How’s the Ride Comfort?

In short, those used to the soft suspension of Japanese cars may find it firm, while those accustomed to European cars will find it comfortable. The suspension feels taut rather than soft and bouncy, and although it’s an SUV, it doesn’t have a floaty, long-stroke feel. It even has a somewhat sporty vibe. Compared to my brother’s GLA200d 4MATIC, it feels a bit more composed and settled. It’s very resistant to lateral sway, and even on uneven roads with height differences, the body rarely rocks side to side. In this respect, I think it’s more comfortable than larger, higher-end SUVs. On the other hand, when driving on bumpy roads at around 50–60 km/h, it can feel a bit choppy. The front seats don’t feel it much, but the rear seats experience more vertical movement. This is common in many SUVs, so it’s not a big concern, but if you expect a soft, “big ship” ride, the GLB is a bit different. Also, while the GLA’s rear seats had a slight yawing sensation, the GLB doesn’t. If ride comfort is a concern, lowering the rear tire pressure slightly can help.

Tire Contact and Handling

Compared to premium SUVs like the GLE, GLS, Cayenne, or Macan, the GLB’s tire smoothness and refinement are understandably inferior. Still, for a compact-class chassis, it’s quite refined. It doesn’t quite match the refinement of a Volkswagen Golf, but within its class, it feels premium. If the ride of the Cayenne or GLS is like the fatty tuna (ōtoro) of sushi, the GLB’s ride feels like high-quality lean tuna (akami)—light but delicious, never tiring, and easy to enjoy. The handling is quite sporty. For impressions of winding road driving, please refer to my past test drive article, but it’s a car that can handle spirited driving well. The tires fitted are 235/50R19 PZERO PZ4 MO (Mercedes-approved), the same type used on the 911, since this is the AMG Line. This gives excellent responsiveness and grip. The car holds well in medium and high-speed corners with no sense of instability. However, I suspect these tires might be responsible for one issue: the steering center sensitivity feels a bit too sharp on highways. If the GLB were a sports car, this wouldn’t be a problem, but as a family SUV—and a Mercedes at that—I think a slightly looser steering feel around center would be better. It would make highway cruising more relaxing. This feeling is similar to that of the current (third generation) Macan.

Highway Impressions

In a word, the higher the speed, the more stable and comfortable the ride becomes. This is common to European cars to some extent, but the GLB reminds me of older Mercedes models in this regard, and it’s quite pronounced. Driving at around 80 km/h feels different from matching the pace in the overtaking lane on the Shin-Tomei Expressway. At low speeds, you can feel some bumpiness, but as speed builds, the ride smooths out dramatically and the car comes alive. The ride is comfortable and highly refined. As mentioned earlier, I’d prefer a slightly less sensitive steering center for this car’s concept, but in terms of highway stability—meaning effortless, relaxed high-speed cruising—it’s excellent. While it can’t match the refinement of higher-end models, it’s worthy of a car designed for the Autobahn. Regarding power during highway overtaking, it doesn’t feel like 150 hp. Of course, it’s not fast, but the torque ensures no frustration or danger when accelerating or merging. Also, using Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC to automatically follow the car ahead and Active Steering Assist to let the car handle steering makes highway driving much easier and less tiring. Mercedes’ Active Steering Assist is highly rated for keeping the car centered in the lane, but personally, I think it still hasn’t reached human-level performance. It works well most of the time, but occasionally drifts a bit too far left and then corrects abruptly to the right, causing a slight jerkiness. Of course, the system performs very precise steering, but the 19-inch wheels and responsive Pirelli PZERO tires might make the balance a bit off.

Points of Concern with the GLB

As a daily driver for shopping, commuting, or simple transportation, the GLB scores very high and I’m personally very satisfied. However, there are some concerns worth listing:

1. The front side windows have almost no heat insulation.
2. I wish the transmission shifted up a bit earlier.
3. The tires feel like overkill for the car.

Regarding point 1, the front side windows offer almost no heat insulation. Even in December, direct sunlight through the side windows feels quite hot, so I imagine it would be very uncomfortable in summer. Touching the glass confirms it doesn’t absorb heat and remains cold. This is by far the worst heat insulation I’ve experienced in recent cars. I plan to have transparent heat-insulating film applied soon. For point 2, despite the diesel engine producing maximum torque at 1,400 rpm, the transmission pulls the revs up to around 2,500 rpm during 1st and 2nd gear acceleration. This might be because the AT hasn’t learned my driving style yet, but I think shifting up earlier at lower revs would make for a quieter, more comfortable ride. For point 3, while the AMG Line likely influences this, the tires feel a bit over-spec and too responsive for the GLB’s concept. I think Pirelli’s Cinturato or Michelin’s Primacy series might suit the car better. I may switch to Michelin all-season tires someday.

Overall Evaluation of the GLB

As expected from a Mercedes, the driver feels “there’s nothing extra to consciously think about.” This is partly due to the excellent cruise control and automatic steering, but more so because the overall ride is designed to minimize driver effort. For example, with a Porsche SUV, you might want to listen to the engine and enjoy the handling, feeling excited when approaching corners and eager to accelerate when the road opens up. In contrast, the GLB never stirs such feelings. It simply and reliably delivers the driver to their destination. So much so that the driver might feel, to exaggerate, that there’s “nothing to do.” It’s a car that makes you want to listen to music or enjoy the scenery instead. That’s why it’s perfect for everyday travel and as a practical vehicle. The GLB is truly a tool-like car, designed for just that kind of use.