Mercedes-Benz Malaysia today expanded its SUV lineup with the introduction of the all-new GLB Class, giving those who are looking for something between the GLA and the GLC with a sensible option.
The model will be offered in three variants with prices as mentioned below (on the road without insurance):
- GLB 200 Progressive Line – RM269,118
- GLB 250 AMG Line 4MATIC – RM318,009
- Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 – RM363,136
Featuring a boxier design compared to the GLA and the GLC, the GLB, which sits between the aforementioned models, comes with an upright front section with full LED headlamps with DRLs, short overhangs at the front and rear, a front apron with visual skid plate, and distinctive air intakes in the front apron that are tailored to the contours of the radiator grille.
While the GLB 200 comes with 18-inch wheels, the GLB 250 comes with 19-inch AMG wheels, sportier looking bumpers, as well as the diamond radiator grille with single louvre.
The AMG GLB 35 on the other hand, comes with 20-inch wheels, AMG suspension, AMG brakes, as well as very rugged looking bumpers in the front and rear.
Inside, the GLB 200 and GLB 250 are offered with seven seats as standard, while the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 comes in a five-seater layout.
The backrest angle is adjustable in several stages as standard. The second row can be moved fore and aft. This enables the boot to be enlarged by up to 190 litres and put to versatile use.
The GLB is the first compact SUV from Mercedes-Benz to offer a third seat row on request with two additional individual seats. The seats offer people up to a height of 1.68 metres a comfortable amount of space.
Safety equipment includes extendible head restraints, seat belts with belt tensioners and belt force limiters on all outer seats, a side window airbag which also protects the passengers in the third row of seats plus ISOFIX and TOP-Tether anchorages for child seats. These can be used to fasten up to four child seats in rows two and three.
Comfort details in the third row include two drinks holders between the seats as well as two stowage compartments with rubberised insert on the left and right in the load compartment trim, each housing a USB port. The seats can be lowered so that they are flush with the load compartment floor in order to extend it.
The instrument panel consists of a single solid unit, which has a cut-out in the driver and front passenger area. The driver faces a Widescreen Cockpit, with control and display via Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX).
A new feature is the off-road-like aluminium-look tubular element in the dashboard on the front passenger side. Below the round air vents, next to it are the air conditioning controls. The buttons of the air conditioning controls create the impression of having been milled out of an aluminium cylinder.
While the GLB 200 comes with full leather upholstery, the GLB 250 which comes in AMG Line package, features some chrome bits, as well as an AMG Line Nappa steering wheel, and sports seats among other AMG goodies, making it a bit more visually appealing than the GLB 200.
The GLB 35 AMG on the other hand, has even more AMG bits like red seatbelts, leather and Alcantara combination upholstery all around, AMG steering wheel, a generous dose of carbon fibre trim, and Burmester premium audio system.
Taking care of infotainment is the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) system which features two 7-inch displays for the instrument cluster and media display with touchscreen, sports steering wheel with Touch Control buttons on the left and right, USB port (Type C), Bluetooth connection, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, as well as the latest generation of the Mercedes me connect.
The new GLB is further enhanced with Active Braking Assist, and Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC, which means that the vehicle can park itself.
Under the hood, the GLB 200 comes with a 1.3-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and a 7G-DCT 7-speed automatic transmission that develop 163 hp and a maximum torque of 250 Nm, allowing the vehicle to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 9.1 seconds.
And then we have the GLB 250 4MATIC AMG Line which is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and the 8G-DCT 8-speed automatic transmission producing 224 hp and 350 Nm of torque, accelerating the car from 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds.
The Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 AMG Line is also equipped with the permanent all-wheel system, 4MATIC with fully variable torque distribution.
Last but not the least the AMG GLB 35 is powered by the same powerplant as the A35, which comprises a turbocharged AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine which develops 306 hp and 400 Nm of torque.
Combined with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 8G-DCT 8-speed automatic transmission and variable AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, it is capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in just 5.2 seconds.
Keyword: All-New Mercedes-Benz GLB Launched in Malaysia – 3 Variants, 7 Seats, From RM269k