THE new Mercedes-Benz B-Class, which made its debut at
last year’s Frankfurt Motor show, has been launched on the Irish market and can
now be seen in dealer showrooms.
First of three new models due here this year (the new
M-Class and SL follow in March/April), it is the larger of their two compact
models, fitting into the range ahead of the well-known A-Class.
Said to represent
‘a quantum leap’ in the compact
class given its billing as the first model change in their history to have so
many new features introduced at one time, it comes on the market with a vastly
improved range of standard specifications and an entry-level price that
Mercedes-Benz says is 11 percent lower than the model it replaces.
Amongst its most striking aspects are its reduced
height, lower centre of gravity, generous interior space and high standard of
safety. Its redesigned electromechanical steering, new four-link rear axle and
upgraded electronic stability system make it, what Mercedes-Benz says is,
‘fascinatingly agile’ without cost in comfort terms.
Arguably, its most impressive selling point and the
feature most likely to appeal to B-Class buyers will be its high quality and
spacious interior. Seats are more upright and set lower to the road with the
result that headroom has been improved. Its extra interior spaciousness can be
made more valuable by an optional feature that allows the rear seats to be
adjusted forwards/backwards to facilitate the carriage of bulky items.
In its driving and handling characteristics, the new
B-Class outshines its predecessor. An optional lower sports suspension and
direct-steer system emphasise its sporty character. Outstanding aerodynamics
help to deliver low fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions while a standard
item on all B-Class models is an ECO start/stop function.
In Ireland, the model likely to account for the bulk
of B-Class sales is the 109bhp entry level B180 CDI which comes on the market
at
?¬29,330 (ex works) with road tax of
?¬160 per annum. A second diesel, also
with four-cylinder, common rail, direct-injection, is a 2.0-litre/136bhp unit
whose price will be announced later.
In petrol form,
the first version to go on sale is the 122bhp B180BlueEFFICIENCY selling at
?¬29,
890 (ex works) with road tax of
?¬225 per annum. A 2.0-litre/156bhp
BlueEFFICIENCY version will be added to the range at a later date, the price of
which will be announced at the time.
Driving the new B-Class is a completely new 6-speed
manual transmission notable for its extremely easy gear change and low shift
forces. Also available as an option is a
7G dual clutch transmission system that combines the comfort of an automatic
with the efficiency of a manual.
Described by their sales manager Ciaran Allen as a car
that
‘ticks all the boxes’, its lower price, reduced running costs, interior
spaciousness and exceptional range of comfort and safety features are elements
that he believes come together to give the B-Class a wide appeal amongst those
seeking to match prestige to practicality.
Safety features
on board the new B-Class include items imported from larger Mercedes-Benz
models and introduced for the first time in this class of vehicle. These
include adaptive headlamp, blind spot, lane keeping and speed limit assist
systems along with parking assist, hill hold brake function, reversing camera
and distance control.
A world-first in the compact segment is the provision
of a new radar-based collision prevention warning with adaptive brake assist as
standard to reduce the risk of rear-end collisions.