Mercedes Pulls A Small 3-Row Rabbit Out Of Their Hat | 2020 GLB 250 

IMHO: This is exactly the CUV/SUV that Acura, Lexus, Cadillac, etc could have and should have given us.

Cheaper and below GLC yet more spacious and less predictable design from Mercedes. This crossover really is a great model.

I'm 6'7" and the GLB gave me so much more space that I had in the GLC. Uncomparable.

I as a automotive enthusiast, I follow auto journalists on RU-vid. Your presentation and delivery can be compared with the triumphs of the industry. I'd appreciate your review. Thank you.

I bought one two weeks ago after test driving one for a whole day. It’s an extremely impressive car but with a few options the drive away price here in Australia was $AUD90K. That’s about $60k US. Yes, it’s not a cheap car but it is a quality item. After driving a Range Rover Sport for five years, I decided to go smaller and this is the car I chose. I’m not disappointed. Beautiful ride and a very quiet cabin. The GLC still has last generation tech. The GLB is bang on up to date in that respect. People should not be comparing Mazdas and Toyotas etc with this car. This is a Mercedes Benz. The rest are just other cars.

Alex, thanks for the detailed review. I bought a brand new 2021 GLB for a little over 40k. I'm fairly satisfied with the car, compact size with 3rd row and great fuel economy. There are a few annoyances: 2nd row seats don't come all the way down when the seats are moved all the way forward, making it hard to get to the 3rd row; Android Auto is not full screen; and the back vents are basically airless unless the fan is at the highest setting and front vents are closed.

Best part of this review is the comparisons to its competitors. Incredibly valuable information.

The Mercedes GLB and BMW X3 really put the Acura RDX and Lexus NX to shame. People want badges and low MSRP prices.

As an owner of 2020 GLB, I can tell you that the nice looking integrated double exhausts are just decorations... I love this car nonetheless!

I just bought 2021 GLB. It has the 3rd row and surprisingly my son who is 6’ was able to sit moderately comfortably in the back. So it is good to know that if I absolutely needed to pack his friends in the car they could all fit.

Mercedes interior design,materials and infotainment compared to cars in a similar price range such as Acura,Lexus,Volvo,Lincoln,Cadillac are just unbeatable and it seems that they are relentless in their zeal to remain at or near the top.

Alex: you are absolutely the very best in reviewers, as seen again and again, especially in this video. So much info and especially the charts while you speak..so great. That said, this GLB is a stone cold winner. I wouldn't even consider the GLC anymore with this kind of rear seat room. Could care less about the third row, even though I have 7 grandkids, as I just can't imagine it being as safe for them (maybe in a GLE) and "in a pinch" is not an issue. What you get in this model is what you do get... and in most cases, what you don't get... in the next class up (GLC/X3/XC60), and that is a small footprint with big space for the urban environment (easy to zig and zag and park, but with all the room of the next class, especially in the second row). Plus, you can have it how you want it, i.e., if you want to spend 40, or 55, it's there. This is the swiss knife of SUV's, something for everyone and every use. The sweet spot will be 50ish for most people as you mentioned you would spec it, but that's only a few thousand more than most XC40s and the (tiny inside) X1 and the same as any well spec'ed Evoke, which has zero rear room. In those three, you can't sit anyone over 5'9" in the back seat...not super comfy like this. This just fits a category all by itself and they are going to sell tons. It's direct competitor will wind up being all those and all the luxe vehicles from the next class up (X3/XC60/GLC/Disco Sport), and I am afraid, quite a bit for the GLC itself, but as said, this has so much more to offer. I don't, by the way, even mention Acura, etc. in the same breath..too old school and time for a real refresh. The GLB will also be coming in PHEV hybrid, likely with over 40 miles electric !! That will be near impossible not to buy, especially for us city-dwellers. Thank you.

I want to say your new Graphics to illustrate different stats are terrific..... Great review .... thanks

Excellent objective review! I really like that you put each car into context as it really helps to conceptualize where the reviewed stands.

The GLB reminds me of the GLK, which I loved. If I had the money, I'd wait on the GLB35.

Terrific video Alex. One of the most comprehensive car reports out of thousands I have watched. The multi-screen segments were fun and inventive. Some much information packed in to one video. You definitely do you homework!! Thanks for the hard work

This is the one Benz I would buy. Would have been nice to see legroom comparisons against FWD compact crossovers like the RDX and Corsair.

The GLB might be the best vehicle Mercedes makes today when it comes to value, bang for your buck. He's right. This is clearly a better vehicle than the GLC.This just needs a AMG 35 variant and it would be perfect

Sir, I have to say that you reviews are so detailed. I also like the comparison table you show. Great work!

Mercedes makes a nice car for sure but...I think I'll stick to my fully loaded CX-5 for half the price with all the same features. Plus a heads up display! And regular gas. Yes I know they are different "classes" of cars (former Mercedes owner). But I'd rather have more features imo

I looked at all the models you mentioned and ended up getting the Mercedes GLB, didn’t know a thing about it when I started. But as I test drove others and then the GLB, I was smiling behind my mask! I couldn’t say no! Thrilled with it and the screen navigation is so intuitive and just the right size.

I like the space efficiency of the FWD/transverse engine configuration the GLB has. If I bought this, it would be as an upgrade from a BMW X1 (also FWD/transverse engine) for the extra cargo space.

Cross shop with Land Rover discovery sport, Acura MDX, Lexus rxl, and Infiniti QX60. Maybe even throw in a GMC model. I know I'll be considering the GLB for my next car and I'd like to cross compare it against these few if I'm going to consider it for my next car. Thank you so much for all the work you do and all of your reviews!!! They're the best!!!

I bought one little over 2 months ago with the 3rd row. My kids fit fine. I'm local Alex if you want to check it out!

One of the best car reviews with comparable stats to give viewer context. Can you do a GLB 35 review? Pretty please?

The third row has been available in the US for months now. There is one in a dealer in Long Island.

On the lot in Chantilly, VA they had a GLB with the third row back seat. Looked tight but nice to have in a pinch, likely best for kids.

Best part of your review is at the end where you compare to its competitors. Hardly any other reviewer does that. Very informative. I test drove the GLB and the only -ve is a couple of times i checked the side mirrors as i thought a Hellcat was coming up on me. Heard a rumble. After a while realized that was the GLB engine noise. So the B score for cabin noise i would agree. Maybe 2021 will improve.

Everyone calls it the baby G-wagon, Im glad you have the logic to see more GLS

How does Alex have less than 350k subscribers? So informative and never shows a mistake! 🤩

Just when you thought that MB couldn't fit anymore SUV's/crossovers into their lineup....this would be No.8 if I'm not mistaken making them the brand with the most extensive lineup! But for real, I dropped my pen when he said $60k! That's dropping almost another GLA on top!

3rd Row option is just $800 and well worth it, even if you don’t use it it’s always nice to have in case you ever do need to. It helps making it more versatile.

THIS is how you do car reviews. Literally every other car reviewer on RU-vid needs to take note.

Love the diamond front

Wow the new mercedes lines are all great looking, hard to choose one! GLB45 would be awesome.

Well worth the money for a GLB250! I am thinking of ordering one for $57K! Black or Silver model! Cannot decide!

looking forward to picking one up in the spring

Baby Got Back! Alex, you crack me up.

Thank you. This video convinced me to buy the manual transmission Hyundai Venue.

amazing legroom from front drive compact engineering. looks like Mercedes is all in for the SUV/crossover segment. the GLB looks odd and looks squished, i saw one last week in the supermarket parking lot. i pointed it out to my wife who said., "yeah ok" and had no interest in it. i think for FWD i would go with the X1 because its nicer looking and more bang for the buck.

This is where Mercedes competes with itself. What an amazing vehicle. I have no hope of ever getting one of these, but my or my, Mercedes did a wonderful job on this vehicle. The Goldilocks car for me. It is just right in so many metrics. I think Mercedes has a hit here. Also the looks really aren't that polarizing at least to me anyway. If I was of better means and needed a crossover, this would be the top of my list. Your mileage may vary of course.

All the things I really want in a car are decent cabin room and a comfortable upright seat, good visibility, and being easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces. Most small luxury crossovers should fit the bill but so many compromise on all three in an effort to look sporty; the fact that the GLB doesn't makes it the best one on the market as far as I'm concerned.

The reason that the European vehicles come with so few features is simple: they want to be able to advertise a low entry price. By the time you add the standard features that come on, say the RAV4, that base price has skyrocketed.

That very good mpg it getting. well done Mercedes. I till going for the RAV4 Hybrid, Good review as always Alex.

You provide the most thorough reviews...thank you.

Wow Alex, your review is incredibly useful. Thank you so much....

There is at least 1 in america, as Raiti's rides in Florida went over one at a dealer, and as a grown adult (i think like 5'10" or 5'11") he fit in the third row just fine, which blew him away.

Looks 100X better with this grille over the 3-bar

I’m happy to see the GLK product concept has been given a continuation, and what a continuation this is! Great car (hoping to see a hybrid thrown in there too) and great review - Alex has nailed the review formula🙏🏻

GLB is like the Jeep Campus. Larger than the Sub-Compact Renegade but smaller than the Compact Cherokee

I actually really like this

I'd consider the GLB's direct competition is more like a Toyota Highlander, except the highlander comes with more options even at its base level than a GLB. Even the top level Highlander is much lower priced than top level glb 250. However, I much prefer the looks and the headroom [ I'm 6'5"] of the GLB. I like the boxier looking suvs like old range rovers though. But bang for the buck the toyota wins hands down in my book. However, Im still considering a glb 250 if I can get it for the right price.

I very like the styling - with the exception of these big fake air intakes at the front. The front would look so good with solely that nice grill.

In some markets, people want cheaper MB 3-row crossover. That's why GLB came out. Still wondering how it compares to GLC regarding mechanical parts.

Isn't the Telluride actually the better choice in almost every metric including a much nicer interior environment and reliability?

I think the GLB 35 would be the sweet spot here, providing that it's not too expensive!

I’m not a fan of the styling of most of the Mercedes line up. I like Audi’s and BMWs more, but this one I like. Can’t wait to see the AMG versions. Sadly I would only be able to afford the basic model with a few options.

I guess I'll get my hopes up when these show up CPO for $30K.

The 72 decibels for cabin noise level is a deal breaker. Way too loud as compared to peers.

lol @ everyone whining about 60k. If you option this like a normal person, even with AWD and adjustable suspension it's around 45k. If you want a bunch of useless AMG appearance stuff, then yeah, you're gonna spend more.

We really liked the size, legroom and interior of the GLB, but we couldn't find one with all the safety features and no AMG add-on's on the West Coast back in February. Being retired, I really liked the safety tech, but was disappointed and surprised that none of the dealers in the West Coast region even had one that wasn't decked out with extra AMG styling options that push the price up to 55k+. The noise level may have stopped us, as we planned to travel to see family. We needed to get a new vehicle and couldn't wait, so we dropped the GLB from off our list.

The proportions of the GLB look off IMO. If you option Mercedes carefully by staying close to a base model, you can save thousands. If you even upgrade wheels they make you take several premium packages in addition, some of which are useless to me- Auto braking/lane nanny (texting package)

The GLC 300 and the GLB have fake exhaust tips. If you want a hitch it’s a factory option on the GLC Not available on the GLB, nor is there an aftermarket hitch at this time. I ended up going with the GLC.

This car is for a person who wants a Mercedes Benz suv and knows about cars .

I wish that you would tell us a little about service intervals and costs for the transmissions, as it is probably the largest single continuous service item.. The GLB has an 8 speed DCT, and Feldman Imports (Minneapolis) was telling me that one engine/transmission package has a 30k service interval and it included a 4 cylinder engine. They could not verify 8spDCT or 9spd auto, and current transmissions all require a new pan so it was a $900 cost for the scheduled transmission service alone. I was told that there was a 60k service interval for one with a 6 cylinder engine, presumably the 9spd auto. So the GLBs savings on fuel is more than made up for on scheduled transmission service costs assuming that this is the 30k service interval. I suppose it is assumed that if you have to ask that you cannot afford it, but on the other hand if a person does not budget their money whether their income is $30k or $3million then they will have financial problems. In VW around 2018, the DSG (DCT) transmissions required a $500 service every 40k miles, the Tiptronic a $300 service every 100k miles and the manual, nothing just don't kill the clutch (maybe this is why manuals have been made less available). Audi is similar but (surprise) more expensive so I look carefully at DCTs for this reason. Most people are not prepared. The GLB is also not rated for towing.

Hello Alex, where do you get your legroom numbers?. I have mentioned this to you in the past (on the BMW X5 review), but according to two different sites and MBUSA it self, it says the GLE cabin legroom is 40.3" Front and 40.9" Rear making the total 81.2". That would make it 1.7" more than this GLB. I'm 6'7" tall and mostly leg and have personally tested GLEs and was impressed at the roominess (looks like I'd be still impressed with the GLBs as well). Agree with peoples comment on the road noise, I'm a bit shocked a Honda CRV (@70db - your test) has less road noise than the GLB and feel that is a major negative. Also, would you put this GLB above the Cadillac XT5 for handling (I really like how that one handles).

Very parctical design but cabin noise is the deal breaker for me :-(

$60K! I can’t stop laughing.

just got one for $36000, love it

I"m suprised reviewers are not mentioning GLB"s FWD torque steer which the AWD should fix, and less cabin and road noise insulation than higher models. Drove it as a loaner and really liked it otherwise.

Hi Alex! Thank you for the great review for the GLB. Did you have a chance to test the Driver Assistance package features (steering assist, adaptive cruise with route based speed adaption?) I'm told the semi-autonomous features of this merc are the closest to Tesla's Autopilot (when compared to other brands). What are your thoughts? Thanks.

Like your review which is very thorough in particular the comparison between choosing GLA, GLB & GLC as it’s true that this is causing me difficult to pick as I want some options as must have for myself such as 360 camera, Burmester speakers etc. but adding those to GLB 250 is similar price to a standard GLC 300 in Hong Kong. I can get a cheaper GLA 200 with all options I like loaded even with AMG line but there is NO rear a/c ventilation available in GLA 200 in HK which is weird even if I’m willing to pay for extra! BTW Can’t find your GLC 300 review. Is it available yet? Love to see it !

Excellent, and well-structured review!!!

Mercedes needs to make more standard for their crazy high prices.

Can you compare GLB vs RDX in terms of overall interior and cargo space ?

“Baby got back”

Absolutely useful review, as always. How would you compare this to Lincoln Nautilus? If I had to pick between the two?

So for those who have driven the 2020 GLB 4matic and a BMW X3 2020 XDrive. Which one would you choose in regards to real world safety? Cause in the end it all sounds good in paper but when you crash, it's a different story.

Listening to this guy makes my head spin. Mercedes simply has too many damn SUV’s for sale. Keep the GLB, GLC, and GLS. Get rid of the rest. BMW has the same problem.

Alex, I'm surprised to not hear the Tiguan mentioned. I know it's "down market" but is similar in size and one of the few 3 row crossovers worth talking about. A SEL premium Tiguan is roughly $10k less than a similarly spec'd GLB. What are your thoughts? Is the GLB worth the step up?

It's a shame that this is $55k when fully loaded. That is where the 35 should be when it comes out, not the base engine model. That'll end up being north of $60k. I'll wait to see what the all new GLA35 ends up being.

That's a Very Nice Looking "Baby" Benz C.U.V.!!!

M.B.U.X. Alex lol that's the 3rd time I've heard you call the infotainment system "M-Bux" and the steering wheel is the same in every Mercedes outside of the AMG dynamic steering wheel, not a bad looking car though the AMG version is nice but I'm so tired of the "TruckTrend", we now have like 10 different SUV tiers now... Great video 👌🏾👌🏾

Worried that every review I’ve watched the leather looks creased on the middle row which I’d assume has barely been sat on in a demo car... My M2 has gone that in the front but I’ve done 35k miles and it’s going for a GLB in the new year.

Missing comparision to Alfa Romeo Stelvio (but it is to GLC and V60??).

I miss a boxy upright vehicle like this since my old Subaru Forester. Too bad it’s a Mercedes-Benz.

Call me an old man, but the traditionalist in me would still rather have a GLC for the RWD balance and handling dynamics.

I optioned this up to 55k 🤨. I would save some money and just get an RDX.

I think MBUX is pronounced like "M.B.U.X." (Mercedes Benz User Experience) and not "Embux". Love your videos!

I have zero interest in this car but watched the whole video to support Alex.

The gas mileage isn't worth it - for that price I would expect a couple dozen miles of EV on top of 31 mpg. Cabin noise and ride quality is a factor as well. As reviewed this vehicle makes a Jeep Wrangler EcoDeisel look attractive.

Next model to come... GLD

Wasn’t this model teased as an off-road cuv? Where is the off-road model?

Would you recommend glb250 compare to Lexus rx350?

Excellent review!

Shares a platform with the Infiniti QX50.

Alex can you include maintained costs in your closing ?

Mercedes are going to sell GLB more than ANY other of their models, and perhaps dominate the compact luxury SUV segment. I see no shorts from this model at all...

I'd take the Cadillac XT4

So much better looking than the Japanese!