Okay, I’m not going to pull any punches here: we LOVED this car. I was a mite worried at first that the B-Class was going to be a sort of dumbed-down version of a Mercedes; a cheaper, less luxurious and essentially stripped-down version of the archetypal luxury vehicle. Wrong! The 2010 B-Class Mercedes Benz was everything you would expect from a Mercedes, and it comes with a very palatable price tag, too.
Model Tested: 2010 B-Class Mercedes Benz 4-Door Hatchback
Key Competitors: Audi A3, BMW 1-Series
Price: B200: $29,900 base price; B200 Turbo: $32,400 base price
Urban Mom’s Rating:
Urban Mom Tester’s Topline: Luxury. It’s only one word, perhaps, but it really does capture the topline feeling you get when driving the 2010 B-Class Mercedes Benz. This sleek crossover vehicle is the perfect choice for a mom on the go, and the price tag is surprisingly competitive for a car that stays so true to its exclusive luxury vehicle heritage. So I suppose I should revise my topline summary: make that accessible luxury.
Urban Kid Tester’s Topline: The urban kids were sufficiently impressed with the pedigree of the B-Class, and their first impressions were borne out as well. Although this car is only 4.27 metres long, there is plenty of interior room, and that includes the rear passenger seats. The children happily enjoyed their rides in this car and reported that their back-seat berth was comfortable, but their single favourite feature? The MP3 compatible stereo system!
Exterior Features and Style: What can I say? It’s a Mercedes, and it looks it. The 2010 B-Class is a sleek, classy looking vehicle that is also clearly styled for comfort and function. I thoroughly enjoyed driving this attractive vehicle.
Interior Comfort and Style: Despite the maneuverable exterior dimensions (at 4.27 metres it’s an easy car to drive and park, even in crowded urban conditions), this car feels very roomy on the inside. The front seats have 8-way adjustable controls and the upholstery is lush and comfortable. The aluminum and leather trim on the dash, steering while and gear stick adds a modern and expensive touch to the interior, and this car definitely passed the hockey-bag test, fitting at least three of these large and bulky cargo items in the rear hatch.
Drive: Smooth, quiet luxury. There is no doubt, when you drive this car, that you’re in a luxury vehicle. It’s fun to drive, and very comfortable for the passengers, too. The car is very responsive and has a great get-up-and-go. At the most basic level, this is a beautiful ride. Enjoy it!
Bells and Whistles: There are a number of fun features to be had in the B-Class, but our favourites were easily the MP3-compatible stereo (by Sony) and the Sirius Travel Link. It’s nice to know that there’s 911-assist for SYNC in case you are in a collision, as well.
This is such a cute little car! I love it! Adding it to my list.
So how do I become a Mercedes product tester? I am not even joking! My son is almost 16 and I told him he would get my car when he gets his licence and that I was buying a Mercedes. Would love to be able to test one out.