The New Mercedes GLB.
Shereen Shabnam
The much-anticipated Mercedes-Benz GLB is in the UAE across Gargash Mercedes-Benz showrooms bringing together impeccable design, intelligent functionality and high comfort in a versatile compact SUV. Spacious and family friendly with off-road-oriented design as well as optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive, it is perfect for UAE life. We drove the GLB 35 for a week and found it exceptionally practical.
Exterior Design
As a first of its kind, the new GLB has a distinctive SUV design with claddings, simulated underride guard and roof rails. The front makes features the signature AMG radiator grille with the apron and the flics serving as air deflectors on the outer air intakes. For GCC drivers, the bold practical design, striking headlamps is clear evidence of off-road genes, as are the short overhangs at the front and rear.
Interior Design
The interior of the new GLB is astonishingly generously appointed and strikingly elegant. Eye-catching features include highlights such as the free-standing Widescreen Cockpit, the pleasant ambient lighting as well as distinctive SUV design elements.
The second seat row with optional fore/aft adjustment lets you create the space you need for your lifestyle. With the optional third seat row, the GLB offers space for up to seven occupants.
The various comfort systems in the vehicle has lighting and musical moods plus a number of massages for a wide range of feel-good programs which we enjoyed on all our drives.
Performance
The AMG 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with turbocharger delivers a power of 225 kW[1] (306 HP), offering a winning combination of a twin-scroll turbocharger with spontaneous response behavior to all movements of the gas pedal plus high pulling power (max. torque 400 Nm[1] above 3000 rpm). You can expect excellent performance at high revs and an emotional engine sound. At the press of a button DYNAMIC SELECT offers different drive programs with setting options for the engine, transmission, chassis and steering. We tried the Sport, Comfort and ECO mode.
Technology
The new MBUX multimedia system is easy to use and can also be adapted in a number of ways with touchscreen, direct control buttons for media, navigation and telephone, Touch Control buttons on the steering wheel, touchpad, or extended voice recognition.
Answer calls, listen to your favourite songs and charge your smartphone wirelessly at the same time with the Qi standard. Smartphone integration links the mobile phone with the media system via Apple® CarPlay® and Android Auto®.
Active Braking Assist is constantly attentive for you, and can help prevent serious accidents due to insufficient distance or inattentiveness. Our favourite was the Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC which not only finds parking spaces – it also helps you to enter and leave them. The all-round view thanks to the 360° camera including a virtual bird’s-eye view is particularly impressive.
Verdict
With powerful and efficient four-cylinder engines, the latest driving assistance systems, the intuitively operated infotainment system MBUX plus the comprehensive convenience control ENERGIZING Comfort, the GLB 35 has all the strengths we need of the current compact-class generation from Mercedes-Benz.
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