Time flies, and the Mercedes-Benz GLB200d delivered at the end of November 2022 has now surpassed 7,000 km on the odometer. This time, I’d like to share my honest impressions after driving it for a while.

Background of Purchasing the GLB200d 4MATIC

Why I Chose the GLB200d

The reason I bought the GLB200d was that I was looking for a family car with a compact width yet high driving performance, and after riding in a friend’s GLB200d, I was truly impressed.

Until then, our family car had been a Porsche Cayenne, but in urban areas—like family restaurant parking lots, convenience stores, and hospitals—the wide body often caused difficulties. Of course, the driving performance itself was impeccable, but for these reasons, I decided to switch to the GLB this time.

Research and Expectations Before Purchase

Before buying, I test-drove my younger brother’s GLA200d 4MATIC and also had the chance to test drive the aforementioned friend’s GLB200d 4MATIC to evaluate driving performance and comfort. The driving felt more agile and sporty than I expected, and I felt the comfort was more than adequate.

I also had high hopes for the convenience of the 7-seater configuration, imagining scenarios where our family of five would travel with my sister and her child, so I thought the GLB would be extremely useful for family events.

Driving Performance and Fuel Economy of the GLB200d

Fuel Economy Results After 7,000 km

This is probably a point many are curious about, but according to the trip data reset after the break-in period, the average fuel economy is 13.7 km/l.

As usual, I didn’t pay any attention to fuel economy and just drove naturally with the flow of traffic and how I wanted, so I believe it’s possible to achieve even better mileage.

On highways alone, if you drive normally, 18–20 km/l is achievable. Even if you push it a bit, you can expect around 15 km/l.

Driving Performance Evaluation: Differences Between Urban and Highway Driving

In stop-and-go urban traffic, the diesel engine’s strong low-end torque means it never feels sluggish. There’s no shortage of power in any situation, and it accelerates exactly as you expect.

On the other hand, perhaps due to a relatively low gear ratio, the automatic transmission tends to hold the engine revs quite high in 1st and 2nd gears. When accelerating normally with the flow, it shifts up around 2,000 to 3,000 rpm. This doesn’t change much even in Eco mode.

Since the engine can produce maximum torque at just 1,400 rpm, I wish it would shift up more smoothly at lower revs.

On highways, at speeds around 100 km/h, it doesn’t quite have that heavy, solid feel typical of German cars. Of course, it’s stable and reassuring, but the sense of refinement might be a bit lacking.

However, once you reach speeds typical of leading the passing lane on the Shin-Tomei Expressway, the GLB becomes very stable. The tire grip increases noticeably, and it starts moving forward like an arrow. After all, this car’s true home is the Autobahn.

Interior and Comfort of the GLB200d

Seat Comfort and the Third-Row Seats

In my case, the AMG Leather Exclusive Package is equipped, featuring gray-black leather seats. These seats are somewhat thick and firm leather, not plush or cushy. Because of this, people used to Japanese cars’ seats might find them uncomfortable. Personally, I would prefer a slightly softer material.

However, when it comes to fatigue on long drives, I have no complaints, and even after driving 500 km in a day between Tokyo and Osaka, my lower back doesn’t hurt.

The second-row seats have sufficient width and can accommodate large child seats. However, the seat cushion is a bit short, so taller adult males might feel some discomfort with their knees slightly raised, which could affect comfort.

The third-row seats are designed for people under 168 cm tall, making them quite minimal in size. Because of this, many reviews point to this as a drawback of the GLB, but in reality, it rarely becomes an issue.

Of course, if you want to seat seven adults, that’s a different story, but these seats are perfectly fine for children, and the enclosed feeling seems to be comforting for them.

Incidentally, even adults can sit there for up to about an hour if the second-row seats are moved slightly forward, without their heads touching the ceiling.

Ease of Use of the Infotainment System

Regarding the infotainment system, it takes a little time to get used to the menu hierarchy at first, but the display is clear, and controls can be operated via the center console pad or steering wheel switches, so I have no particular complaints.

However, the factory navigation, while easy to see and understand, often sets routes that feel a bit off.

At first, I tolerated it, but since it frequently suggested questionable routes, I later purchased the “Smartphone Integration Function (¥36,600)” online from the Mercedes me Store to enable Apple CarPlay on my iPhone.

Now, I use CarPlay almost 100% of the time to display my smartphone’s navigation on the screen.

Summary of Pros and Cons of the GLB200d

What I’m Glad About After Buying

Above all, it’s the perfect balance of compact size and the convenience of being able to seat seven when needed.

In addition, the driving performance and feel—especially the stability at high speeds—make it clear this car was designed in a country with the Autobahn. It’s also quite agile on winding roads.

Overall, there’s no compromise in driving, cornering, or braking. It’s not a car that makes driving thrilling, but as a very reliable partner that works diligently like a Mercedes, it inspires great confidence.

Also, the interior design’s elegance—such as the ambient lighting, the quality of the dashboard and door trims, and the feel and sound of the doors closing—never feels cheap, which adds to the satisfaction.

Areas for Improvement

There are hardly any complaints, but if I had to pick three points, they would be:

• The Pirelli P-ZERO tires standard on the AMG Line Package’s 19-inch wheels are too high-performance, making the handling overly sharp. Tires with a slightly milder character would better suit the GLB’s concept. For example, tires like Michelin’s Primacy series or Bridgestone’s Turanza series, which offer superior ride comfort and quietness, would likely increase satisfaction for many users.
• I’d like the seat comfort improved a bit more. Especially the leather material and the length of the second-row seat cushions are points that need attention. I’m not asking for seats like those in the GLE or GLS, but I’d prefer materials with a bit more softness and suppleness.
• While it’s very enjoyable to drive sportily, I wish the automatic transmission’s control in city driving would favor lower revs more. For example, when starting from a stoplight or in slow-moving traffic, I’d like it to accelerate smoothly by utilizing the diesel engine’s low-end torque rather than by revving up.

These are my honest impressions after purchasing the GLB200d 4MATIC. Personally, I’m very satisfied, and from the perspective of a practical family car, I honestly think it offers great value for the price.