Mercedes-Benz B-Class (05-11) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 23 February 2011
Mercedes describes the B-Class as a compact sports tourer, but in reality it's as close as you'll get to a conventional people carrier from the German firm. It's slightly shorter in length than a Ford Focus C-MAX but has a similarly tall shape, meaning plenty of room for passengers. Compared to a standard hatchback it's certainly more spacious in the back, but it's a surprise that it is only available with five-seats, when cheaper alternatives like the Volkswagen Touran can transport seven. It handles safely but the steering is a let down and the artificial feel robs the driver of feedback. It's also not cheap to buy new, but strong reliability means it's a dependable choice as a used purchase. In mid-2008 it was facelifted with sharper looks, an improved interior and cleaner engines.
3 out of 5

Other Mercedes-Benz reviews

3 out of 5

Running costs

Although there is a reasonable amount of equipment for the money, the B-Class is priced significantly higher than other cars that do a similar job. It's also not available with seven-seats, limiting it's appeal for larger families. Mercedes-Benz servicing does not come cheaply either, but economy, especially on the diesel models, is good.

* based on most recent data

Estimated fuel cost for 10,000 miles per year

Unleaded

£1,364 - £1,805 *

Diesel

£1,187 - £1,457 *

The estimated fuel cost figure is a guide to how much this model will cost to fuel each year, so you can compare between cars. It's calculated by using the model's average mpg (calculated from both town centre and motorway driving) and the average fuel price. It's based on the following cost-per-litre: petrol 135p and diesel 141p. Prices are updated daily.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

According to on-board computer.

Warranty

Three years/unlimited miles.

Road tax (12 months)

£120.00 - £250.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

3.5 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
    136
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
    197
  • K
  • L
  • M

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

The B-Class performs fairly well on the eco front - and the introduction of BlueEFFICIENCY has improved things further. It's not as green as a BMW, but the majority of engines provide decent economy. However, the best model is actually the B180 CDI which emits 137g/km of CO2 and averages 54mpg.

Find the exact engine and CO2