Mercedes-Benz B200 2008 Review

Mercedes-Benz B 200

What we liked
>> Smooth engine with CVT option
>> Nicer steering than A-Class's
>> Novel sunroof

Not so much
>> Headroom with optional sunroof
>> Fuel consumption slightly worse than expected
>> Expense, versus the opposition

Overall rating: 2.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 2.5/5.0
Safety: 4.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 2.5/5.0
X-factor: 2.5/5.0

About our ratings

OVERVIEW
Think of the B-Class as the frontal styling of the current C-Class grafted on a stretched version of Benz's A-Class and you're starting to get the picture. In context then, it's a car that sits halfway between the significantly larger C-Class and the much smaller A-Class, but virtually provides C-Class levels of passenger accommodation, thanks to the clever MPV-style packaging.

For 2009, Benz has upgraded B with a slightly better specification and equally slight cosmetic changes. In fact, there's more happening beneath the mildly-revised exterior, with additional equipment items fitted as standard or optionally.

New standard features for the B-Class range comprise Headlamp Assist, stability control (ESP) with hill-start assist, interactive system for external music sources (USB/iPod/MP3) and manual reach adjustment for the steering column. The new optional features for the range are Surround-sound audio and the Comand APS information and entertainment system.

Cosmetic changes for the exterior are limited to redesigned bonnet, grille and bumpers, with the addition of C-Class-style mirrors. Door handles are now body-coloured and Benz has devised new alloy wheel designs for B-Class models. Inside the car, there are new interior trim fabrics and the decorative trim is a 'diagonally-brushed aluminium'.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
B-Class pricing commences from $46,200 for the entry-level models -- B 180 CDI and B 200 -- or $52,800 for the B 200 Turbo.

All models are fitted with the following standard features: Six-disc CD audio system with media interface and Bluetooth, cruise control/speed limiter, front and rear cupholders, 60/40 split-fold rear seat, multi-function steering wheel, front and rear electric windows, reach-and-rake-adjustable steering column, climate control, front and rear fog lights, auto-on/off headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 16-inch alloy wheels and a suite of safety items (see SAFETY below).

Both B 180 CDI and B 200 are effectively equipped to the same level (notwithstanding the six-speed manual transmission as standard for the diesel and the five-speed unit for the petrol model). The B 200 Turbo sits above the other two variants with the following standard features: 17-inch alloy wheels, Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), dual chromed exhaust pipes, Active Parking Assistance and an additional 12-Volt power outlet in the rear.

The CVT, 'Parktronic' and power outlet are packaged as an option for the B 180 CDI and B 200 entitled 'Metro Package'.

MECHANICAL
The B 200 we drove featured the optional CVT, but the car can be specified as standard with a five-speed manual transmission.  For the diesel B 180 CDI, the standard transmission is a six-speed manual, but this variant is also available with the CVT as an option. The CVT is the default transmission for the B 200 Turbo.

Engines powering the B-Class are the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel of the B 180 CDI, the 2.0-litre petrol four of the B 200 and the forced induction version of that engine for the B 200 Turbo. Peak power for the B 180 CDI is 80kW at 4200rpm and peak torque is 250Nm occurring between 1600 and 2600rpm. Fuel consumption in ADR 81/01 combined-cycle testing is 5.8L/100km and CO2 emissions amount to 151g/km.

For the B 200, the SOHC engine produces 100kW of power at 5500rpm and 185Nm of torque between 3500 and 4000rpm. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures for this engine are 7.4L/100km and 177g/km respectively.

With its turbocharger, the B 200 Turbo's engine makes 142kW of power at 5000rpm and 280Nm of torque between 1800 and 4850rpm. According to ADR 81/01 figures, the B 200 Turbo completes the combined-cycle test using 8.1L/100km of fuel and emitting 193g/km of CO2.

Drive from the transmission is relayed to the front wheels, which are suspended by MacPherson struts. At the rear of the B-Class, the suspension is of the torsion-beam type. Brakes comprise ventilated front discs and rear solid discs.

PACKAGING
As mentioned in the OVERVIEW section above, the B-Class is noticeably shorter than the current C-Class sedan, but feels as commodious inside. At 4270mm, the B-Class is over 300mm shorter than the C-Class, yet there's no sacrifice of luggage capacity or legroom in the former.

With the rear seats in position, the B-Class boasts 544 litres of luggage capacity, which is better than the norm for large rear-wheel-drive Aussie sedans. Lowering the seats, the luggage capacity expands to 1995 litres.

Packaging is thus definitely the B-Class Benz's strong suit, although we did feel the headroom suffered as a consequence of the interesting louvred sunroof that comes with the Touring Pack option for all models.

Compared with its smaller sibling, the B-Class offers heaps of legroom, but the A-Class's headroom is remarkably good for its overall size. Abovementioned sunroof notwithstanding we suspect the B-Class might still be at a disadvantage against the A-Class in this regard.

To the B 200's credit, the driving position was a little more comfortable than was the case with the A 180.

If the B-Class is less than completely accomplished, it's in respect of the turning circle -- a relatively large 11.95 metres. That's over half a metre more than the considerably larger Ford Territory!

SAFETY
Rated five stars for crash safety by Euro NCAP, the B-Class boasts an extensive array of passive and active safety features. The inclusion of standard adaptive brake lights and emergency crash lighting for the upgraded model are the principal changes in this area, but the B-Class already came with dual-stage front airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners for front and outboard rear seats, front seatbelt force limiters, active head restraints and side-impact airbags for protection of head and thorax in both front and rear seats.

ABS, traction control, Brake Assist and stability control are existing features that enhance the B-Class Benz's ability to stay out of trouble. In addition to these and the passive safety features, the B-Class is equipped with electro-chromatic (auto-dipping) rear-view mirrors for the interior and the driver's side, as well as a tyre-pressure loss warning system. All these features are standard for all B-Class variants.

COMPETITORS
It's a sign of the popularity of cars like the B-Class on its home turf in Europe that -- with the exception of Kia -- only European marques persist with marketing such cars in Australia. Where once there was -- don't laugh -- the Daewoo Tacuma and the Mazda Premacy, now there are just the Kia Rondo, Peugeot 308 Touring, Renault Scenic and Skoda Roomster to combat the B-Class.

Being a Mercedes, the B-Class is the most expensive model. Is the extra expense worth the money? All three of the Euros provide similar levels of safety to the B-Class and the Kia can be purchased for 60 per cent of the price of the Mercedes, yet offers more luggage capacity and standard seven-seat accommodation.

ON THE ROAD
Having driven a manual A 180 CDI diesel, we opted for a B 200 with the Continuously Variable Transmission, rather than the same (diesel) drivetrain.

This has already been covered in the PACKAGING section above, but it's immediately apparent that the B 200 offers driving dynamics similar to those of the A-Class, but the larger car is a more appropriate choice for carrying four average-sized adults in reasonable comfort.

The B 200's naturally-aspirated engine was extremely quiet and smooth, particularly with the CVT, but we used about 9.0L/100km with this engine, versus about 6.5L/100km for the A 180. That figure for the petrol B resulted from mostly open-road touring with a bit of flogging up and down-dale. The upside is that the engine felt reasonably spritely, even driving through the CVT -- and with up to four people onboard.

The optional Parking Assist feature proved itself adequate in both cars; but in one sense, we question the point of it. It's not a full-blown parking system as in the Lexus LS600hL -- in which the car takes care of braking and throttle as well as steering -- and the small Mercs might be easy enough to reverse park if fitted with a reversing camera and park sensor system anyway.

Parking Assist uses ultrasonics to find a slot between two parked cars and offers the driver the option of parking there, provided the parking spot is no less than 1.3 metres longer than the overall length of the Mercedes.

Once reverse gear is selected, the driver need only feather the brakes and the Mercedes will steer itself into the parking spot, with the driver monitoring the proximity to the parked car behind -- through the acoustic tones from the reverse-parking guidance system. The driver then selects Drive and the car, as it moves forward, turns the steering wheel anti-clockwise to straighten up the vehicle. A single tone indicates to the driver that Parking Assist has completed its task.

Parking Assist is feasible because of the electrically-assisted steering, which is weighted more heavily in the B 200 than in the A 180 and, frankly, feels better in the larger car.

In some other respects too, the B-Class has the edge over the A-Class. Although the smaller car is cheaper and, arguably, easier to drive, the B-Class is not much more expensive and is a car that the family will not outgrow. And you can specify the handy diesel engine and CVT for either car.

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