2013 MERCEDES B250: Benz builds a better B

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This article was published 26/04/2013 (4517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The B-Class has been one of Mercedes-Benz’s top sellers even if the design was, to be polite, staid. The latest version ramps up the style quotient — the lines are sleeker, it rides lower, the back end is now less hearse-like, and the mandatory LED daytime running lights are glowing up front. It is a good-looking rig that balances functionality with sportiness — something that couldn’t be said of the previous iteration.

Perhaps the biggest change is found in the B’s chassis. Gone is the sandwich-style platform in favour of a typical platform, but one with a twist — it was designed to accommodate all future powertrains, including the inevitable fuel cell. In the tester’s case, it accommodates the B250’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four. This engine produces the goods and then some. It spins out an effortless 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque at just 1,250 r.p.m., putting some serious spring in the B’s step.

Part of the reason for the output boils down to the turbo’s ability to turn up the wick when needed — it can bump the turbo’s boost pressure from 11.7 to 14.7 pounds per square inch. It is willing and refined. It also features an idle-stop mode, which saves precious fuel whenever the B comes to a standstill. It can be deactivated if required.

The only transmission available is Mercedes’ seven-speed double-clutch transmission. The broad array of ratios spreads the power out very nicely, the shifts are quick and, more importantly, they are co-ordinated.

The tester featured economy, sport and manual modes along with paddle shifters. The economy mode softens the throttle to the point where it takes a fairly aggressive stab at the gas to get it moving. Unfortunately, this is the default mode, so I had to manually select the sport mode, which was my favourite, every time the ignition was switched on.

Sport mode delivers a crisper feel, especially when driving quickly, and paddle shifters allow the driver to take advantage of engine braking. What’s missing is a normal mode — something between the extremes that would give a sharper response than the economy mode. Regardless, it is well-sorted and an infinitely better transmission than the previous CVT.

One of the drawbacks with the previous B-Class was its top-heavy nature. This model sits considerably lower, which drops the centre of gravity. It also sees the seating position lowered significantly, so the passengers now feel as though they are sitting in the seat as opposed to on top of it. Some will lament the loss of the convenient slide-in height, but I drove both models back to back and would take the lower seating position every time.

The B also benefits greatly from its new multi-link rear suspension and, when the sport package is selected, the adaptive dampers. The latter are mechanical in nature and alter the damping characteristics according to the loads placed upon them. They worked very effectively — body motion was controlled yet the ride comfort remained excellent. There is now much less body roll and as a result, the B250 has a sportier feel and significantly better feedback. As for understeer, there is surprisingly little until the driver takes real liberties. The solid platform and suspension keeps the P225/45R17 tires planted, which delivers the requisite lateral grip.

Inside, the B250 takes a big step — at least if you don’t mind living without heated seats on the base car. They were part of the premium package ($2,650), as was a panoramic moonroof and automatic climate control. That aside, the materials are soft to the touch, the honeycomb accenting trim is smart-looking and the layout is entirely logical.

The B250 loses none of its versatility. To begin, there is enough space for five adults to ride in comfort. The cargo capacity also rates a useful 485 litres with the seats upright and 1,550 litres with them folded flat, which is a simple operation. What’s missing is some of the clever thinking found in the European model. There, the rear seats slide back and forth by 140 millimetres. This increases the rear rider’s legroom or maxes out the seats-up cargo capacity at 665 litres. Ditto the ability to set the trunk floor in two positions — the raised position flattens the floor when the seats are folded (there was a 30-mm or so lip in the test car), while the lowered position increased the height of the cargo bay.

The previous B-Class was a solid offering, albeit a rather lethargic performer, especially in base form. The up-level Turbo did crank up the drive, but it, too, fell short of being described as pulse-quickening. The 2013 edition does have the wherewithal to deliver that missing ingredient. It has the right power, but, more importantly, Mercedes’ sophisticated dual-clutch transmission. This combination, along with the sporty suspension and refined steering feel, adds a great deal of dynamism. The best part is it accomplishes this without giving up on its reputation for practicality notwithstanding my comments on the missing European features.

— Postmedia News

THE SPECS

TYPE OF VEHICLE: Front-wheel-drive compact crossover

ENGINE: Turbocharged 2.0L in-line four-cylinder

POWER: 208 hp at 5,500 r.p.m., 258 lb.-ft. of torque, seven-speed manumatic

BRAKES: Four-wheel disc with ABS

TIRES: P225/45R17

TRANSPORT CANADA FUEL ECONOMY (L/100 km): 7.9 city, 5.5 hwy.

BASE PRICE/AS TESTED: $29,900/$36,730