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The B-Class may look like an MPV, but it doesn’t have the clever touches you'll find on cars like Honda’s FR-V or the seven-seat flexibility of the Vauxhall Zafira. However, it does offer enough space for five adults to travel in style and comfort without having to rub shoulders in the back. The boot is big enough to carry all their luggage, and bigger still once the rear seats are folded.
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The B-Class feels smart and well constructed, and unlike on many rivals, its all-round visibility is good. The only problem is it’s hard to tell where the front ends, so parking can be tricky.
Around town, the ride is firm and even on the motorway the car never feels truly settled or comfortable. The handling, although safe enough, is certainly not sporting, thanks to remote-feeling steering and less-than-sharp turn-in to corners. However, refinement, especially with the larger engines, is impressive.
Running Costs
The B-Class wasn’t cheap when it was new and, like everything with that Mercedes three-pointed star on, it was predicted to hold its value well. And it has. Despite never proving as popular as models like the C-Class, there are few second-hand bargains around.
At least service costs are reasonable and you should have to pay no more to have the B-Class looked after than you would a Honda Accord or a Volkswagen Passat. However, the service intervals are variable, so keep an eye on the computer to find out when the next one is due. There may be a bill just round the corner.
The B200 Turbo is the most expensive to insure with a group 14 rating and the dearest to fuel, with average fuel economy of 34.9mpg. So, to keep your costs down, track down an entry-level B150, which is in group 7 for insurance and returns a reasonable 42.8mpg. The B180 and B200 CDI diesels are in group 8 and 10, but both return an impressive 50.4mpg.