Mercedes-Benz offers ever more inventive ways of exploring the spaces between existing car segments, and the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class is a textbook study. As its three letters suggest, the GLB slots in between the tidy GLA and the larger, pricier GLC, and it's a bit like a middle sibling in between hand-me-downs: too big to be subcompact, not quite large enough for a compact.
But the GLB stands apart with distinctive style, its upright boxy shape looking more like the rugged, celebrity-favorite G-wagen (G-Class) than its mainstream counterparts on either side of the product lineup. It's also exceptionally comfortable, suitably luxurious and loaded with appealing technology. The GLB even offers an available third-row seat, which is pretty much unheard of in this class. The seat is cramped to the point of being unusable, but the GLB gets credit for at least offering one.
The standard GLB isn't a particularly rousing car to drive, but that all changes this year with the introduction of the high-performance AMG GLB 35. Overall we'd recommend the GLB over its BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40 competitors — just mind the options list lest the reasonable base price spiral out of control. Read on for a deeper dive into the Mercedes-Benz GLB from our Expert Rating team.
How does the GLB-Class drive? In our testing, the GLB 250 reached 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, which is properly quick and at the top of the class. When you stomp the pedal, there's a noticeable delay before it starts accelerating, but with a lighter pedal application, it gets underway smoothly.
The GLB isn't particularly exciting to drive, but it is more capable than most SUV owners will need. The GLB's brakes are easy to modulate for smooth stops and impressively strong when you need to make an emergency stop. Around turns, the GLB feels sure-footed and planted.
How comfortable is the GLB-Class? The optional multi-contour seats with ventilation and heating are comfortable for hours at a time. The massage function doesn't actually massage. Rather, it subtly changes the seatback and cushion angles to shift your contact points, which in theory should help alleviate soreness on long trips. The rear seats are lower and shorter, which means taller passengers will find thigh support lacking, but not by much.
The suspension tuning is on the soft side in Comfort mode and easily soaks up road imperfections. It can feel a little floaty on certain broad undulations, but it's far from unsettling. Sport mode dials out that softness without introducing any harshness. The cabin is pleasantly quiet on the highway, even on coarser surfaces.
How’s the interior? The GLB's ride height and tall door openings make it easy to get in and out of. There's no need to step up or stoop down — just slip on in. Once inside, you'll find that all of the controls are logically placed and, after a very short time, you can operate them without having to take your eyes off the road.
The GLB boxy shape affords generous space compared to most of its competitors. Its tall windows provide excellent outward visibility. One minor downside: The sun visors are too small and don't provide full coverage when moved to the side of the vehicle.
How’s the tech? The GLB gets high marks for its tech features. It comes with Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. MBUX is the easiest and best system out there, with many ways to control functions. Voice commands are accurate but sometimes take a moment to process.
The GLB's driver assist features are particularly good. The adaptive cruise works great whether you're driving in dense highway traffic or cruising on the open highway. The lane-keeping assist system can be a little too aggressive in trying to keep you in the lane, but that situation is pretty rare.
How’s the storage? The GLB makes good use of its boxy shape when it comes to taking on cargo. It'll accommodate big and bulky objects, and the low liftover height of the cargo floor and the standard power liftgate make loading easier. There are also plenty of places to keep your personal items, with large door pockets and a sizable center bin. Spring-loaded cupholder tabs keep narrow beverages secure too.
For family duty, the GLB should work out OK. A rear-facing infant safety seat can fit, but only if you keep the rear seats slid all the way back and the front seats in a reasonable position. We did notice that some car seat bases we tested were a bit hard to latch onto to the GLB's car-seat anchor points.
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates fuel economy at 26 mpg in combined city/highway driving, making the GLB slightly more efficient than most class rivals. We observed 26 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, which is just a hair lower than expected but still a good result. We suspect the EPA figure should be achievable with a light foot.
Is the GLB-Class a good value? The GLB splits the difference between the smaller and more affordable GLA and the slightly bigger and more expensive GLC. It's an appealing option as long as you know what you're getting. Buying one with a ton of options significantly inflates the price, and at that point you should consider the more refined GLC.
Compared with other extra-small luxury SUVs, you pay a little more for the GLB, but you also get more in terms of space, performance and comfort. As with most models in this class, the quality of materials feels a bit cheap in some areas, but overall the GLB feels worth its price.
The GLB's upright and boxy styling gives it a more traditional and utilitarian SUV look, which we like. Is the GLB fun? No, not really. But that's mostly because we've only tested the GLB 250 so far. With an AMG variant now in the lineup, though, drivers seeking more excitement should be covered.
For many drivers, the base GLB 250 (or its 4Matic all-wheel-drive counterpart for slick-weather regions) is a fine choice. But for those of a sporting persuasion, we'd recommend the AMG GLB 35 for its 302-horsepower engine and performance-tuned suspension. It demands a significant price jump but transforms the GLB into a small SUV hot rod.
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB is a small, entry-level luxury SUV with seating for five. An optional third-row of seats expands capacity for two more (very small) passengers. The GLB comes in three trim levels: GLB 250, GLB 250 4Matic and AMG GLB 35.
The GLB 250 and GLB 250 4Matic are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (221 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque) connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The GLB 250 is front-wheel-drive, while all-wheel drive comes standard on the 4Matic. The AMG GLB 35 uses a high-performance version of the same engine (302 hp, 295 lb-ft of torque) and eight-speed transmission. All-wheel drive comes standard.
