The Mercedes-Benz GLB can accommodate seven people without being extremely grotesque



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Photo: All pictures by Mercedes

The Mercedes-Benz GLB, originally appeared as a concept before becoming a reality, was unveiled tonight in Utah. It is about the same size as the GLA and GLC, but can accommodate two more people than these cars in optional configurations. It will be manufactured and sold here, and my first assumption is that many of them will be sold.

The GLB will be assembled at the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The big advantage of GLB over GLA or GLC is that the GLB will accommodate seven indoor and up to four children's seats. And it can accommodate as many people without being significantly larger. Look at the wheelbase:

At 111.4 inches, the wheelbase of the GLB is 5.1 inches higher than the GLA and 1.7 inches lower than the GLC SUV.

The seven-seater is an option, in addition to optional all-wheel-drive, optional head-up display and optional semi-autonomous features. Under the hood, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine develops 221 horsepower and transmits the car from zero to 60 in 6.9 seconds, according to Mercedes, but generates a torque of 269 lb-ft.

The GLB is designed to be a family car, in other words, especially in the seven-seater configuration. It should be very comfortable, but also capable off-road, if it was solicited. This is thanks to the optional all-terrain package, which includes elements such as downhill speed regulation (DSR) for steep descents on bad surfaces, as well as automatic adjustments of the power supplied.

It will have Mercedes' MBUX multimedia information system, like the GLS, the new S-Class SUV I'm currently driving, which will give me a first impression in a few weeks. It includes several modes, all controlled by computer, such as Sport, Comfort and Off-road for various driving situations.

Today, a third of Mercedes sold is an SUV or crossover. The next best-selling segment is small cars, by Mercedes. The GLB makes sense as a commercial proposition. It is also a capitulation on the current market. SUVs, no matter how small, sell like hot cakes on Sundays.

The GLB looks much better in person than the photos, that's all I can say at the moment. I can not wait to drive him.

It looks … pretty good? My humble opinion is that they should also make an AMG version.

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