The Mercedes-Benz B-Class is a subcompact executive car manufactured and marketed by Mercedes-Benz since 2005. Based on the A-Class with larger dimensions, the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) classifies it as a small MPV.

Mercedes-Benz had presented a concept car Vision B Compact Sports Tourer at the 2004 Paris Motor Show. The concept previewed some features that would be available on the production B-Class. The Vision B was based on the layered platform, so that the drivetrain would be placed partly in front of and underneath the passengers.

As of 20 December 2013, delivery of B-Class vehicles reached 1 million sales worldwide since its launch in 2005.

First generation (W245; 2005)

The first-generation B-Class was introduced in Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world in early 2005, and in Canada in late 2005. It was marketed globally except in the United States, where it was unable to price match the vehicle for profit. The B-Class uses front-wheel drive with sandwich floor construction, parabolic rear suspension, and a two-box design one for the drivetrain and another for the shared passenger and luggage compartment. The B-Class maximises its interior volume via its height. Having derived from the smaller A-Class, it retained that car's sandwich floor concept.

All models included passive automobile safety systems including ESP, ABS, traction control, cornering lights, active lighting system, and headlamp assist. In the event of a frontal impact the engine and transmission slide beneath the passenger compartment.

In 2008, it was updated with a start-stop system and a BlueEFFICIENCY option. A new NGT variant was added, which could burn either petrol or natural gas.

In 2011, Mercedes-Benz did a world tour with three of its Mercedes-Benz F-Cell vehicles, one of which was the B-Class. The hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle was driven more than 30,000 kilometres in a circumnavigation of the globe, starting and ending in Stuttgart.

Pre-facelift

Facelift

Engines

The B160 and B180 conform to Euro V emission standards. The rest of the engines conform to Euro IV emission standards. A diesel particulate filter is available as an option for the diesel units (this reduces about 99% of the particle emissions, without the need for additives).

Specifications

Safety

Second generation (W246; 2011)

The W246 was revealed in August 2011, and made its public debut in September 2011 at the 2011 International Motor Show Germany. It was announced that the B-Class would come standard with a 6-speed manual transmission, as well as an optional 7G-Tronic automatic. The start/stop technology was standard on all models.

Mass production of the B-Class started in November 2011 at the Rastatt plant in Germany. Additionally, the B-Class was the first vehicle to use the MFA platform.

Safety features include seven to nine airbags, hill-start assist, driver drowsiness detection, tyre pressure monitoring, Pre-Safe system that will tighten seatbelts, and a system that will automatically close the windows and the sunroof if the systems detect an approaching accident. Other safety systems include anti-lock braking (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and brake assistant (BA).

The B-Class Electric Drive was introduced to the U.S. in December 2013 as an early 2014 model. It is one of the only B-Class models to ever be sold in the U.S. market, as well as being the first Mercedes-Benz vehicle to ever be offered in an electric variant, though it was only available in certain states that required ZEV mandates. It was originally rebadged as the B-Class Electric Drive, but in 2017, it was renamed the B250e.

Although the legacy Mercedes-Benz B250e (B-Class Electric Drive) lacks factory DC fast-charging capabilities. However, an aftermarket plug-and-play retrofit kit called JdeMO, created by Quick Charge Power, enables the vehicle to charge at public CHAdeMO DC fast-charging stations at a peak power rate of roughly 40 kW.

Third generation (W247; 2018)

The third generation B-Class was launched at the Paris Motor Show on 2 October 2018. At launch, the vehicle was claimed to feature the Intelligent Drive semi-automated driving system borrowed from the S-Class.

The design was improved with a much shorter front overhang. The controversial sculpting on the side part of the vehicle was not carried over to the W247 B-Class. Three infotainment system options is available, with entry-level models getting dual seven-inch displays. A seven-inch display with the larger 10.25-inch display is available, with top-tier models getting a pair of the large displays. It is powered by a full MBUX infotainment system, giving B-Class buyers access to its functions through a standard touchscreen. Features such as intelligent voice control, augmented reality, and a head-up display are optional. The all-electric configuration was removed, but a plug-in hybrid option was introduced. The plug-in hybrid comes with a 10.9 kWh battery which optionally supports DC charging and provides a WLTP combined cycle range of 66km.

2022 facelift

In 2022, the B-Class had received a facelift for the 2023 model year. With close resemblance to the W177 update, the B-Class includes minor differences to the headlights with significant changes to the taillights, along with a changed interior, and improved infotainment adding the newest iteration of the Mercedes-Benz MBUX system. It also removed the manual transmission, alongside the A-Class and CLA as part of Mercedes-Benz's plan to retire manual transmissions.

Engines

The hatchback has slightly updated models from pre-facelift and facelift. The AWD models uses Mercedes’ four-wheel drive technology called ‘4Matic’, and with the facelift, petrol models use a 48-volt mild hybrid system.

Pre-facelift models (2018–2022)

Engines (W247)

Electric details

Facelift models (2023–present)

Engines (W247 facelift)

Electric details

Safety

Sales

References

External links

• B-Class - Official Mercedes-Benz International page

• Official Mercedes-Benz Canada B200 marketing page

• Mercedes B-Class Now Sold In Canada

• Mercedes-Benz B-Class Mercedes-Benz B-Class UK Information

Press kit:

• The B-Class: Heralding a new era in the compact class