Mercedes-Benz GLB review 2026: Prices, specs and verdict

What is the Mercedes-Benz GLB?

The GLB is Mercedes-Benz’s segment-busting family SUV, back by popular demand for a second generation. This time, it’s available with both hybrid and electric power.

The GLB always stood outside the usual premium brand SUV hierarchy. It was based on the brand’s smallest SUV (the GLA) but offered seven seats, something which rival cars like the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 didn’t offer. Even most SUVs from the class above still don’t.  

Clearly a relatively compact seven-seater stuck a chord, because the GLB’s popularity sees the new version launch ahead of a new GLA.

Bigger and more advanced than ever, the GLB in electric form also replaces the now defunct EQB, with Mercedes-Benz gradually ditching the EQ sub-brand. But is it a worthy successor? I’ve driven the electric GLB on UK roads to tell you everything you need to know in this in-depth review.

Verdict: is the Mercedes-Benz GLB a good car?

As an overall package the new Mercedes-Benz GLB is greatly improved on the old car, particularly in electric form as we’ve tested it here.

It’s impressively comfortable, quiet and easy to drive, but it’s also very competitive when it comes to range and (in particular) charging speeds. The technology dominance isn’t as daunting as you might expect, either, because most of it is very easy to use.

What’s more, there’s a big improvement in terms of space, with the GLB now more of a genuine seven-seater. Factor in reasonable pricing for a premium brand, and it’s only the divisive interior design that’s a potential drawback.

Pricing, specs & rivals

Prices for the Mercedes-Benz GLB hybrid start from £42,070, at the time of writing, for the GLB 180 Sport. That’s over £3,000 less than the cheapest Land Rover Discovery Sport, although a Peugeot 5008 can be had for under £40,000.

Upgrading to the GLB 200 adds £1,300 to the base price, with the GLB 220 4MATIC at £46,285.

Prices for the Mercedes-Benz GLB electric start at £46,100, at the time of writing, for the GLB 250+ electric in Sport trim. That’s significantly cheaper than the outgoing EQB and bang on the money you’ll need for an entry-level Peugeot e-5008.

Sport trim isn’t as sparse as entry-level Mercedes-Benzes of old, with the full suite of infotainment tech, 18in alloys, all-round parking sensors, a rear-view camera, single-zone climate control, heated front seats, a panoramic glass roof, auto high beam, adaptive cruise control and part faux leather. It doesn’t get the pop-out door handles of higher trims, however.

Sport Executive trim in either the hybrid or electric GLB commands a £1,950 premium, while AMG Line Executive trim adds a further £2,650. This pushes the electric version up to £50,985, meaning it’s stung with the ‘luxury car tax’ additional VED surcharge for five years.

Sport Executive mainly adds a wireless phone charging pad, privacy glass, keyless entry, ambient lighting and 19in alloys. AMG Line Executive further adds various AMG styling details inside and out, sports front seats in part suede and a Nappa leather steering wheel.

AMG Line Premium trim adds £3,050, while also bringing 20in alloys, electrically adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, a powered tailgate and the second passenger screen.

Top-spec AMG Line Premium Plus adds a further £3,100 to AMG Line Premium, throwing in all the goodies including diamond-cut alloys, upgraded LED exterior lighting, a Burmester sound system, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree camera system and a head-up display.

The all-wheel drive GLB 350 4MATIC electric is only available from mid-level AMG Line Executive trim, which is priced from £55,035 and rises to £60,835 in range-topping form.

Rivals

There aren’t many premium brand alternatives that are sized and priced like the Mercedes-Benz GLB but also offer seven seats. Only the Land Rover Discovery Sport meets that criteria, but that has no electric variant. Five-seat GLB rivals include the BMW X1, the Audi Q3 and Q4 e-tron, and the Volvo XC40 and EX40. There’s also the Tesla Model Y and Genesis GV60.

Seven-seat alternatives include the Peugeot 5008 and e-5008, Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. You might also consider the Jaecoo 8 and Omoda 9, though many of these have no electric variant either. Cars like the Hyundai IONIQ 9 are much bigger and more expensive.

Interior comfort, quality & technology

The GLC’s interior is very much an SUV evolution of the new CLA’s, with a near identical design. It’s a divisive cabin, ditching the more ornate design details of old Mercedes-Benz models for a much more minimalist, technology-led approach.

You won’t find wood trim or many traditional luxury elements in here, just a large, flat gloss black dash panel. My test car had no squeaks or rattles and felt well screwed together, and there’s just enough soft-touch materials and cool ambient lighting details to make it seem semi-premium. But you’ll also find harder plastics and more hollow trim elements than we’d expect from the brand.

Still, the fundamentals are right. The driving position is excellent and widely adjustable, with more supportive sporty seats in higher trims. You also get a good view out thanks to the GLB’s boxy shape, with thin pillars and deep windows.

A familiar complaint remains, though: we’d like more physical buttons to control key functions, like the climate control or seat lumbar adjustment. Having two window switches instead of four (with a front to rear toggle) also seems like needless cost cutting on a car such as this.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

Every GLB features a 14in landscape central touchscreen, combined with a 10.25in driver’s display.

These screens are a dominant feature in the car’s cabin, so they need to work well, and for the most part they do. The graphics are slick and smart, the software is responsive and the icons and menus are easy to use and logical.

There’s built in Google Maps, too, along with the usual wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The infotainment system also has a ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing-power voice assistant that works well. There’s even a facial recognition camera that recognises who’s driving and adjusts the car’s profile to suit. You can also use it to make Zoom calls and take selfies, if you so wish.

AMG Line Premium models upgrade to the brand’s ‘MBUX Superscreen’ system, which adds a second 14in touchscreen in front of the passenger side of the dash. It will let them watch videos, play games and access key functions on the move, but a big drawback is that the driver can still see the screen while you’re moving. If they glance at it for a long period the screen will turn off, but we’d prefer if the screen was polarised like in Audis and Porsches.

The digital dials are clear, configurable and give plenty of information. AMG Line Premium Plus further adds a head-up display which works well.

All except the entry-level CLA get a wireless phone charging pad, while there are four 100-watt USB-C ports split between the front and rear of the cabin.

As for audio, we’ve yet to sample the standard eight-speaker sound system, but the Burmester 3D upgrade with its 16 speakers, 850 watts and Dolby Atmos tech is certainly impressive.  

How practical is the Mercedes-Benz GLB?

The Mercedes-Benz GLB’s dimensions of 4,732mm in length, 1,861mm in width (excluding mirrors) and 1,692mm in height make it 94mm longer, 27mm wider and roughly the same height as the old model. It’s also smaller than the Peugeot 5008, but longer than a Nissan X-Trail.

There are certainly bigger and roomier seven-seaters, but many feel quite cumbersome on UK roads. And it’s not as if the GLB is cramped, with six-footers finding plenty of head and leg space up front and enough width to avoid banging elbows.

The second row of seats are easily accessed via big doors and a wide opening (great for loading child seats, and once you’re inside there’s usefully more space than the old model. The bench slides and reclines, too, and there’s a flat floor.

With it in its rearmost position there is inches of legroom to spare even for very tall adults, and enough foot space under the front seat. The floor is also nice and low so you don’t feel like you’re squatting, unlike some EVs. Headroom is good, too, and the glass roof makes it feel light and airy, although it isn’t the widest cabin so three adults across the rear may be a bit tight.

Unlike in the old GLB, it is possible to fit a pair of average-sized adults behind adults of a similar size in the third row of seats. Headroom is the main restriction, but it’s also tricky to clamber through the narrow opening with the middle seats folded. Overall, these are ideally suited to a pair of growing kids (a Hyundai IONIQ 9 is far better for seven adults), but they’re more usable than before.

Storage and boot space

There’s plenty of areas to stow items in the GLB’s cabin. You get big door bins, a decent glovebox, a spacious under armrest cubby, and a two-level centre console with a phone tray and cupholders on top plus space for a handbag underneath.

In the rear seats you’ll again find useful door bins, nets in the front seatbacks along with a pair of cupholders in the flip-down centre armrest. You even get a pair of cupholders in between the third row of seats. With those seats upright, the boot space behind is a modest 145 litres – enough for a small shop.

The third row of seats easily fold flat into the boot floor to reveal a useful 540-litre boot – as big as the more expensive Audi Q5 but much smaller than a Peugeot 5008 - with a large square opening and flat floor. The middle row also folds in a useful 40/20/40 split to expand that space to 1,715 litres.

One big bonus specific to the electric GLB is the ‘frunk’ (front boot). It’s a useful 127-litre space that can easily take a carry-on sized suitcase or larger soft bag. The only downside is that you can’t open it via an external button or the key – you need to dive into the front footwell.

Performance & drive: What is the Mercedes-Benz GLB like on the road?

On the launch of the Mercedes-Benz GLB I was only given the chance to drive the all-electric 250+ version, which is comfortably the slower of the two electric variants but, on paper, faster than all the hybrid GLBs.

With 268hp and a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds, the GLB 250+ offers performance that’s entirely ample for everyday driving, but well short of exciting depending on your context.

For instance, it’s much quicker than a Peugeot e-5008. But if you’ve stepped out of a Tesla Model Y you’ll probably wonder if the GLB is stuck in some sort of power-sapping eco mode.

Either way, there’s enough poke to zip around town and get up to motorway speeds without any stress. We do wonder if it may feel a bit lacking if you loaded the GLB up with six passengers and luggage, however.

For those that are, or require more effortless acceleration, the GLB 350 4MATIC delivers with a healthier 349hp and a 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds. That’s still well short of the fastest Model Ys, but arguably plenty for UK roads.

Like the CLA, the GLB has a two-speed gearbox, with the first gear helping acceleration and the second gear providing more efficient cruising. You can feel a slight pause at it switches between the two at around 70mph, but it’s barely noticeable.

The GLB has four levels of regenerative braking, adjustable by pushing or pulling the drive selector stalk or, on AMG Line versions, via steering wheel paddles too.

The levels go from full coasting to a very strong one-pedal driving mode, while there’s also a mostly effective adaptive system that uses cameras, radar and sat-nav data to predict when the car will need slowing and by how much. If you’d prefer to use the brake pedal, it’s well-tuned for a natural response.

Power, 0-62mph times

Hybrid:

• GLB 180: 136hp/ 9.7 secs
• GLB 200: 163hp/ 8.7 secs
• GLB 220: 190hp/ 7.5 secs

Electric:

• GLB 250+: 268hp/ 7.4 secs
• GLB 350 4MATIC: 349hp/ 5.5 secs

Ride and handling

It’s clear from the first 100 yards of driving that comfort is the name of the game for the new Mercedes-Benz GLB. And we reckon that’s exactly how it should be for a family-sized electric SUV.

This is particularly the case in the 250+ model, which has a softer setup that really smothers sharp bumps and drain covers at low speed without feeling floaty and unsettled on a challenging road. It’s noticeably smoother than a Tesla Model Y, for example.

There is a caveat to that: I’ve only tried the GLB in higher spec trims with 20in wheels, which feature adaptive dampers as standard to let you stiffen up or slacken off the ride. In this spec ride comfort is near class-leading for an electric SUV with wheels of this size, so it’s well worth the upgrade.

The GLB 350 4MATIC has a slightly stiffer all-round setup to give a firmer ride and help it feel more tied down in the bends. But the 250+ still feels well-sorted in that respect despite some body lean, with accurate steering and good grip levels.

Overall, it’s clear Mercedes-Benz has spent time and money ensuring the GLB drives noticeably better than the old EQB.

Noise and refinement

The Mercedes-Benz GLB is a very quiet and calm companion for long drives. Both wind and road noise are very well suppressed for an EV at this price point, and suspension noise in the 250+ variant is almost non-existent too.

Whine from the electric motor is barely audible, but if you do want to add some aural excitement Mercedes-Benz has mimicked BMW in offering some sci-fi like artificial noise generation as you accelerate. Some of these are quite weird, but you can turn them off entirely if they aren’t your cup of tea.

Euro NCAP: is the Mercedes-Benz GLB a safe car?

At the time of writing Euro NCAP is yet to crash test the latest Mercedes-Benz GLB. This means it’s difficult to conclude on the car’s overall safety standard.

What we can say is that the GLB shares much of its mechanicals and technology with the CLA saloon and estate, which was awarded the maximum five-star rating when tested by Euro NCAP in 2025. It also had very high scores across the board.

Mercedes-Benz highlights the array of driver assistance hardware on board the GLB, including eight cameras, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and a water-cooled computer. This is mainly offering driver assist capability that will be unlocked by over-the-air updates over time.

Standard across the range is the usual autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assistance, camera-based driver monitoring and speed assistance. There’s also evasive steering assistance, blind spot monitoring, a safe exit alert function and rear cross-traffic alert.

It’s worth noting that only the top spec GLB comes with a 360-degree camera system, with all other versions featuring all-round sensors and a simple reversing camera.

Running costs and fuel economy

Although we’re yet to drive the Mercedes-Benz GLB hybrid, the brand has released fuel economy and emissions data for it.

The hybrid GLB is at its most efficient in 180 Sport or Sport Executive form, promising up to 47.9mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. That reduces to 47.1mpg in AMG Line form and 46.3mpg with the towing package added.

The GLB 200 ranges from 47.1 to 46.3mpg combined on the same basis, with the GLB 220 managing between 44.8 and 43.5mpg combined. All these figures are better than diesel versions of the Land Rover Discovery Sport, although a Peugeot 5008 hybrid promises over 50mpg.

All hybrid versions of the GLB are subject to the Expensive Car Supplement as they cost over £40,000, meaning an additional £440 a year on top of the existing standard rate of car tax for five years after registration.

Electric range and charging

Both versions of the Mercedes-Benz GLB Electric feature an 85kWh usable lithium-ion battery pack, which is bigger than any version of the Audi Q4 e-tron and the old Mercedes-Benz EQB.

The GLB’s range on a charge is strong, if considerably lower than the much sleeker (and far more cramped) CLA electric. You’ll get up to 393 miles of range on a charge from the GLB 250+, which only reduces slightly to 382 miles on the dual-motor GLB 350 4MATIC. That’s far better than the old EQB.

The Peugeot 5008 Long Range promises an even more impressive 412 miles on a charge, albeit from a much bigger 97kWh battery pack. That suggests the GLB is more efficient, aided as it is by the same two-speed gearbox as the CLA.

Every new GLB also comes with a standard heat pump, helping mitigate the effects of cold weather on the battery range.

Range on a charge (WLTP figures)

• Mercedes-Benz GLB 250+ 393 miles
• Mercedes-Benz GLB 350 4MATIC: 382 miles

Like the CLA, charging the GLB is a tale of two halves. The good news is that it is one of the fastest charging electric cars available at this price point, with a quoted peak DC rapid charging speed of 320kW. That’s more than three times what the old EQB could manage.

It translates to a best-case 10-80% charge time in the GLB of just 22 minutes according to Mercedes-Benz – although data from EV Database claims an even quicker time of 18 minutes has been achieved.

Either way, it’s considerably quicker to charge than a Tesla Model Y, and on a par with the Genesis GV60. That’s enabled by an 800-volt electrical system – like the Genesis – but in the GLB that’s brought a considerable drawback.

Mercedes-Benz doesn’t include a 400-volt DC converter as standard in the GLB, meaning the car can only use the latest ultra-rapid DC chargers in the UK. 400-volt chargers are still the more common type, and to access these you’ll need to for a converter to be installed.

This can only be added from the factory, so it’s well worth considering how much you public charge and what chargers are available in your area. It’ll be a minor drawback for many (particularly if you can mainly charge at home) but a deal-breaker for some.

Charging speeds

(Figures from EV Database)

• 7kW charging: 13hr 30 mins
• 11kW charging: 9hr 15 mins
• 50kW rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): N/A (without adaptor)
• 300kW+ rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 18 mins

How much does the Mercedes-Benz GLB cost to insure?

So far, we only have insurance data for the electric GLB, which confirms it sits in insurance group 45-46 in 250+ form and 47-48 in 350 4MATIC form. That’s quite a bit higher than a Peugeot e-5008, but that’s to be expected given the premium positioning.

Crucially, the GLB is unlikely to be significantly more expensive to insure than the outgoing EQB, although an Audi Q4 e-tron has lower groups across the board.