Mercedes-Benz B200 Turbo Review
Mercedes three-pointed star has a therapeutic effect. It brings people together and help them share their opinions. One of my cousins, for instance, felt obligated to stop by my house (which he very seldom does despite living just two blocks away) when he spotted this little black car in my driveway.
He wanted to find out… how I managed to get a raise from my boss in order to purchase a Mercedes! That’s strange because he didn’t come over when I was testing a Volkswagen GTI or a Mazdaspeed3 a couple of weeks earlier. Of course, none of these cars sported a bright three-pointed star..
Yet, just like the GTI and Mazdaspeed3, the B200 Turbo is essentially a sporty 5-door hatchback with a forced-fed engine addicted to premium gasoline. The Stuttgart-based automaker’s smallest car in Canada is roughly the same size as a Nissan Versa and its versatile interior boasts a similar cargo capacity. However, you’ll never hear the folks at Mercedes call their B-Class a “5-door hatchback”. That would be too plebeian. Rather, they came up with a catchy definition: “Versatile Sports Tourer”. Well, well…
The heart of an athlete
Regardless of these snobbish claims, the fact of the matter is that the Mercedes-Benz B-Class is a compact vehicle — albeit a luxurious one. The ever-increasing sales volumes in Canada since 2005 illustrate its undeniable appeal. Our American neighbors, who can’t purchase this model at their local Mercedes dealerships, are actually wondering why the B is so popular over here.
It’s a well-kept secret, but the explanation is simple. Notwithstanding its price, this car is perfectly suited for Canadians, who generally prefer small, fuel-efficient vehicles, especially with volatile gas prices. Opt for the B200 Turbo model, like the one I tested, and you’ll get sporty driving dynamics and spicy performance on top of that.
Compared to the base B200, which relies on a naturally-aspirated engine, the turbocharged variant adds 59 horsepower. Thusly powered, it allows sustained, linear accelerations not only from a dead spot but especially on the fly. Meanwhile, the firm suspension minimizes body roll and makes the ride predictable.
What’s more, the continuously variable transmission (optional) does absolutely nothing to spoil the party. On the contrary, the sequential sport mode is a good match for the engine, allowing drivers to get the most out of the latter.
A GTI… Mercedes-style?
A mere 7.4 seconds are what the B200 Turbo CVT takes to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (three full seconds faster than the base model with automatic transmission). Meanwhile, the 200-horsepower, Tiptronic-equipped VW GTI reaches the century mark in 6.9 seconds despite carrying some 50 additional kilos.
At the end of my road test, the little B200 Turbo had averaged a combined fuel economy rating of 10 liters per 100 kilometers (that’s premium fuel, in case you’ve already forgotten). The GTI is capable of matching this result.
Obviously, the turbo increases torque steer under acceleration. That was expected. Moreover, my tester had a tendency to understeer in corners — nothing too serious, though. The power steering is precise and nicely assisted to help balance things out, something most rivals can’t brag about.
Triple disappointment
The B200 disappoints in three areas (is that what the three-pointed star represents?). First, unlike the Impreza WRX, no all-wheel drive system is available, even on the Turbo model. The car’s “sandwich” chassis, with the engine designed to slide under the front occupants in the event of a head-on collision, makes it impossible to install AWD components.
Second, the electronic drive-by-wire throttle of the B200 Turbo creates a slight delay in power delivery. Even if you hammer the right pedal to the floor, you’ll have to wait a fraction of a second before the 193 ponies start galloping. Therefore, the driver needs to readjust his or her habits in certain situations, like passing maneuvers.
Finally, the spongy feel of the throttle combined with the shocks imparted by bumpy roads result in minor jolts that can become irritating for passengers.
A versatile compact
In addition to great on-road dynamics, the B200 is a model of versatility. One could, but probably shouldn’t (hello, Mr. Mercedes!), compare this hatchback to a small minivan. Truth is, there are striking similarities between this German compact and the Mazda5.
Most surprising is the fact that the B-Class offers almost twice as much cargo room as the Japanese with the rear seats folded… despite being 35-centimeter shorter overall!
Outstanding versatility and cargo capacity don’t mean that occupants are short-changed with regard to comfort. The quality of this European design makes all the difference. The front buckets are as firm and supportive as one could wish, while their high-mounted cushions allow excellent outward visibility. In the back, two adults (three, if need be) will enjoy enough comfort to last through long-distance trips.
The layout of the dashboard requires some getting used to, especially if you’ve never driven a Mercedes vehicle before. Some of the controls are unique to the brand and their manipulation is indeed unusual. On the other hand, fit and finish as well as material selection meet expectations. In fact, I would say that the little B200 has nothing to be ashamed of when put next to the larger E-Class.
Too bad the audio system delivers unimpressive sound quality, taking a bit of luster away from that same three-pointed star.
A poor man’s luxury car?
Up to this point, I haven’t mentioned anything about the price, but it’s a well-known fact that the Mercedes-Benz B200 Turbo is not cheap. Actually, it’s up to $5,000 more expensive than both the GTI and Mazdaspeed3.
Now, one has to wonder: would the price of this modern-looking one-box vehicle be so high if it were not for the big, shiny star in the middle of the front grille?
Tags: b-class, b200 turbo, hatchback, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz B200, Mercedes-Benz B200 Turbo Review