B-Class offers stylish family car

The Mercedes B-Class is a sturdy looking MPV

If you’re on the lookout for a spacious family car but aren’t willing to compromise on style then you should take a look at the Mercedes-Benz B-Class.

This five-seater has oodles of panache, from its beautifully designed glossy interior, to its Merc logo-looking air vents, to the pull up handle in the inside of the boot.

And the technology too is well thought out, with the excellent digital radio having an old style valve radio dial look to it.

A really comfortable car, the B-Class’s cabin feels big and this is helped by a plethora of storage cubbies.

The rear seats can also be lowered to increase luggage space in the already very large boot.

With a lovely high driving position, this MPV almost has an SUV feel to it.

You can see that some thought has gone into the B-Class’s cabin

The 1.8l diesel six-speed manual BlueEFFICIENCY model I was road testing offered a lovely smooth drive, with really nice gear changes.

The car also had great acceleration and I would have welcomed cruise control as it’s really easy to break the speed limit in this car without realising it.

I also would have liked parking sensors, as the B Class feels wider than it actually is.

The car does rate very well in drivability though.

I took it on a trip to Wexford and while you would expect a car like this to perform in a motorway situation, it also acquitted itself well on the windey country road at the end of my route, as it did in city traffic.

The Stop/Start system also made you feel more eco friendly.

The model I was driving was equipped with air conditioning, auto lights and wipers, Bluetooth, CD/Radio/USB/Aux, electric parking brake and had a key fob start.

I was also impressed with the Collision Prevention Assist which saw a little red triangle flash up on the instrument panel when you got too close to the car in front.

Overall, I felt the B Class had a lot to offer, it’s spacious and luxurious inside, sleek and refined looking outside, is a nice drive and you can really notice the attention to detail in the design.

Prices in Ireland for the Mercedes-Benz B-Class CDI BlueEFFICIENCY manual start from €29,330. The model I was driving included optional extras such as chrome pack, seat comfort pack, metallic paint and ARTICO man-made leather and prices cost from €31,076.

Tech Spec:
Engine: B180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY- 109hp (diesel)
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 10.9seconds
Top speed: 190km/h
Combined Fuel Consumption: 4.6l/100km
CO2 Emissions: 121g/km
Annual road tax: €160 (Band A)

A version of this article also appeared in Metro Herald