Used Mercedes GLB 2020-present review

Imagine you have the desire for a premium-badged, seven-seat SUV but you don't want the hassle of parking something the size of a small country in your local multi-storey car park.

Enter, stage left, the Mercedes GLB. Launched in 2020, the GLB is roughly the size of its two similarly priced but five-seat-only rivals, the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. Underneath, it's closely related to the Mercedes B-Class MPV, but above is a smart-looking and neatly on-trend SUV-style bodyshell.

It comes with the option of four engines, two diesels and two petrols, including a speedy AMG-fettled GLB 35. All come with an automatic gearbox as standard, and there's a choice of two or four-wheel drive depending on which engine you go for.

Sport is the entry-level trim but it still has all the basics, including 18in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, man-made leather upholstery and heated front seats. AMG Line doesn't bring a lot more to the table, other than 19in alloy wheels, privacy glass and a more aggressive bodykit.

The bigger infotainment screens and the clever augmented sat-nav come with AMG Line Premium trim. That also gets you ambient lighting inside and keyless entry.

On the road, the smallest petrol (badged GLB 200) is fine for pootling around town. However, you’ll find it struggles on faster roads, and particularly when seven people are on board. It doesn’t help that its standard seven-speed automatic gearbox is slow to react.

The gutsier diesels have a more responsive eight-speed auto 'box and are altogether better suited to the GLB. We prefer the 187bhp 220d over the 148bhp 200d (both are 2.0-litres), because its muscular nature is a perfect fit for the GLB. It can get from 0-62mph in 7.6sec, which is quite a bit quicker than the rival Land Rover Discovery Sport D200 can and is on a par with the BMW X3 20d. It pulls strongly between 1500rpm and 4000rpm and can tow a caravan along without much difficulty, too.

The most powerful engine is the 302bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol in the AMG 35. That can hit 0-62mph in just 5.2sec, aided by its standard-fit launch control system and four-wheel drive.

The ride is the GLB’s weakest area. Most versions jostle you around over uneven road surfaces and tend to really thump over potholes, whereas the Discovery Sport is very comfortable, aside from a bit of float over undulations. The AMG 35 comes with its own adaptive suspension, which you can soften or firm up on demand. It's wafty enough in Comfort mode but really firms up if you switch to Sport.

Still, the GLB has enough composure to drive spiritedly, and the steering, while slow, is accurate and weights up with enough conviction to inspire confidence. There's more outright grip than a Discovery Sport generates, too.

All GLBs come with digital instruments instead of conventional dials, and you can arrange them in a number of modes and styles. As standard, it's a 7.0in screen but, if you step up to AMG Line Premium, it grows to 10.25in. The rest of the dashboard layout works well, with a row of simple buttons to manage the climate control.

The GLB's square windows provide a great view out of the front and to the sides, but look back over your shoulders and there are blindspots behind each rear pillar. You get a rear-view camera as standard from new to help mitigate those, but front and rear parking sensors are standard only once you get to AMG Line Premium trim.

You also get a 7.0in infotainment screen with crisp graphics and responsive software. Built-in sat-nav, Bluetooth and a DAB radio are all included, while upgrading to AMG Line Premium expands the screen’s size to 10.25in and adds wireless phone charging as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.

Whatever the screen size, it can be operated either as a touchscreen or via a touchpad controller between the front seats. The latter method is less distracting when you're driving and gives the GLB an advantage over pure touchscreen systems like the one in the Discovery Sport.

The GLB still strikes a classy pose. The twin digital displays offer a clean and modern look and the most prominent areas, such as the top of the doors and dashboard, are upholstered in soft plastic or artificial leather.

There's plenty of space up front and six-footers will find they have plenty of leg room in the GLB’s second row. However, the Land Rover Discovery Sport offers more shoulder room for three people sitting side by side, and head room is also worse in the GLB because Mercedes’ has mounted its second-row seats much higher than those in front.

The upside of this tiered approach is that kids get a better view forward and out the side windows. And, like the Discovery Sport, most GLBs have two further seats that fold up from the boot floor, which is a benefit that the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 cannot match.

Opening the tailgate reveals a pretty square cargo area with no lip at the entrance, making it easy to load and unload bulky objects. With five seats in use, there are 500 litres of space up to the tonneau cover; that's enough for a couple of buggies or large suitcases but not as much as an Audi Q5, BMW X3 or Land Rover Discovery Sport offer. If you have all seven seats in play, there’s space for a row of shopping bags, but that's about it.

If you're interested in finding a used Mercedes GLB, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for a used 2020 GLB start at around £30,000, which is a useful saving on the current list price of a new one. Pay between £32,000 and £38,000 on a 2021 car, depending on trim, and between £36,000 and £40,000 on a 2022 model.

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MPG

The GLB200 1.5 petrol returns an average of 39.2mpg under the latest WLTP fuel tests, while the GLB200d diesel's figure is 49.2mpg. The GLB 22od 4Matic returns 47.9mpg, while the AMG 35 averages 31mpg.

Road Tax (VED)

All GLBs are subject to an additional yearly luxury car tax bill because every version cost over £40,000 when new, and this applies from the second year of registration until the vehicle is six years old, at which point it reverts back to the flat-rate fee.

Current costs are £165 a year for petrol and diesel plus £355 a year for the luxury car tax. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here.

Servicing

Servicing costs will be high, but Mercedes offers a number of servicing plans to help spread the cost via direct debit. It'll still be pricier than comparative servicing costs from Audi or BMW.

Engine

The 220d is plenty fast enough for most needs and brings with it the promise of pretty decent fuel economy. It's punchy, too, and it's our choice if you regularly tow a caravan.

Specification

Regular AMG Line trim doesn't bring a lot more equipment to the table than Sport trim, other than 19in alloy wheels, a rear armrest, privacy glass and more aggressive styling, so we'd go for AMG Line Premium, which adds 10.3in screens for the infotainment and instruments, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, wireless phone charging, augmented reality sat-nav, power-folding door mirrors, keyless entry and front and rear parking sensors. That makes it our pick of the range.

Our favourite Mercedes GLB: GLB 220d AMG Line Premium

If seven seats and an SUV body are must-haves, we’d consider looking at the Peugeot 5008. It isn’t quite as upmarket as the Land Rover Discovery Sport, another seven-seat rival, but it does have a delightfully swanky interior, and it also offers more space in the rearmost seats and in the boot. It’s also much cheaper to buy and better equipped, meaning you’ll get far more for your money.

You should also have a look at the Skoda Kodiaq, which is a similar proposition to the 5008. Or if you value the peace of mind that a long warranty provides, the Kia Sorento should be on your list.

If you can live without the extra row of seats, though, you can choose from a far wider range of alternatives. The BMW X3 is a cracking proposition and the one to go for if you want something that’s fun to drive, while the Audi Q5 is the one to choose if you want something that feels suitably swanky inside.

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