Good looks
From the front, it's unmistakably a Benz. The front end is dominated by a massive grille that harbours the German brand's logo, of course. Its profile shows a sheetmetal crease that flows upwards from the front wheel and straight over the rear one. Very nice.
The B200's posterior looks more generic, and the rear overhang couldn't be shorter; the wheelbase is almost as long as the overall length of the car. And fortunately, Mercedes replaced the wheel covers on the 2006 model by sporty alloy rims this year. Let's just say that a luxury car with hubcaps looks pretty cheap...
Although everyone considers the B-Class as a small car, it's actually as big as a Toyota Matrix, and only slightly smaller than a Mazda5.
Luxurious cabin, even without leather
You don't need cowskin to create a cockpit that's both luxurious and attractive. The cloth seats of the B200 are very comfortable and can be adjusted to fit anyone.
In back, the amount of space is impressive; there is a lot of legroom, and if they're willing to rub shoulders, three adults will fit on the bench seat. In a high-roofed vehicle, like this one, no one will rub his head on the ceiling.
The cargo hold is also spacious: 544 litres, or 1,530 when the rear bench is folded away. That's more than in the Matrix (428 and 1,506 litres) as well as the Audi A3 (371 and 1,019), but not as much as in the Mazda5 and Kia Rondo.
As a bonus, the driver will benefit from a high seating position; you don't sit in the B200, you climb up into it. On the highway, I'm sitting just as high as the occupants in minivans that I'm passing. That's an important purchase factor for many people.
For the rest, everything is typical Benz: the doors close with a solid sensation, the materials used inside are top-notch, and every button and switch seems designed with great care. The car is very quiet on the highway.
From the front, it's unmistakably a Benz. The front end is dominated by a massive grille that harbours the German brand's logo, of course. Its profile shows a sheetmetal crease that flows upwards from the front wheel and straight over the rear one. Very nice.
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| The rear-end design is rather conservative. |
The B200's posterior looks more generic, and the rear overhang couldn't be shorter; the wheelbase is almost as long as the overall length of the car. And fortunately, Mercedes replaced the wheel covers on the 2006 model by sporty alloy rims this year. Let's just say that a luxury car with hubcaps looks pretty cheap...
Although everyone considers the B-Class as a small car, it's actually as big as a Toyota Matrix, and only slightly smaller than a Mazda5.
Luxurious cabin, even without leather
You don't need cowskin to create a cockpit that's both luxurious and attractive. The cloth seats of the B200 are very comfortable and can be adjusted to fit anyone.
In back, the amount of space is impressive; there is a lot of legroom, and if they're willing to rub shoulders, three adults will fit on the bench seat. In a high-roofed vehicle, like this one, no one will rub his head on the ceiling.
The cargo hold is also spacious: 544 litres, or 1,530 when the rear bench is folded away. That's more than in the Matrix (428 and 1,506 litres) as well as the Audi A3 (371 and 1,019), but not as much as in the Mazda5 and Kia Rondo.
As a bonus, the driver will benefit from a high seating position; you don't sit in the B200, you climb up into it. On the highway, I'm sitting just as high as the occupants in minivans that I'm passing. That's an important purchase factor for many people.
For the rest, everything is typical Benz: the doors close with a solid sensation, the materials used inside are top-notch, and every button and switch seems designed with great care. The car is very quiet on the highway.
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| The quality of materials is great and the overall visual effect is a success. |