Mercedes-AMG GLB 35, the one for me?
Maybe you already know -and if you don’t, now you do- I have become a father. Like *NSYNC ones sang: “Bye Bye Bye” fast, fun sportscars. Hello, daddymobiles and practical cross-overs or SUVs. And don’t get me started about the MPVs. Please don’t!
But my colleagues were certain to show me the possibilities of the hot daddymobiles! No hot hatches, but hot MPVs. The first one came as a surprise from Mercedes-AMG. MPV and Mercedes-AMG? Could it be the old Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG? An odd thing, but okay I would try it. No no, they showed up with the new Mercedes-AMG GLB 35.
SUV? Cross-over? MPV?
Mercedes is talking about an SUV, but I can’t put the feeling aside it’s an MPV. Practical, but not really exciting? The “exciting” part is for later in the article, let’s tackle the practical part first. #daddyissues #dadlifestyle
And my God, this car is pretty much all you need. The boot: at least 560 liters and you can make it grow to 739 liters. Perfect for the buggy and accessories or a lot of beverages for you and your mates for the only boy’s night in a year. How can the boot grow with almost 180 liters? Throw down the rear seats or if you need them, shove them to the front. And it’s even possible to tho get this car as 7-seater, if you and your lady really go crazy or never heard of “birth control”.
Inside the car, the Mercedes-AMG GLB gives the daddy everything he thinks he needs. Digital dials -in front of you- that effortless changes into the infotainment system in the center console. The dials are clear and easy to use when you are finally used to them, like every other Mercedes. Little heads-up: I have noticed I’m not the biggest fan of this system at the beginning of the week but after day 3 I really love it and it feels instinctive. The GLB is a really nice place to enjoy your daily drive to the day-care and to your job. Quality, eye for detail, some carbon touches and lights you can change in color and intensity to fit your mood. Can you hear them already? Dad, I want red! No, I want blue …
The newest safety features can’t be missing in your newest GLB. Lane-assist, adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlights, 360° camera, a head-up display, … You want it, you need it, you pay for it.
You can really enjoy being in the Mercedes GLB and the other people can’t complain either. It’s comfy, easy to get in and gives a premium feel. And anyone that doesn’t agree with you needs to stay home! The excuse: you need to take the Maxi-Cosi and it takes a lot of place. About the Maxi-Cose, it’s really easy to install too! The higher position and Isofix makes the GLB the ultimate daddy car. I think this was the first time Car Journalism has ever talked about the Isofix.
SUV? MPV?
It ain’t a cross-over, that’s for sure. It gives some sturdy feelings when you look at it. Robust and with that AMG grille and those wheels, it looks pretty darn sporty too. Just look at the combination of the color and the 21-inch multi-spoke rim, this is what a sexy -daddy- car looks like. At the back, we need to get used to the styling of the new GLB but the AMG-badge, diffuser and double exhaust helps with that. Let the pictures speak for themselves.
Its perfomance!
The engine giving this GLB his grunt -and a lack of sound- is the 2.0-liter four cylinders. In this GLB 35 producing 306 hp and 400 Nm of torque -similar to the CLA 35, Beau tested a while ago. The car will hit 100 km/h in 5,2 seconds -thanks to the 4Matic four-wheel drive- and on to a top speed of a German correct 250 km/h. We can’t confirm that top speed but feeling how the car keeps pulling at every speed we think the 250 is an easy target.
The 8-speed automatic gearbox is a gem and personally, I prefer these settings over the harsh one’s in the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S. It works so fast but the gearshift isn’t brutal at all and therefore suits the character of the car for the full 100 per cent. You wouldn’t want your child to get a whiplash, would you?
The driving quality leans towards the Audi S-models. Fast and trustworthy in every situation but never over sporty or exciting and that’s just the way you want it in this type of car! The Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 chassis puts the emphasis on comfort and afterward on sharp handling. But never think this GLB is a lazy bend eater because it can embarrass a lot of hot hatches. And that while averaging around 8,7 liters/100km. Not bad for a hefty car with enough power.
A costly GLB
Now the most painful part of an AMG review: the price. This Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4Matic will set you back a whopping 72.280 euros (Belgium). Hey, but you get a panoramic open roof, kids love that! It’s a lot of money but it’s a lot of car with a lot of options that you will be able to use in pretty much every situation. So new daddies of the world listen to me: Go get one, in this blue!
