Mercedes GLB review - Reliability & safety

The GLB didn’t appear in our 2020 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, although Mercedes-Benz finished a disappointing 28th out of 30 manufacturers. Owners complained of high running costs, including expensive servicing and insurance premiums.

There’s better news when it comes to safety, with the GLB awarded a maximum five-star rating when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2019. The scores were impressive, including 92% for adult occupant protection, 88% for child occupant protection, 78% for vulnerable road users protection and 74% for safety assist technologies.

All GLBs get multiple airbags, active lane-keeping assist, active brake assist, fatigue monitor, cruise control with speed limiter, speed limit assist and rain-sensing wipers. Five-seat models get ISOFIX points on the two outer rear seats, while seven-seat models get an extra pair of ISOFIX points in the third row.

AMG Line Premium Plus and GLB 35 4Matic Premium Plus models also feature a Driving Assistance package. This features an array of safety systems designed to keep you out of trouble. The list includes Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Braking Assist, Active Distance Assist, Active Steering Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, exit warning function, Pre-Safe Plus and route-based speed adjustment.

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Warranty 

Every Mercedes-Benz GLB comes with a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty. This is average for the class, but extended warranties are also available. Longer standard warranties are rare in the premium sector, but cheaper rivals from the likes of Hyundai and Kia come with five- and seven-year warranties respectively.

Servicing

Mercedes-Benz offers fixed-price servicing options via a ServiceCare plan. The prices vary, but based on a new GLB and up to 15,500 miles a year, two services could cost £750 if paying up front. Alternatively, the cost can be spread with monthly payments. Three services cost around £1,000, while four services cost £1,500.