before too longA Mercedes-Benz GLB200d delivered at the end of November 2022 has a mileage of over 7000 km.I will try to report my real impressions of this project.

GLB200d 4MATIC Buying Background

Reasons for choosing the GLB200d

As for why I purchased the GLB200d,We were looking for a family car with a compact width and good driving performance,I was very impressed with my friend's GLB200d when he took me for a ride.This was the beginning of the project.

Until then, the Porsche Cayenne had been our family car,The width of the car was often a problem in urban family restaurant parking lots, convenience stores, and hospitals.Of course, the driving performance itself was perfect, but we decided to replace it with GLB for this reason.

Pre-purchase research and expectations

Before purchasing the car, I test drove my brother's GLA200d 4MATIC and my friend's GLB200d 4MATIC mentioned above to verify its driving performance and comfort.Driving performance was more agile and sporty than expected.The company also felt that the comfort level was necessary and sufficient.

He also had high hopes for the convenience of a 7-passenger vehicle and thought that a GLB would be very useful for family events, as there could be situations where a family of 5 plus a sister and her child, etc., would be traveling together.

GLB200d Driving Performance and Fuel Economy

Actual fuel consumption after 7000 km

This is a point of concern for many of you, but according to the trip data reset after the break-in period, the average is 13.7 km/l.

As usual, I did not pay any attention to fuel consumption and drove as I wanted while going with the flow of traffic, so I think it is possible to get better fuel consumption in reality.

On highways alone, 18 to 20 km/l is possible with normal driving. Even if you drive a little fast, you can expect to get about 15km/l.

Driving Performance Evaluation: Differences between Urban and Highway

As for my impression in urban areas with lots of stop-and-go traffic,The diesel engine has a lot of torque from below, so it does not feel sluggish.In any situation, it does not feel underpowered and accelerates as expected.

On the other hand, the gear ratios are lower than I had imagined, and the AT pulls RPMs in first and second gear quite a bit. When accelerating with the normal flow, it upshifts between 2000 and 3000 rpm. This does not change much even in eco mode.

Since the engine is capable of generating maximum torque at 1400 rpm, it would be great if it shifted up a little more quickly at lower rpm.

On the highway, the car does not feel as solid as a German car at speeds around 100 km/h. Of course, it is stable and anxious, but it does not seem to be very moist. Of course, the car is stable and there is no anxiety, but it does not seem to be very moist.

However, theFrom the speed range where it leads the overtaking lane of the New Tokyo-Nagoya Expressway, the GLB is quite stable.As one would expect from a Mercedes, the tires feel more grounded, and the car starts to move forward like an arrow. After all, this is an autobahn car.

Interior and comfort of the GLB200d

Seating comfort and 3rd row seats

I have the AMG Leather Exclusive package, which means gray-black leather seats. These seats are,The leather is slightly thicker and firmer, and the seats are not as comfortable.As such, they will often be unpopular with those accustomed to the seats in domestic cars. Personally, I prefer softer materials.

However, I have no complaints about the lack of fatigue on long-distance driving,Even after running 500 km a day between Tokyo and Osaka, there is no particular pain in the back.

The second-row seat is wide enough to accommodate even a large child seat. However, the seat surface is rather short, so adult males may feel a bit uncomfortable if they expect comfort, as the backs of their knees feel a bit floaty.

The third-row seats are minimalist in size, as they are intended for people under 168 cm in height. Hence, many reviews focus on this and cite it as a drawback of the GLB, but in reality, it is hardly a problem.

Unless, of course, there are seven adults in the car.Seat is large enough for a child to sit on.and, if anything, the sense of closure seems to be good for children.

Incidentally, even an adult can sit in the second row seat a little forward without his/her head touching the ceiling, and it is at a level where he/she can sit in the seat for less than an hour or so.

Ease of use of infotainment system

As for the infotainment system, it takes some getting used to at first to understand the menu hierarchy, but the LCD is easy to read, and operations can be done with a pad on the center console and switches on the steering wheel, so I have no particular complaints.

But as for the factory navigation system, the screen is easy to read and the directions are clear, but the route settings are often subtle.

Initially, I was patient and used it, but I was still often given route settings that I thought were too subtle,Additional purchase of "Smartphone Linkage Function (¥36,600)" at the online Mercedes me Store from the middle of the process.and Apple CarPlay on the iPhone.

Now we use almost 100% and CarPlay to display the smartphone's navigation system on the screen.

Summary of advantages and disadvantages of GLB200d

Good point of purchase

The most important thing is that, despite its moderate compactness, it can also be used as a seven-seater when the need arises.

In addition to this, the driving performance and feeling, especially the stability at high speeds, are as one would expect from a car designed in an autobahn country, and the car is also quite agile when driving on winding roads.

General,There is no sense of cutting corners in running, turning, and stopping.It is not a car that is fun to drive, but as is typical of Mercedes, it is a very reliable partner that does its job very honestly.

The glamorous design of the interior, including the ambient lights, the quality of the dashboard and door linings, and the feeling and sound of the doors opening and closing are also highly satisfactory, as are the fact that they do not feel cheap.

Points to be improved

I have almost no complaints, but if I had to pick one, it would be the following three.

• Standard on 19-inch wheels in the AMG Line package.Pirelli P-ZERO is too high performance and the handling is too very vividSometimes, a tire with a more moderate performance would be more appropriate for the GLB concept. For example, Michelin's Primacy series or Bridgestone's Transa series,Providing tires with excellent ride comfort and quietness improves satisfaction for many usersI think.
• I would like to see a little more comfort in the seats.In particular, I would like to see improvements in the leather material and the length of the second-row seats; I'm not saying they are like the GLE or GLS seats, but I would like to see a softer, more pliable material.
• It is very pleasant for sporty driving,I would like to see the AT control a little lower rpm in town.For example, in situations such as starting off from a stoplight or driving at low speeds in traffic jams, the driver should be able to accelerate smoothly by taking advantage of the torque of the diesel engine at low rpm, rather than accelerating by increasing rpm.

These are my realistic impressions of the GLB200d 4MATIC. Personally, I am very satisfied with it, and I can honestly say that from the perspective of a practical car for family use, it is cost-effective and perfect.