Auto123 opinions the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35.
When I first drove the Mercedes-Benz GLB in GLB 250 sort, I was amazed with Mercedes’ most recent entry into the tiny crossover market.
I liked its boxy styling that reminds of a Scion xB — truly a fantastic point even if you are speaking about a Mercedes – and its astonishingly roomy inside, not to mention the pure hilarity that there was truly a a few-row solution. A a few-row luxurious subcompact crossover? Who’s to say the Germans don’t have a sense of humour?
The a person point I felt was missing was a minimal more assortment when it came to trim selection. All we had to pick out from in Canada was the GLB 250, this even though the GLB’s GLC sibling was readily available as a GLC three hundred, 43 or 63 S and as possibly a four-doorway-coupe or wagon. I had a large amount of pleasurable in the GLB 250, but what if it had just a minimal more power? Now that would be something…
Perfectly, check with and you shall obtain. It was not long after I drove the GLB late past yr that the automaker came out with the GLB 35 AMG. It has more power, some pretty awesome styling touches and some chassis tuning as effectively. Could this be the perfect formula?
2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35, inside
Within
Perfectly, sitting in the GLB 35 you get the very same sensation you did in the 250. Which means that even even though the seats are a little bit more intense in structure, you continue to get plenty of headroom and a wonderful perspective out forwards, rearwards and around the shoulders – massive facet home windows will do that. But now there is this wonderful, chunky leather-trimmed steering wheel in your arms, finish with two AMG-distinct travel manner and chassis/powertrain adjustment manage pads connected to it at the 4- and 7 o’clock positions.
Of system, you also get that wonderful totally digitized sprint that will make use of crisp flatscreen shows for your infotainment and gauge cluster, as effectively as a most important trackpad and minimal thumb pads on the left and suitable wheel spokes (optional) to manage it all. I built minimal use of the latter when I sampled them for the first time in a Mercedes, but now that I have used time with them in a handful of versions, I use them just about solely.
The left-hand pad assists you navigate the gauge cluster (which can be altered to a few unique types) and heads-up display screen, even though the suitable-hand pad moves you via the menus on the infotainment display screen. Which, as it occurs, receives its individual established of “themes” that functionality largely unbiased of the gauge cluster and will truly adjust the ambient lighting, quickly turn on your tunes (that occurs in the “Lounge” placing) or quickly display screen your AMG general performance info.
This is a person heck of a slick inside that does effectively to provide on the luxurious promised by the badge on the snout.
2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35, profile
Outside
Speaking of the GLB’s snout: if that massive symbol and grille – as effectively as the headlamps possibly facet of it – reminds you of a thing, it is likely the bigger GLS. Which will make sense when you look at the rest of the GLB’s detailing and form, as it all displays its bigger sibling. The GLB is to the GLS as the GLC is to the GLE.
And you know what? I like it. It has that wonderful profile, a awesome stance and the fancy wheels, massive entrance splitter, “Denim” blue paintwork, rear diffuser and twin potato cannon-design and style exhaust and it all will come with each other to sort what is a person of the coolest-seeking Mercedes merchandise we’ve not long ago witnessed, this facet of the sporting activities cars and trucks and roadsters.
2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35, 2nd row of seats
Again inside
The model’s proportions are suitable on and better than that, it contributes to giving an inside which is a lot roomier than the compact styling implies. Particularly in phrases of headroom each entrance and rear, which, even with the massive sunroof it has, is generous ample even for taller folks…wearing cowboy hats. It is that fantastic.
There are a several sacrifices that had to be built, even though the rear seats are pretty flat – that will make it simpler to fold the seatbacks – and that structure indicates that they are not that supportive. Rear-seat travellers will slide to and fro via the turns, and you really feel a lot more like you are sitting atop the seats as an alternative of in just them.
Speaking of the 3rd row: effectively, my tester did not have a person so I cannot remark, but thinking of the GLB’s footprint, I would not anticipate a large quantity of space and I’d likely desire to conserve the $1,three hundred demanded to healthy it, in particular thinking of you are difficult-pressed to get a GLB 35 for a lot fewer than sixty grand out the doorway. Not to mention that when the 3rd row is up, the space left to pack stuff in the back is probably no more substantial than a shelf’s width. Which kind of sabotages the other power of the GLB’s inside, and which is its cargo house which measures up to 1,680 litres if you fold the 2nd row of seating. It is all obtainable by using a tailgate that opens so significant that me and my 6’3” body could get under with out hardly getting to duck.
In addition to the selling price, of system, the 3rd row simply just is not in holding with what this AMG 35 version is all about. This is mainly a significant-general performance incredibly hot hatchback with airs that remind me more of a Volkswagen Golf R than a luxurious crossover. That indicates I’m likely not heading to tension way too a lot if I cannot move seven men and women on the normal.
In truth, I’d a lot more desire to know that when it will come time to hit my favourite flexible b-highway, the GLB 35 is up for it. And boy, is it ever.
Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 2021, avant
Electrical power from the turbo 4-cylinder is rated at 302 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, which is up from 221 hp and 259 ft-lb on the GLB 250.
It feels a full large amount more rapidly than the quantities suggest, even though. Peak torque arrives at three,000 RPM and peak horsepower a pair of grand after that, which indicates the eight-pace twin clutch transmission has no problem channeling all that power and sending it to the sticky Continental SportContact six tires (measuring a extra fat 255 mm at the back).
Then, it is just make any difference of keeping on as the GLB 35 races forth with gumption and a ferocity that you don’t get from that numerous tiny crossovers. In point, even the V8-run GLC 63 – even though more quickly, certainly – does not really feel quite as nervy, mainly because it is heavier than this. This turbo 4-cylinder is a wonderful match for the GLB.
Of system, the GLB’s lighter weight indicates that its attitude via turns is pretty fantastic as effectively, in particular if you regulate the damper configurations. That can be performed a range of methods — my most well-liked approach was to make use of the wheel-mounted controls – and when established to the intense Sport placing, physique roll is kept properly in-examine and the GLB moves via the turns just as effectively as it does under brief acceleration.
You get pretty minimal inertia and pretty minimal hold off in reaction from driver inputs as an alternative you get a full large amount of pleasurable. A full large amount of noise, way too, mainly because these massive tailpipes are not just for present. They emit a effectively authoritative report that performs effectively with the considerably hooligan-like appears to be.
One particular genuine litmus check for a automobile is how difficult it is to give it back at the end of a 7 days of testing-driving it Here, enable me inform you, it was difficult – most likely even more durable than it’d been for other more costly cars and trucks I have tested around the several years. Whilst I had requested for it after driving the 250, I don’t imagine I could have predicted just how a lot fantastic the AMG remedy would do the GLB. It is a stunner this. A stunner in truth.
2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35, rear
We like
Fantastic powertrain for the application
Interesting appears to be
Fantastic inside house
We like fewer
Not affordable
Again seats could use more assistance
No wi-fi smartphone integration
The competitors
Audi SQ5
BMW X3 M40i
2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35, badging
Gurus
Consumers
2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 pictures
