Review Mercedes-Benz B-Class mini MPV

"The new B-Class will be much sportier than its predecessor with loads of cabin space." The new B-Class is a compact MPV, positioned as a premium rival to the Ford C-MAX and Volkswagen Golf Plus. It's built around an all-new front-wheel drive platform that will be used for the new A-Class and three other brand new models. The interior layout is versatile and spacious, as well as maintaining Mercedes’ reputation for high-quality. There's a choice of two diesel and two petrol engines – all featuring start-stop and impressive fuel economy – plus a new seven-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox available to order across the range. Drive3.8 /5 Clever automatic gearbox is excellent A new electric power steering system means the wheel is extremely light to turn and easy to use in town, but lacks a little feel on faster country roads - there's very little body roll when you turn into a bend though. The new 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine can be ordered with 120bhp in the B180 and 154bhp in the B200, and it's smooth and fast if you keep the revs high, but it's the diesel engine that suit this family car better. The new 1.8-litre diesel engine is available with either 107bhp in the B180 CDI or 134bhp in the B200 CDI, and both provide plenty of performance and instant throttle response. They are noisier than the petrol engines of course, but good cabin insulation means it's never intrusive on long trips. The twin-clutch automatic gearbox is a £1,450 option, but worth every penny. It's smooth in auto mode and swaps gears in the blink of an eye when you use the wheel-mounted paddles. Comfort4.4 /5 Sport models have a firmer ride Rear passengers are spoilt for space – there's more legroom than in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. All the seats are comfortable, while the satellite navigation and other main functions are easily controlled through a rotating dial and the Apple- iPad-style central screen. Wind and road noise is well suppressed when you’re cruising on the motorway and the suspension soaks up small bumps and larger undulations well, unless you order the Sport model that is. Because if its 18-inch wheels (SE models get 16-inch wheels as standard) and lowered suspension, the car tends to jiggle around on uneven surfaces. Reliability4.0 /5 Very high build quality Mercedes has an excellent reputation for reliability. Although the B-Class is too new for there to be any reported problems, any large-scale mechanical failures are unlikely. Although the petrol and diesel engines, and the automatic gearbox are brand new, they are derived from existing, proven technology. For example the 1.8-litre diesel engine is a modified version of the 2.1-litre diesel engine that's already used in the C-Class and E-Class. Practicality4.7 /5 More space and more versatility Order the £600 Easy Vario Package and the interior is extremely versatile. The rear bench, which is split into two sections, slides forwards and backwards by 140mm, increasing the boot space from 486-litres to 666-litres. The rear seats fold forwards and a variable-height boot can be lifted up to create a flat loading area. The front passenger seat also folds forwards, freeing up even more space for bulky items. Despite the new B-Class being almost 50mm lower than its predecessor, passenger headroom has been increased by mounting the seats lower. Value for money3.7 /5 Mercedes-Benz badge carries a premium Prices start at £21,290, which is over £4,000 more expensive than the cheapest Ford C-MAX, but of course the standard equipment list is generous. All models get 16-inch wheels, air conditioning and an automatic parking function as standard, while satellite navigation, a panoramic sunroof and leather seats are among the optional extras. Prices have risen slightly compared to the last-generation model, but the value of the extra features more than cancels that out. Running costs4.2 /5 Diesels are very fuel efficient The most economical model is the 107bhp B180 CDI, which has fuel economy of 64.0mpg and CO2 emissions of 115g/km making it free from road tax in the first year and £30 thereafter. Even the most powerful petrol model, the 154bhp B200, returns 45.6mpg and emits just 144g/km of CO2 thanks to a combination of turbocharging, direct injection and stop-start. As with all premium models though, expect to pay above average for parts and servicing.