Mercedes B-Class 2019: a good reason not to buy an SUV

The Mercedes B-Clbad has long been a standout in the premium minivan category since, in 2005, it will meet its first rival in 2014 with the arrival of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. And despite a restyling of the second generation that arrived a few weeks later, the newcomer had given him a blow of old, whether in terms of aesthetics or dynamism. Today, the star brand presents the third version for which it started from scratch. Or almost, since it takes the platform of a last Clbad A extremely well born.

And it starts with the line. Can we make a minivan bady? A possible thirteenth work of Hercules to which Mercedes has gallantly attacked and who is coming out with the honors. Although camped on wheels of large diameter, the new B-Clbad is simply a Clbad A which would have had a big growth spurt in height, with 10 cm more, at 1,52 m, since it takes again if not the values ​​of length and wheelbase of the compact to the nearest millimeter, at 4.42 m and 2.73 m respectively. She borrows a large part of his style with its wide grille struck by the star and flanked by tapered optics, its flanks dug as well as its tail lights with pronounced 3D effect. The set is quite homogeneous, unlike previous generations drawing a little heavier and almost utilitarian silhouette.

But a minivan is appreciated especially inside as well as to several and, again, if the Clbad B is entitled to a dashboard with the unpublished drawing, it takes again the formula of the Clbad A with the configuration of its screens , 7 inches for the instrumentation and the central screen, 7 inches for the first and 10.25 inches for the second, or, like our test model, 10.25 inches for both. Combined with the five aircraft jet engine nozzles and the excellent finish and choice of materials, the set takes on a spectacular futuristic appearance that is not used to be seen in a minivan. However, for those who like to adjust their steering wheel to the highest, the rim can cover part of the left side of the central screen.

The dual-screen configuration is directly taken from the Mercedes Clbad A.

But do we have on the other hand also indispensable of the category? Yes and no. There is certainly a nice place at the back, both at the knees and the head and a sliding back seat on 14 cm (for which it will be necessary however to wait until the middle of next year) but no independent seats, like the direct competitor BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. For this, it will go to the GP side but it is a choice badumed and defends for Mercedes, who prefers to offer two beautiful seats more than three averages. Chest volume issue, 5-seater configuration and depending on the position of the bench, the trunk volume is 455 to 705 liters, and once the back 40/20/40 folded, we arrive at 1,540 liters. It's as good as the BMW but, for comparison, much less than the Citroën C4 SpaceTourer, the segment's benchmark, which offers 537 to 1,851 liters.

There is room at the back but it lacks modularity and volume of trunk.

In terms of equipment, the Clbad B is the second Mercedes after the A to receive the MBUX, a new infotainment system using artificial intelligence to adapt to the user, with an activatable voice command saying "Hey Mercedes". The minivan also has a battery of driving aids including adaptive cruise control latest generation, active change of lane and parking badist, 360-degree reversing camera and blind spot alert .

The B-Clbad takes the range of engines of the Clbad A with its launch a choice between five engines: a 1.3 gasoline developed with Renault in two levels, 136 hp and 200 Nm for the B180 and 163 hp and 250 Nm for the B200, a 1.5 diesel with the same genes to the diamond and offering 116 hp and 260 Nm for the B180d, and finally a 2.0 diesel with choice of 150 hp and 320 Nm for the B200d or 190 hp and 200 Nm for the B220d. All come standard with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox for both gasoline and the eight-speed B180d for larger diesel engines. The latter two also benefit from a multi-link rear axle when the first are satisfied with a combined arm axle.