[Porcupine]

2019 Mercedes-Benz B-Class revealed!

Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday unveiled a sportier, more high-tech B-Class minivan at the 2018 Paris auto show.

The redesigned model is the nameplate's third iteration. It is also the third body style from Mercedes' new generation of compact cars, following the A-Class hatchback unveiled in February and A-Class sedan unveiled in April.

The interior is what we've become accustomed to in the latest compact cars from Mercedes. There's a clean dash layout and dual-screen interface, plus an advanced infotainment system with natural speak voice activation. Instructions can be given by starting off with “Hey, Mercedes.”

The cabin has also been improved elsewhere over the previous model. For instance, there's improved passage over the center tunnel in the rear which makes for a more accessible middle seat. The rear seat backrest comes as standard with a 40:20:40 split.

The run of powertrains are your typical turbocharged inline-4s, with a couple of diesels included in the mix. The big news is the addition of a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission in some variants. Others stick with the older seven-speed dual-clutch 'box. Front-wheel drive is standard but all-wheel drive will be made available at a later date. Also expected at a later date is a plug-in hybrid option.

Source: Motor Authority

[androdev]

Just curious why Mercedes is not able to make the B class look hot. The side profile makes the car look like a mini van.

[Porcupine]

Originally Posted by androdev

Just curious why Mercedes is not able to make the B class look hot. The side profile makes the car look like a mini van.

Because it actually is a minivan.

Mercedes markets it as a 'Sports Compact Tourer', but the The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) which is the European car safety performance assessment programme classifies it as a small MPV - so in a way kudos to Mercedes for still managing to keep it as sleek as possible, since they can't do away with the tall roofline and straight back.

[GTO]

Only in Europe will such products sell. The B-Class does anywhere between 75,000 - 100,000 units annually there. Out of Europe, it's a dud.

But credit to Mercedes for making even a mini van look alright . In fact, I think it looks more like a large hatchback now, compared to the outgoing B-Class. And I mean that in a good way.

[gunsho]

What is the difference between A and the B class. This looks more or less like A-Class hatchback.