Cheaper than AA or we’ll beat by 20%^
• Roadside cover from £5.49 a month*
• We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
• Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class is more of a tall hatchback than a proper MPV, but it’s still worth considering as a roomy used purchase. Lawrence Allan takes a look.
Things you'll like
- Great to drive yet comfortable
- Strong performance and efficiency
- Classy, driver-focused interior
Things to consider
- Some key kit is still optional
- A few rivals still beat it for EV range
- Saloon boot is on the small side
History: What is the 2012-2018 Mercedes-Benz B-Class?
You can think of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class as an A-Class with a loft extension and an extra bedroom. It’s effectively the same car underneath, but stretched upwards and lengthways to add family-friendly appeal.
The idea of a tall-roofed premium hatchback might seem a bit niche in an era when almost everything is SUV shaped, but wind the clock back a couple of decades and ‘mini-MPVs’ were all the rage. The first-generation B-Class of 2005 came when cars such as the Renault Scenic and Ford C-Max were still selling well, and the Nissan Qashqai was yet to arrive to burst the bubble.
Mercedes-Benz – at the time beginning its huge, niche-filling model expansion – saw an opportunity to cash in on the mini-MPV market in a simple way. Using the A-Class as its base (already a high-roofed hatch) the B-Class was significantly longer, slightly wider and taller, with more practicality features to boot.
While this original model wasn’t exactly a roaring success, Mercedes-Benz was undeterred, launching this second-generation model right at the end of 2011. While looking very similar from the outside it was completely new from the ground up, and had enough of an impact to drive fierce rival BMW into the sector in 2014.
As a used model, this 2012-on Mercedes-Benz B-Class will appeal to those who are drawn to the A-Class but need a bit more space and aren’t sold on small SUVs. But is it a wise used buy? Our in-depth review finds out.
Verdict: is the Mercedes-Benz B-Class a good car?
If you’re looking for something roomier than a typical hatchback but don’t want the dowdy image associated with MPVs, the B-Class is well worth a look on the used market. It’s spacious, easy to drive, stylish and has a premium cabin, but rival MPVs are more comfortable and have cleverer practicality touches.
Specs and used pricing
The B-Class trim levels were refreshingly simple in an era when most cars had several. Entry-level SE came well-appointed with 16-inch alloys, a seven-inch infotainment system DAB and Bluetooth, heated mirrors, an electric parking brake, auto lights and wipers and a reversing camera. There’s even an Active Park Assist function to automatically steer the car into a parking space.
Sport variants upgrade the wheel size to 17 or 18 inches and add a larger infotainment screen, climate control, sports suspension, man-made leather upholstery, ambient lighting and LED rear lights.
Sport trim was swapped to AMG-Line with the 2015 facelift, with a more aggressive bodykit and further kit additions including bi-xenon headlights and upgraded upholstery. This being a Mercedes you’ll also find a multitude of option packs to greatly expand on the kit tally regardless of trim.
.jpg)
Prices for the 2012-on Mercedes-Benz B-Class start from around £2,500 for a high-mileage, average condition B180 CDi in SE or Sport spec. We’d recommend spending more like £3,500 to get a lower mileage example that’s been looked after with full service history.
Facelifted 2015 examples kick off from around £4,500, rising to £6,000 for lower mileage examples. Last of the line 2017 or 2018 models tend to be around the £7,500 mark depending on mileage. The exceedingly rare B-Class Electric Drive starts from around £5,500, rising to £9,000 for low-mileage, last of the line examples.
You’ll find diesels outnumbering petrols by almost four-to-one in the classifieds. If you do go for the former, it’s worth noting that no pre-facelift B-Class diesel is Euro 6 compliant, meaning you’ll pay to enter the London ULEZ and other Clean Air Zones across the UK.
Automatics also vastly outnumber manuals in the classifieds, despite being optional on many B-Class variants when new.
Rivals
Although direct rivals for the B-Class today are few and far between, back when this car launched there were several small MPV alternatives to choose from. The main B-Class rival was (and still is) the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer.
On the used market there’s also a number of other models to choose from, such as the classy Volkswagen Golf SV, the spacious Renault Scenic, Citroen C4 Picasso and Kia Carens, and the affordable Citroen Berlingo. Many of these don’t have the badge appeal of the Mercedes but make up for it in value, practicality and equipment.
Interior and practicality
Step inside the B-Class and, bar the obvious headroom advantages, the interior design and feel is all but identical to the A-Class of the era.
That’s mostly a good thing, because you get a much higher level of design and quality finish than your typical mini-MPV of the 2010s, including nice metallic details, soft-touch materials and those neat air vents.
Higher spec models with ‘proper’ leather upholstery, rather than the standard man-made stuff, also feel rather plush. However, just like the A-Class these cabins can have issues as time goes on, particularly with rattles and creaks, and with such a family-oriented car you might find the odd scuff and scrape.
The B-Class is quite button-heavy by modern standards, but the layout is intuitive and easy to use on the move. The infotainment screen, with its rotary dial controller between the front seats, has dated fairly well, even if the 5.8-inch standard display looks a bit bleak mounted proud of the dash. The optional seven-inch display is worth seeking out on a used example.
The driving position is a touch higher than in an A-Class, but still well short of giving the commanding view out of most SUVs. Visibility is okay overall, though, with tall side windows making up for thick rear pillars, and a less claustrophobic feel for tall drivers than the A-Class.
.jpg)
Passenger space, storage and boot space
Key to the Mercedes-Benz B-Class’s appeal is the huge increase in cabin space it offers over an A-Class. Headroom is the obvious gain (even adults wearing top hats would have room to spare) but legroom is also considerably improved, both front and rear.
It all means that four six-footers can easily get comfortable. But only four, because sadly the middle rear seat is narrow and not very comfortable, combining with a bulky central tunnel to spoil legroom for anyone unlucky enough to be there longer than for a quick lift up the road.
It’s well worth seeking out an example fitted with the optional Easy Vario Plus system, spotted by the inclusion of a fold-down rear armrest with cupholders. It means the rear seats can slide and recline to juggle boot space and passenger room, while the front passenger seat also folds down for longer loads. You also get a through-loading slot into the boot.
That’s all well and good if you can find one, but mini-MPV rivals like the Citroen C4 Picasso get this sort of thing as standard, and the Citroen also comes with three individual rear seats. Cabin storage is by no means outstanding in the B-Class, either, but you do get decent door pockets, a smattering of cupholders and a large glovebox.
What is a used Mercedes-Benz B-Class like to drive?
By the (relatively low) handling standards of mini-MPVs the B-Class is mostly good to drive, with accurate and direct steering, plenty of grip and low levels of body lean. You’re not going to be grinning from ear-to-ear on a twisty road, but it’s capable enough.
That said, a BMW 2 Series Active Tourer steers and handles better still. The B-Class does offer slightly better ride comfort when specified correctly, but only just, while opting for a Sport model with larger wheels introduces a harsher, more unsettled ride that spoils the premium ambience.
Best stick to more comfort-oriented SE for a more Mercedes-like driving experience, though something like a Citroen C4 Picasso is far more comfortable overall.
Engines
This era of B-Class featured a run-of-the-mill engine range by Mercedes-Benz standards. It mostly mirrored the A-Class, but without the higher-powered petrol units offered in that car. All were offered with either a six-speed manual or Merc’s ‘7G-Tronic’ seven-speed automatic.
At launch the car was offered with two petrols and two diesels – all turbocharged four-cylinders with ‘BlueEfficiency’ tech aimed at boosting fuel economy. The lowest powered B180 petrol made 122hp from it’s 1.6-litre unit, with the B200 boosting the same engine to 156hp.
In the UK the base diesel was the B180 CDI, with a modest 109hp from a 1.5-litre unit in manual form. Unusually, this engine grew to 1.8 litres in automatic form, but the power and torque figures are effectively the same.
Other diesels included a 136hp 2.0-litre in the B200 CDI, and a muscular range-topping 170hp B220 CDI. While the effortless torque of these higher-powered diesels make the B-Class a swift performer, the B180d doesn’t feel underpowered in regular driving. The diesels are quite rattly and grumbly even by the standards of the day, though, so although the petrols aren’t as gutsy they’re noticeably smoother around town.
An extremely rare but interesting option is the B-Class Electric Drive, which as the name suggests is a pure electric car. It’s actually Mercedes-Benz’s first-ever volume production EV, but despite a punchy 178bhp electric motor that could make the front tyres struggle for grip in Sport mode, its high price and modest 142-mile official range from a 28kWh battery made it a slow seller.
.jpg)
Ownership, running costs and reliability
Like many cars of this era, official fuel economy figures made the diesels a bit of a no-brainer – on paper at least. Bear in mind these figures are on the older, less realistic NEDC test cycle rather than the newer WLTP regime.
B180 and B200 petrol models manage between 42 and 49mpg depending on the spec (models with larger wheels faired worse in official tests) while the diesels are more like 65-70mpg, with the B180d and B200d being similarly efficient in SE trim.
4MATIC all-wheel drive models are best avoided, not least because they bring a fuel economy hit of around 20 per cent. They also bring further mechanical complexity, and to be honest contribute nothing a decent set of winter tyres wouldn’t in adverse weather.
The diesels' lower CO2 emissions make them cheaper to tax, too, but bear in mind that they tend to be more expensive to service. All B-Classes should be serviced every twelve months regardless of mileage at this age, with major services costing more than minor ones. Servicing generally isn’t cheap on these models compared to mainstream alternatives.
Brake fluid needs replacing every two years, while automatic gearboxes need servicing every four years, which can cost in excess of £450. At least all engines are chain driven, meaning no expensive cambelt changes – although avoid models with incomplete or extended mileage service history as poor oil quality can shorten the life of the chain.
Obviously, the rare B-Class Electric Drive does away with much of this mechanical complexity and could potentially be much cheaper to run – particularly if you can charge it at home. The exclusivity means finding parts could be problematic, however.
In terms of reliability this generation of B-Class is generally considered dependable if looked after correctly, but that doesn’t mean without issue. The 7G-tronic gearboxes can reportedly be troublesome with age, although 2015-on models are supposedly better in this regard.
Electrical gremlins aren’t unheard of, with reports suggesting infotainment systems can fail and ECUs can occasionally throw up issues, while some owners report water leaks so check for wet carpets or boot floors. Consumables like brake pads and discs, along with batteries, can be more expensive than mainstream rivals too.
Regarding engines, the petrols are generally considered reliable when looked after, while the diesels are known to rack up big mileage without serious issues if servicing is kept on top of. Report suggests water pumps can fail, though, while various sensors can throw up warning lights and need replacing.
Euro NCAP: is a used Mercedes-Benz B-Class a safe car?
The B-Class was tested for crash safety by Euro NCAP before it hit the roads in 2011, achieving the maximum five-star rating. This rating validity expired in 2018 when the testing regime was updated.
An impressive 97% adult occupant protection rating was well ahead of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer when it was tested in 2014, but both cars have a similar child protection rating – beaten by the Citroen C4 Picasso. The B-Class also scored well for safety assists, but relatively poorly for pedestrian protection – less of a priority in tests of the time.
All B-Class models feature Collision Prevention Assist – an early but effective form of autonomous emergency braking. That’s alongside seven airbags, stability control, traction control and rear ISOFIX child seat mounts. A lane keep assist system – rare at the time - was optional.
Mercedes-Benz B-Class FAQs
Is the Mercedes B-Class a good car to buy?
We reckon the Mercedes-Benz B-Class is worth considering if you’re looking for a hatchback that’s roomier and easier to get in and out of. It’s efficient and has a premium interior, but there are more comfortable, practical and better to drive alternatives out there.
Is a Mercedes B-Class fuel efficient?
The B-Class has good fuel efficiency, particularly in diesel form where the most efficient versions are capable of up to 70mpg.
What is the point of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class?
The B-Class is designed to offer a more spacious, flexible alternative to the smaller A-Class while being similar overall. It’s great for those with child seats or those looking for easier access in and out of the car.
