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What is it?

A mild mid-life makeover for Mercedes compact MPV, bringing some aesthetic revisions and spec tweaks – and a good chance to re-acquainted with the A-Class’s bigger brother.

Of most relevance will be fuel economy improvements across the range, with the smaller petrol enignes getting the option of Merc’s ECO stop-start system and the diesel versions getting revised engine tuning.

Both 180CDI and 200CDI versions of the B-Class use the same 2.0-litre co...Read the full article

I rented one of these recently, and I really could not recommend it - even if it were less expensive. The engine was noisy and a lousy puller, and the car slowed significantly when it encountered hills (despite being a diesel). Fuel consumption was disappointing. Controls are not at all intuitive. Nothing seems particularly "high quality" in the interior - a Golf is better put together and feels more solid.

Last week I rented a Fiat Croma (1.9 Diesel, 150 PSI) and I would consider it a much better proposal (although I personally won't be rushing out to buy one) - great engine, quiet on the move, economical, loads of room, well equipped and a super autobahn kilometer eater.

Proof of the absurdity of "buying for the badge."

Always looks like an answer to a question nobody ever asked, an A-Class with a bonnet and a bigger boot, total opposite to the old LWB A-Class which seems more popular now then when they actually built them.

I agree its an unremarkable and expensive car - always reminds me of the Austin Maxi.

 Do you ever ride in the back of road test cars ?  We had a ride in the back of a B Class in the US and it felt like you were sitting on a back axle (I'm sure it doesn't have one).  My relative took it back and swapped it for something else from his company's fleet.

I have found most mercs are over priced under engineered cars.  Why people keep buying them for the badge I will never know.  If people looked properly at a like for like comparison I am sure no one would ever buy a merc.