Mercedes-Benz has sold over 1 million units of its sporty family hatch, the B-Class. And, while that’s not an insignificant number in the automotive sphere, it’s a number that will clearly trouble BMW, as the Bavarian carmaker only joined the fray with its 2 Series Active Tourer last year.
On the back of a raft of subtle updates, Mercedes-Benz plans to build upon the B-Class’s success. At the international launch we unfortunately drove an all-wheel drive model that won’t reach our shores, but at the local launch we sampled the B250; the sportiest model in the range.
Under the short bonnet sits a 2,0-litre, turbocharged petrol engine. Coupled with Mercedes’s 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, it develops a respectable 155 kW and 350 N.m. This transmission has come in for some criticism regarding shift smoothness when mated with some of Mercedes’s smaller powerplants, but with the 2,0-litre’s additional shove those niggles have seemingly been ironed out. Lean on the accelerator to wring out all of the available power and the transmission shifts quickly and effortlessly through the gears. Passing slower moving traffic on highway there’s actually enough torque to stay in seventh gear, with the transmission only kicking down to sixth when necessary.
Lower speeds do, however, reveal a chink in the B250’s armour. Equipped with 18-inch wheels and run-flat tyres as part of the standard equipment, the ride becomes choppy at times. It was only on open roads, and their relatively unscarred surfaces, where the car settles and you forget about the ride quality.
However, the stiff setup means that the B250 handles surprisingly well. Pushing it through a corner, the B250 serves up more front-end grip than expected and body rolls is kept well in check. Even so, while the low-profile tyres and wheels add to the exterior design appeal (for some), we would suggest that those seeking more resolved ride characteristics would perhaps do well to eschew the B250’s power and dynamic poise in favour of a lower powered car with a smaller rim size.
Inside the B-Class exhibits a high level of quality in terms of the trim level and switchgear. One of the highlights was the more affordable (R13 500) Garmin Map Pilot navigation integrated in the infotainment system. The system has clear and simple graphics that are easy to read and figure out.
The B-Class has also a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including the Collision Prevention Assist automated braking system and Pre-Safe preemptive collision safety measures.
Rear space is also good, and at 1,87 metres, I was able to sit behind myself, without my scalp touching the roof liner. This was especially impressive in light of the fact the test car also featured the normall headroom-robbing two-part panoramic sunroof (R12 500).
Summary
The B250 with its AMG Line is a sporty family hatch, but maybe just a little too sporty for its own good. It has an abundance of power and torque and sporty exterior styling, but in terms of overall ride quality it falls short of its comfortable family transport proviso. The burning question is how will BMW’s Active 2 Series stack up against the B-Class.
Look out for a full road test of the B250 AMG Line in an upcoming issue of CAR.
