considered approach would take into account the huge cabin size and the versatility of the load-lugging area, along with the fact that the engine offers plenty of punch.

Despite the power and sharp, safe handling, though, the B 200 Turbo isn't hugely entertaining to drive, with rivals that are more engaging. That being the case, it might be worth pondering the garden-variety B 200, which has a less-powerful engine, for $10,000 less.

It may not be as swift as the Turbo, but it doesn't feel lethargic in urban traffic, and rides far more smoothly over uneven tarmac with its regular suspension. Given how the B 200 Turbo isn't the most fun you can have on four wheels, the B 200 might just be the sensible choice in more ways than one.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Mercedes-Benz B 200 Turbo ENGINE Engine: 2,034cc, 8V in-line 4 Max Power: 193bhp at 5,000rpm Max Torque: 280Nm at 1,800rpm TRANSMISSION Continuously Variable Transmission TOP SPEED 225 kmh 0-100km/h 7.4s