Mercedes B-Class review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

Despite its MPV-like appearance, the Mercedes B-Class feels very more like an ‘A-Class plus’ than a traditional people carrier. That means it’s only available with five seats – you’ll need to get a GLB or T-Class if you want a seven-seat Mercedes. However it does deliver some of the benefits associated with a MPV, including a raised driving position, which makes it feel markedly different from the A-Class and easier to get in and out of. 

The B-Class’s cabin feels very spacious and features two sets of ISOFIX child-seat mounts in the back, plus the on-board systems can recognise if a seat has been fitted, and optimise the safety features accordingly.

Size

The third-generation B-Class is 30mm longer than the old model, taking the overall length up to 4,419mm. It’s also 10mm wider, making the width 1,796mm, while the oversized hatchback stands at 1,562mm high. In comparison, the Mercedes A-Class measures 1,440mm in height, so you can see why the cabin feels more expansive. The A-Class is as long and as wide as the B-Class, though.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

Overall the cabin is very spacious, and despite the overly dark materials, such as the black roof lining, it still feels roomy inside. All five occupants will enjoy plenty of headroom and legroom, with passengers in the back free to stretch their legs in near-luxury saloon style.

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Boot

Boot space in the B-Class varies depending on which engine you go for. The B 220 d diesel offers 445 litres of luggage capacity, while the petrol B 200 has a 420-litre boot. That’s because the petrol engine now comes with mild-hybrid assistance, and the system’s location in the boot, cutting 25 litres from its carrying capacity. Either way, the load space isn’t worth writing home about, but there’s a level load lip, the back seats fold almost flat and a powered tailgate comes as standard.

The rear bench splits and folds in three sections to a useful 40:20:40 ratio, and with all three folded flat, the boot extends to 1,505 and 1,530 litres of space for the B 200 and B 200 d respectively. That’s between 50 and 80 litres more than you’ll find in the 2 Series Active Tourer.

Towing

The B 220 4Matic petrol is the best choice if you intend to do a little light towing, offering a braked towing capacity of 1,800kg. Other models offer between 1,400kg and 1,600kg depending on the engine size.