Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class Mild Hybrid

Own this car for 4 months now.

Spacious and tall enough for good view on the road. Stable and power is sufficient even when loaded with full capacity of 7 pax. This is probably due to turbo and mild hybrid giving it an additional boost.

Entertainment system is easy and fun to use. Easy to connect to Android Auto and Navigation.

Mercedes app is amazing too. Tracking car location, lock status or lock remotely, and etc.

Definitely worth to test drive it and consider for people who are considering.

I test drove the car when it was first launched almost 4 years ago. The car has gone through a few facelifts. It now comes with a Cat A COE and a petrol hybrid engine.

The standard version still does not come with a second row air con duct, but you can add it for a fee.

Despite how heavy the car is, even with a full load where all 7 seats are used, it does not feel like it is struggling for power even when going up hill which is a pleasant surprise.

Sound wise, the engine is still audible. If it bothers you, there are sound proofing you can buy to add to the hood to address that. For me, the sound level was okay and the sound system is pretty decent so I was not too bothered about it.

The safety features are pretty decent too. But they need to be toned down for Singapore traffic and not all can be used. For example, one needs to adjust the active brake assist needs to be set at one car length. My wife profile was not set up properly, and the car was constantly braking for her.

And if you leave your phone on the wireless charging pad when you leave the car, the car will remind you to take your phone which comes in handy.

It takes some getting used to when driving in tight car parks. I reckon it's due to the height of the SUV. There is no 360 camera for the car, so one has to learn how to gauge the turning points. But for its size, its turning radius is fairly decent and is easy to turn.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the car.

I would like to share my personal view on this SUV after owning 5 brand new Sedans from popular and common brands such as Japanese and Korean cars. The previous ride was a CLA180 mild hybrid (2023). Yes, I drove that CLA180 for a year and switched to the new GLB180 mild hybrid! The CLA180 is a nice car and I like it very much, but I still prefer a higher and spacious car which is a more practical choice as a family car. I still chose Mercedes because of the brand, even entry class gives me the feel of premium to an average family man like me.

Prior owning my first Mercedes, I always think the money can buy other brands which offer more power, size, better fuel efficiency, etc. At much lower price tag, but I found what I want after driving the Mercedes. Many of my friends doubtfully asking why I didn't chose a Tesla/BYD which are higher tech, handsome, fast like a bullet train, no gas required and even cheaper than this? My answers; I have no personal charging station at home as I am not staying on landed property and I do not want to spend time charging in public. So far I have owned the GLB180 for a month and am very happy about it.

WHAT I LIKE:

1. Smoothness and Engaging Drive:

Driving the GLB180 Progressive Line has been delightful, thanks to its smooth and engaging performance. The 1.3-liter turbocharged engine, with mild hybrid technology, provides an impressive boost in power during acceleration, making everyday driving responsive and enjoyable. The hybrid system ensures seamless transitions between electric and petrol power, contributing to a refined experience.

2. Luxurious Feel:

The interior of the GLB180 exudes luxury, with high-quality materials and a well-thought-out design. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and the advanced infotainment system with a 10.3-inch touchscreen adds a touch of modern sophistication. Features like ambient lighting and high-quality finishes enhance the premium feel.

3. Spacious and Practical:

The GLB180 is surprisingly spacious for a compact SUV. The 5-seat configuration offers ample legroom and headroom, making it comfortable for both driver and passengers. The muscular exterior design gives the car a robust and commanding presence.

4. Large Storage Capacity:

One standout feature is the significant storage space in its 5-seat configuration. The boot is generous, easily accommodating luggage, groceries, and essentials, making it practical for families and trips.

WHAT I DISLIKE:

1. Engine Sound:

One downside is the engine sound, which lacks the distinctive, sporty growl found in BMW models. For those who appreciate a more thrilling engine note, this might be a slight disappointment.

2. 7-Seater Configuration:

While the GLB180 can accommodate seven passengers, the 7-seater arrangement significantly compromises luggage space. This makes it less ideal for long journeys with a full passenger load, as minimal room is left for luggage.

3. Limited Storage Space for Small Items:

Despite the spacious cabin, the storage spaces for small items are limited, which can be inconvenient for storing small personal belongings.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, the GLB180 Progressive Line mild hybrid offers a luxurious, smooth, and engaging driving experience with ample space and a robust design. However, it falls short in terms of engine sound and storage options, particularly in the 7-seater configuration. For those prioritizing luxury and practicality in a stylish package, the GLB180 still a strong contender.

This mild hybrid version surprised me. Tried the earlier version of GLB 180 (without mild hybrid) and found that the car as not as responsive, with that, I was looking at other cars for my options.

Recommended by a friend to go over to C&C and tried the mild hybrid version. Was pleasantly surprised with the pick up and responsiveness of the car. It does not feel sluggish as before and matter of fact, it felt pretty good.

The new facelift for interior looks better than the previous version. Neater and cooler somehow. The external wise, I do slightly prefer the previous version.

The 3rd row rear seats was small and really for smaller sized people. Plus sized people will find it a struggle to access in and out of the seat (like me). Putting the 3rd row seats down will gives ample boot space.

Overall, great car.

Great car, fantastic value for money, considering he is cheaper than the sub-subcompact Lexus UX it has an amazing list of features and accessories. Downsides: (1) road noise & engine noise still too loud and intrusive and unbefitting of a premium brand offering from MB. At highway speeds the engine produces a high pitch whiiiiiiine almost like a whistle, whilst the road noise from the tyres and under-chassis becomes a continuous ROAR (2) suspension is cushy and comfortable, even vaguely reminiscent of Citroen's cloud-like hydropneumatic suspension. In Sports Mode the GLB there's just a hint of unsteadiness cornering and nose-diving (when hard) (3) front instruments display in my humble opinion too small (height-wise), and as a result looks, errr, disappointingly stingy and cheapo in a premium car. (4) the "Driver advisory" Voice service can be irritating especially added to the duet performed by the OBU unit, and has to be silenced each time you start it up. (5) ideally they should make the 3rd row of seats easily removable by the user just like the torneau (6) rear doors have no courtesy/puddle lights, again a strange oversight in a premium product especially in view that they even remember to put a puddle light on the rear boot lid. Even the old 1990s era W124 saloon had puddle lights on all 4 passenger doors (7) all the driving command buttons (engine start/stop, transmission, parking brake, dynamic mode, autopark, etc) should be gathered on the central console with a safety hatch over the autopark button. As things now stand the buttons and levers for driving control functions are scattered randomly all over the dashboard and steering wheel column. (8) There should be a Ctrl-Alt-Del reboot option to reset everything instantly to factory original default (for eg by stepping on the brake pedal, pressing a physical button with right hand, and another physical button on the fob). The +/- paddle gear selectors are tiny and perched ontop of the left and right spokes of the steering wheel, which is an odd and awkward placement, requiring very strange and fiddly finger placements to operate. Paddle gear selectors should be decently sized crescent-shaped things on left and right of the steering wheel circumference - for eg as in the Mitsubishi SUV.

I was drawn to the GLB look and collected my car in March. The driving experience (barring the noises which i will touch on later) and handling is great. The 3rd row seat is a good backup plan if you need to fetch more pax around once awhile but wouldn't recommend if you need to ferry 7 people around constantly. The engine is slightly underpowered for such a heavy car but not a big issue for me.

There are, however, 2 main issues which significantly downgrades my overall driving experience. Keeping in mind this is a new car and the noises are already as such. Cant imagine what would happen after a few years if nothing was done.

1) Whooshing sound from front windscreen with speed above 60km/hr.

The sound drives you crazy especially on expressway or NSE in Malaysia. Complained about the sound a few days after collection. Car was in C&C for a total of 1 week but issue unresolved. Been 2 months and still waiting for C&C to call me in to fix the issue. The level of service leaves much to be desired, especially when compared to BMW.

2) Clucking sound during gear change @ Speed of 30KM/H and below

Apparently this is a design issue which C&C cant fix. The sound is very audible. You now have noise @ Below 30km/hr from this issue and whooshing sound from windscreen @ Above 60km/hr. I have to add that i am not someone who is sensitive to sound but these 2 sounds are enough to degrade my driving experience.

My SA has been very nice apologising to me for these issues and helping me to followup with the service center but it seems like i am just waiting. This feels like a classic case where the company sells u a product but when something goes wrong, you are at their mercy. Not what I expect from a brand like Mercedes.

As a driver, i am sure most of us prefers a car with quiet interior. The noises are such a distraction. There are many new FL GLBs having these issue so it is not a isolated case.

Need to ferry seven but don't want something oversized or an MPV? This GLB is the car you're looking for.