Rode in a Mercedes B-Class Taxi...

[cawimmer430]

Long story short, I met some friends downtown, we drank alcohol, it rained and was all of a sudden freezing cold and I had no jacket... so I didn't walk home but took a taxi. Managed to sneak this shot.

Anyway, I wasn't expecting this car to be so A) Refined, and B) Comfortable.

When comparing it to my dad's E350 CGI the ride comfort of this car was pretty impressive. The suspension was pretty quiet overall and also comfortable, but not boaty or floatish in feel. I remember the first generation B-Classes which I drove and they literally road like 1970s Cadillacs... This one? Felt like a sports car! The seats were pretty plush and soft (and had MB Tex) but offered decent side support).

The driver said the car is a 2014 model. When I glanced at the dashboard this car had just reached 200,000 km (124,274 miles) on it, and the engine was smooth and quiet. No, really quiet. Really, really quiet. And it was a diesel! I had to look twice to check the RPM dial... it's a diesel. It didn't sound or feel like one at all. I don't know if these things get better (quieter) with age, or if Mercedes' has some pretty impressive sound deadening and reducing insulation in the engine/cabin compartment, but whatever it is... impressive! There were also hardly any vibrations. In fact I didn't feel any despite trying to.

The automatic transmission was smooth, quiet and not noticeable at all. Typical modern Mercedes'.

Interior quality was typical of the A-, CLA- and GLA-Class range; good without being too fancy. It's a good quality cabin but does not blow you away like the C-Class cabin does. That being said, I'm not a dashboard fetishist and don't go feeling or touching the interior at every stoplight, and my BMW 118i cabin is noticeably "cheaper" than this...

Overall, I came away with a very positive impression of the car. I think this car, while not looking like a typical Mercedes-Benz, is definitely worthy of the star on the hood; and it's a base model car. Compared to the first generation B-Class the second generation model feels more composed, sportier (without sacrificing comfort) and more refined. To me this signifies that Mercedes-Benz has really worked hard on improving their whole lineup, even the smaller cars (and engines). If you live in a country where fuel is pricey and space is tight, this could be an interesting premium car for you, and in typical MB fashion you can spec it the way you want (personalize it).

If my dad ever wants to replace his E350 CGI with a B-Class (or GLA-Class), I don't think I'll have sleepless nights now that I've experienced it. 

[CALL_911]

CLA interior is total shit. I really don't like that car

[MexicoCityM3]

B Class and the 2 series active tourer are a step too far for BMW and MB IMO.

[93JC]

The automatic transmission was smooth, quiet and not noticeable at all. Typical modern Mercedes'.

I couldn't disagree more, if we're talking about the 7-speed dual-clutch. I agree it is impressively quiet though. My thoughts:

I drove a new Mercedes-Benz B250 last night. What a turd. Things I liked: the ride is okay, the interior is okay, and it's very quiet.

It has a 208 hp 2.0 L turbocharged four, and you wouldn't know it had any more than about 130 hp when driving about town. All of the blame can be laid at the feet of the atrocious 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Daimler can't design a good transaxle for transverse applications to save their lives. First gear is too short and the throttle response is terrible; you have to put your foot three quarters of the way to the floor to reasonably keep up with city traffic from a standstill, whereupon the transmission will do a herky-jerky dance into second gear at about 18 km/h. Once in second it starts to pick up some steam. As a result every single stoplight is a rope-a-dope attempt at building speed.

People who buys these things must be desperate to have a Mercedes-Benz badge on the hood of their car because anyone who cross-shopped it with anything else would be hard-pressed to justify spending money on one. For the $32,000+ this thing costs it ought to be "good", and the kindest judge would give this car a verdict of merely "okay" at best.

Quiet and comfortable to be sure, but otherwise I found it thoroughly unimpressive. Terrible value for money.

[12,000 RPM]

I don't know who is the bigger paid shill, MCM or Wimmer

[MexicoCityM3]

I don't know who is the bigger paid shill, MCM or Wimmer

You are. Just for obscure Chinese coilover companies.

[cawimmer430]

CLA interior is total shit. I really don't like that car

The interior isn't that bad at all.

[cawimmer430]

Terrible value for money.

Value for money is not something that ever went hand-in-hand with Mercedes.

But you gotta admit that these days they have improved their value for money. You do get more for your money as compared to five years ago for example.

[cawimmer430]

I don't know who is the bigger paid shill, MCM or Wimmer

Remember when you were bitching about underpowered Euro shitboxes... and then you got to drive a 75-horsepower Fiat Panda which blew your mind? 

Try that with a B-Class. You'll probably appreciate it. 

[Galaxy]

But you gotta admit that these days they have improved their value for money. You do get more for your money as compared to five years ago for example.

The E211 started at €35,515, the current E sedan starts at €43,018.

You get more tech, but you also pay substantially more.

[ifcar]

Value for money is not something that ever went hand-in-hand with Mercedes.

But you gotta admit that these days they have improved their value for money. You do get more for your money as compared to five years ago for example.

Compared to other competing cars? Or because all cars give you more features and other upgrades compared to five years ago?

[cawimmer430]

Compared to other competing cars? Or because all cars give you more features and other upgrades compared to five years ago?

Compared to themselves in the past. Remember the 2000s in Europe (of course you don't!)? A W203 C-Class didn't even come with air-conditioning as standard. These days you get that in every lower end MB.

[ifcar]

Compared to themselves in the past. Remember the 2000s in Europe (of course you don't!)? A W203 C-Class didn't even come with air-conditioning as standard. These days you get that in every lower end MB.

But aside from people who only buy Mercedes, a current-model car is most relevantly compared against its current-model competitors. Any car should have made progress from the same model five years ago.

[Galaxy]

A W203 C-Class didn't even come with air-conditioning as standard. These days you get that in every lower end MB.

You can't just say that you now get good value because they stopped ripping off the customer. If a Hyundai has AC as standard, it is not good value if a C class has it as standard.

[CaminoRacer]

You are. Just for obscure Chinese coilover companies.

[Cookie Monster]

Man, MB's are such good value for money now! They even come with 4 wheels, a roof and doors! The POS Benz Motorwagen didn't come with any of those things!

[93JC]

Value for money is not something that ever went hand-in-hand with Mercedes.

True, and as I said if not for the fact some people are desperate to drive a Mercedes-Benz I don't think the B-class would sell at all in Canada, but they sell a few thousand of them a year. But they don't sell anywhere near as many B-classes as other manufacturers sell their compact SUVs.

But you gotta admit that these days they have improved their value for money. You do get more for your money as compared to five years ago for example.

As others have pointed out this is irrelevant if their competition is still better.

[cawimmer430]

True, and as I said if not for the fact some people are desperate to drive a Mercedes-Benz I don't think the B-class would sell at all in Canada, but they sell a few thousand of them a year. But they don't sell anywhere near as many B-classes as other manufacturers sell their compact SUVs.

I don't understand why the B-Class is even being sold in Canada. Isn't fuel cheap there? Aren't your garages and parking spaces huge?

The B-Class makes sense for certain markets where space is limited and car dimensions need to be small, so most of Europe and plenty of Asian countries come to mind.

[12,000 RPM]

Remember when you were bitching about underpowered Euro shitboxes... and then you got to drive a 75-horsepower Fiat Panda which blew your mind? 

Try that with a B-Class. You'll probably appreciate it. 

That Panda also weighed about 2000lbs, and would still get eaten alive on American roads

The B-Class is a mediocre vehicle with an added Mercedes tax. If it were sold under any other brand you'd acknowledge it for what it is.

[cawimmer430]

That Panda also weighed about 2000lbs, and would still get eaten alive on American roads

Every B-Class has twice the power of a Panda.

The B-Class is a mediocre vehicle with an added Mercedes tax. If it were sold under any other brand you'd acknowledge it for what it is.

And you know this because you've... driven one?

If the car made a crap impression on me I'd call it out on that, Mercedes or not.

[2o6]

I don't understand why the B-Class is even being sold in Canada. Isn't fuel cheap there? Aren't your garages and parking spaces huge?

The B-Class makes sense for certain markets where space is limited and car dimensions need to be small, so most of Europe and plenty of Asian countries come to mind.

The B-class doesn't really sell well in Asian markets, either

[93JC]

I don't understand why the B-Class is even being sold in Canada. Isn't fuel cheap there? Aren't your garages and parking spaces huge?

Fuel is less expensive than in Germany for sure, but still quite a bit more expensive (20-40%) than in the US. (€0.657/L) We don't get anything other than what I presume is the top-of-the-line engine for the B-class in Europe: 2.0 L turbo, 208 hp. No diesels.

Are our parking spaces and garages huge? Not necessarily. I even said as much in your thread "The Curse of Small Parking Spaces in Europe". I'll snap a photo of the spaces at my office at some point; I wouldn't park my little Mazda 3 in some of them let alone a bigger car.

[ifcar]

I don't understand why the B-Class is even being sold in Canada. Isn't fuel cheap there? Aren't your garages and parking spaces huge?

The B-Class makes sense for certain markets where space is limited and car dimensions need to be small, so most of Europe and plenty of Asian countries come to mind.

You're describing *any* tall car with a compact footprint. The B-Class only comes to mind first if you demand a Mercedes.

[cawimmer430]

The B-class doesn't really sell well in Asian markets, either

It still remains an alternative in those markets for those who want or need a smaller premium car.

[cawimmer430]

Fuel is less expensive than in Germany for sure, but still quite a bit more expensive (20-40%) than in the US. (€0.657/L) We don't get anything other than what I presume is the top-of-the-line engine for the B-class in Europe: 2.0 L turbo, 208 hp. No diesels.

Seems like the strategy is: "Offer it there for those who want/need a small premium car."

Also, I believe Canada is often used as a "test-market" by Mercedes'. If something sells well in Canada, it may be eventually sold in the United States.

Are our parking spaces and garages huge? Not necessarily. I even said as much in your thread "The Curse of Small Parking Spaces in Europe". I'll snap a photo of the spaces at my office at some point; I wouldn't park my little Mazda 3 in some of them let alone a bigger car.

I'd love to see the shots. I'm always thinking Canada, like the US, has huge parking spaces and garages to accommodate big SUVs and pickups.

[12,000 RPM]

Every B-Class has twice the power of a Panda.

My wife's MKX has 4x the power of the Panda... Panda was still way more fun to drive.

And you know this because you've... driven one?

If the car made a crap impression on me I'd call it out on that, Mercedes or not.
[/quote]

[Raza]

My wife's MKX has 4x the power of the Panda... Panda was still way more fun to drive.

And you know this because you've... driven one?

If the car made a crap impression on me I'd call it out on that, Mercedes or not.

When did your wife get an MKX?  I thought she was driving the Rabbit still.

[12,000 RPM]

May I think. It was in my sig before...

[Raza]

May I think. It was in my sig before...

Not there now.  Nothing in your sig except for the crazy reflections picture of your G, something about a toilet, and the most annoying hashtag ever to be used.

[Tave]

Got some time in a rental CLA250 over the weekend.

Pros:
-great front seat legroom
-power
-interior materials seem fairly rugged

Cons:
-the 7spd transmission is extremely jerky with bad ratios, just terrible
-rear seat room is nonexistent
-plastic plastic everywhere
-build quality doesn't feel anywhere near the traditional "Mercedes Tank" standard

Final Verdict:
No thank you. I wouldn't think twice about buying the 2-Series over it.