Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2005

What we liked
>> Turbo engine's performance
>> Interior space
>> Safety features

Not so much
>> Steering feel
>> Standard engine/CVT combo
>> Pricey options

OVERVIEW
Mercedes-Benz calls its B-Class a "novel concept" Compact Sports Tourer. The sports tourer bit comes from the forthcoming premium-priced ($100,000-ish) R-Class that Mercedes-Benz has already dubbed a "Grand Sports Tourer".

While the B-Class has nothing to do with the R-Class mechanically (as it's based on the small-car A-Class platform extended and re-engineered -- the R-Class is based on the large 4WD M-Class), there's a common thread between the two. Both are new breed 'crossovers', or recreational/touring vehicles designed for those who want a roomy vehicle for their family, or their sporting, outdoor lifestyle... Think of it essentially as a blending of SUV, wagon and people mover/van.

Mercedes calls this "a young market segment with a promising future" and claims that the B-Class has already generated a good deal of interest at events like the recent Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

FEATURES
The B-Class comes in two basic models, the $44,900 B 200 and the $48,900 B 200 Turbo.

Standard equipment on both includes manual-adjust cloth seats, rain-sensing wipers, heated external mirrors, 16-inch alloys (with a full-size spare – hooray!), front and rear fog-lights, a ski port, single-CD/AM/FM sound, and all the usual kit like remote central-locking, cruise control and electric windows.

You can then opt for the Luxury Package (leather etc; $3250 to $4786 ), Sports Package (17-inch alloys etc; $1350 to $2455) or Touring Package (sunroof/phone integration etc; $3900 to $4786), and/or select from a near-bewildering range of other options, some of which also appear in the various add-on packages.

Start ticking lots of options boxes for a B 200 Turbo (like $3068 for an automatic (CVT) transmission, $3620 for bi-xenons, $6382 for sat-nav etc), and you'll be soon past the $70,000 mark, and climbing.

COMFORT
Mercedes' so-called 'sandwich' concept from the A-Class means there's good interior space thanks to the fact that the forward-inclined engine/transmission unit sits behind the front axle, and partly below the cabin, shortening the car's nose and lengthening the cabin.

By way of comparison to a more conventional car, the B-Class is only 66mm longer and 20mm wider than the current VW Golf but has a 200mm longer wheelbase and a 119mm higher roofline.

You sit upright in the B-Class on firm, but comfortable seats while the steering wheel can be adjusted for height and reach. If the standard, manual-adjust seats don't appeal to your derrière you can opt for electric adjustment for the standard seats, or the 'Sports' seats, or the seat 'Comfort' package (extra adjustments) or the... Get the drift?

Back seat passengers enjoy plenty of legroom (as much as an old S-Class, claims Benz!) and the back seat folds completely flat to create a very useable load space. The rear seat also can be easily removed for extra load space and you can also opt for a removable front passenger seat for even more luggage/gear carrying capacity.

And if there are kids in the family there are even optional integrated child seats for the rear bench.

SAFETY
If you're looking for justification of the B-Class's pricetag, you'll find it here. Cabin safety kit standard on both models includes two-stage front airbags, front side airbags and full window airbags. Rear side airbags are optional. The driver and front passenger seat belts have emergency pre-tensioners and force limiters, the outer rear belts have pre-tensioners while there's also a front seat belt reminder warning.

Chassis safety kit includes four-wheel discs with ABS and brake-assist, electronic traction and stability control, and a tyre-pressure loss warning system.

Significantly, this latest-generation stability control system (ESP) from Benz includes a 'Steer Control' function which provides the "appropriate" assistance to help the driver steer the vehicle in critical handling situations.

In a severe accident the low-placed and inclined engine/transmission unit is also designed to slide under rather than into the passenger cell.

MECHANICAL
The B 200 is powered by the same 100kW/185Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine as you'll find in the A-Class. Unusually, this engine is a single-cam, eight-valve design, all of which sounds a little low-tech until you factor in things like sodium-cooled exhaust valves and variable-length intakes.

The B 200 Turbo gets the same basic engine but the addition of the turbocharger and intercooler ups the output to 142kW/280Nm. This engine is now also available in the A-Class.

Sometime next year Mercedes-Benz Australia plans to introduce a turbo-diesel to the B-Class but at the time of writing hasn't confirmed whether this will be the 1.8- or the 2.0-litre unit, both of which are available in Europe.

As standard, the B 200 gets a five-speed manual 'box, the B 200 Turbo a six-speed manual. The optional (on both models) continuously variable transmission (CVT, or Autotronic in Benz-speak) has seven pre-set 'manual ratios' that can be selected via the usual Benz trick of nudging the shifter sideways.

Also noteworthy are the adaptive dampers that automatically adjust to the driving situation. For smooth, straight-line running they configure themselves for a comfortable ride; crank the B-Class into a corner hard or hit some rough roads and they firm up for better control.

COMPETITORS
Obviously, Mercedes would like the B-Class to take buyers away from arch-rival BMW's 1 Series, but in reality you could say that the B-Class will come up against a whole raft of up-market hatches, wagons and even people-movers.

You could even see it as a rival to SUVs like the Ford Territory and various smaller and mid-size 4WDs that are bought not to go off-road but for their interior space and load-carrying ability.

This is a car that could appeal to a diverse group of buyers. Badge will count for much, but it's far from cheap transport. A lifestyle choice, perhaps?

ON THE ROAD
We drove both the standard B 200 and the B 200 Turbo at launch, both equipped with the optional CVT.

The turbo engine/CVT combo made short, even enjoyable work of the test route's demanding (hilly) roads, but the standard engine felt like it would be better served with a conventional manual 'box, as the CVT always seemed to be working hard to get the most from the engine. Even using the CVT in the 'manual' mode didn't help a great deal.

CVTs are somewhat of an acquired taste. While they are extremely efficient and smooth, they rarely sound right -- more like a manual with a slipping clutch.

On less demanding roads, the standard engine seemed happy with the CVT and no doubt many drivers (but not many enthusiasts) would be happy with this combination.

To get an idea of the performance difference between the two engines, Benz claims the manual B 200 Turbo will sprint to 100km/h in a very handy 7.6sec and run out to a max of 225km/h. In contrast, a standard B 200 takes 10.1sec to reach 100km/h and tops out at 196km/h.

In terms of fuel economy, Benz claims a reasonable combined figure of 7.2-7.5lt/100km for the naturally aspirated engine. The turbo quotes 7.9-8.2lt/100km. Just how close these figures are to real world marks will surface once full road tests are conducted.

The launch drive route was both demanding and mostly wet, which put a limit on chassis 'testing'. Even so, there's much of the A-Class in the way the B-Class steers and handles, all of which is mainly good news. The electro-mechanical steering could be meatier in its feel but it's still reassuring enough, as is the general handling and roadholding. The B-Class even coped with bumpy roads -- including one section of gravel -- surprisingly well; as it should, given its sports-touring moniker. Nice calibration of the ESP as well.

If the A-Class hasn't been a hit in Australia because it is too small for local tastes, the considerably more roomy and comfortable B-Class may just be the ticket that Aussies need to sample the Mercedes-Benz experience.

Certainly this newest Merc has badge cred on its side and, given the refinement and safety equipment, the starting price isn't too bad. Just make sure you don't tick too many option boxes for all that stuff you may like, but not necessarily need...