The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class hides a secret. As its name suggests, the 2020 GLB slots alphabetically in the Mercedes lineup between the GLA and the GLC. But, the GLB offers a third row of seats that opens it up to seven passengers—its bigger and smaller siblings have room for just five.
We give it a 6.6 out of 10, before crash-test results are factored in. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
With the GLB 250, Mercedes has its first small three-row crossover SUV. At about 182 inches long and 72 inches wide, however, the GLB is sized like the original Mercedes M-Class of the late 1990s, which could also be had with a third row. The new GLB crossover does people and cargo just as well: It can carry up to seven passengers, though four adults will be more comfortable, and can carry up to 62 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seats folded down.
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The GLB will look a little more at home on a dirt road than its GLA and GLC siblings. Its styling shares a few lines with the big GLS-Class SUV, including an upright grille and headlights in place of the swept-back look of Mercedes’ other small SUVs. Its overhangs are relatively short, too, which gives it a pluckier, tougher look that the citified GLA. The cockpit brandishes big round vents, ambient lighting, glossy trim, and twin-screen infotainment with the extroverted confidence of a South Korean luxury car—in the best way possible.
Power comes from a 2.0-liter turbo-4 rated at 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque shuttled to all four wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. It’s a gutsy powertrain that complements the deft-handling GLB’s steering and ride well; with adaptive dampers and all-wheel drive, it’s capable of tackling any weather condition that’s safe for driving, as well as any canyon road worth threading. Mercedes promises a hint of off-road ability with the 2020 GLB’s standard off-road driving systems mode, though it’s hard to imagine the crossover intentionally hurtled down a dirt road.
Every GLB comes with automatic emergency braking, and the 2020 GLB 250 can be fitted with an adaptive cruise control system that can slow ahead of curves or roundabouts automatically. The system can also automatically change lanes at the tap of the turn signal if it detects an opening.
The base $37,595 GLB 250 has the usual power features, 18-inch wheels, and 7.0-inch infotainment screens as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The smart money throws in $2,000 for all-wheel drive, and a few grand more for 10.3-inch screens, Burmester sound, adaptive dampers, and a surround-view camera system, for a final tally of about $46,000.