Following up on the previous test drive of the Mercedes-Benz GLB200d 4MATIC: Differences from the GLA (Part 1), here is the second part of the report.

GLB200d 4MATIC

GLB200d Engine Sound

One more notable point about the GLB’s engine is the sound it makes when revved. At first, since it’s a diesel engine, I thought it would either be simply quiet or just noisy, but it’s neither.

The engine produces a sound that’s clearly audible inside the cabin and pleasantly sporty.

Unlike the usual practical engine hum of a simple “brrr” sound, it emits a “grrrooon!” that’s quite uncharacteristic for a diesel. Just this aspect alone won over this diesel engine skeptic like me.

Also, the engine’s rotation isn’t overly smooth, which is a good thing. Recently, high-performance diesel engines have very refined revving characteristics. Combined with their quietness, it’s easy to unintentionally push the engine close to the redline and feel a bit disappointed, thinking “Is it over already…?”

However, the GLB200d’s diesel engine is very smooth for a practical engine but not ultra-smooth like sporty diesel engines, and the sound is clearly audible, so it’s easy to tell how much load is on the engine and how close it is to its limit without even looking at the tachometer.

This made driving feel very natural and enjoyable to me.

Suspension and Handling

First, about the ride comfort. To evaluate it, I deliberately drove slowly over rough patches and bumps to test it. From my perspective, the ride comfort is at a “good” level.

Of course, it doesn’t have the silky smoothness from the moment the tires start rolling like a Cayenne or large SUV, but the tire rotation feel and filtering of road roughness are just right.

It feels more refined than a typical C-segment compact car.

On rough or wavy roads, those used to Japanese domestic car suspensions might find it a bit firm, but while there are occasional thuds, the shocks are well absorbed, and body roll is relatively small for an SUV.

With large SUVs without optional electronic stabilizers, the body often sways noticeably in such conditions, but the GLB’s body movement is quite minimal.

I believe this is influenced by its lighter weight, smaller mass, and lower ground clearance.

Compared to the GLA, the GLB clearly wins in terms of mature ride quality and comfort. The ride feels noticeably more refined.

Both the GLA and GLB handle large impacts like manhole covers very well, but the GLA tends to have a slightly bouncy rear on subtle road undulations or smooth bumps, causing a mild side-to-side sway in the rear half.

This is very noticeable when sitting in the rear seats, but the GLB hardly exhibits this at all. By the way, for those who often drive the GLA with fewer passengers, lowering the rear tire pressure slightly might improve the ride.

This model is 4MATIC, but since it’s an FF-based AWD, I expected it to feel more front-wheel-drive dominant. However, when tested on winding roads, that’s not the case at all. In Sport mode, pressing the accelerator through corners, the steering has less play around center than typical Mercedes models, and the handling is very neutral.

The steering feel is consistent from turn-in to turn-out, requiring no corrective steering. It’s an excellent handling characteristic.

Applying some load and lateral G through corners, the suspension compresses appropriately and then firmly holds. Even with weight on the outside wheels, the inside wheels maintain good contact.

This is the brilliance of Mercedes. The suspension’s rebound also provides reassuring feedback, so there’s no sense of instability.

It feels like driving a Cayenne in Sport Plus mode through corners. There’s minimal roll and very little body sway. Its size and weight are small and light for an SUV, so it drives like a Golf-class hatchback wearing an SUV body. I was very impressed by this.

Then, with four adult men onboard, we tested the winding roads again. I experienced this from the rear seat. The stability was astonishing. The suspension didn’t give in to the weight at all, firmly holding the car while safely carrying the passengers. The power delivery was more than adequate.

Even on the uphill curves of the Royu Driveway, it accelerated strongly. The torque of this diesel engine combined with the 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is fantastic. Even when pressing the accelerator at the corner exit, the AWD system ensures solid traction on the rear wheels, allowing the car to exit uphill corners with remarkable stability. It’s hard to believe this is a 150hp car carrying four adults.

Despite the high cornering speeds, my friends and I in the rear seats were continuously amazed by the minimal body sway and lateral G. It truly felt like a magical experience.

Result of Entering the GLB Purchase Lottery…

Actually, I sold my Cayenne just a few days before this test drive. I plan to write about that in a separate article, but at the time, I was considering what the next family car should be when this test drive happened.

I was so impressed with the GLB that when I heard about the lottery for the MP202301 model scheduled for winter delivery, I decided to enter, even though the competition would be fierce and I didn’t expect to win.

A few days later, the dealer contacted me to say I had won the lottery (sweat).

It was completely unexpected, but I took it as a fortunate opportunity and decided to purchase. The chosen specification is a fully optioned GLB200d 4MATIC in Iridium Silver, with AMG Line Package, AMG Leather Exclusive Package, Advanced Package, and Panoramic Sliding Roof.

Delivery will still be some time away, but I look forward to reporting again once it arrives.