The GLB is an attractive luxury SUV for the money. Its boxy shape gives it a distinctive look and provides extra passenger and cargo space. Throw in some of the best technology available on the market and you've got one of the best small luxury SUVs around.Read full review
Options can quickly add cost to what is an entry-level model
What's new
Updated front and rear fascias
10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen become standard
Mild reshuffling of features between trims and packages
Part of the first GLB generation introduced for 2020
Overview
The GLB is the second smallest SUV in Mercedes-Benz's wide spectrum of utility vehicles. Sizewise, it's slightly bigger than the GLA mini ute and just smaller than the midsize GLC, which sits below the larger and more luxurious GLE and GLS models. By virtue of its class positioning, the GLB stays more reasonably priced (for a luxury ute) while sacrificing the upscale features and finishes you'll get in the higher models.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class GLB 250 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.56 per gallon for premium unleaded in Louisiana.
With squared-off edges, a 111-inch wheelbase and an optional third row, the GLB finds itself in a sweet spot of luxury ute functionality. Thanks to a fairly traditional shape that maximizes interior space, the GLB offers more usable passenger space than several direct competitors. A sliding and reclining second row adds utility, while the available way-back seat will suffice for little people. We like that getting the front-wheel-drive GLB doesn't force a compromise on features. What's more, the new-for-2024 mild hybrid system helps improve EPA fuel economy by 1 mpg combined on front-wheel-drive trims and 2 mpg combined on all-wheel-drive trims.
Competitors to consider
Direct competitors to the GLB include the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40, among others. Last year, the GLB was arguably already ahead of these rivals technologically on the merits of its MBUX infotainment system alone. This year that system gains a bigger screen, furthering the gap. But the GLB's interior doesn't feel as plush as the Audi's and its handling isn't as athletic as the BMW's.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our Verdict
The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Great
8.1
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The GLB is an attractive luxury SUV for the money. Its boxy shape gives it a distinctive look and provides extra passenger and cargo space. Throw in some of the best technology available on the market and you've got one of the best small luxury SUVs around.
How does the GLB-Class drive? In our testing, the GLB 250 reached 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, which is properly quick and at the top of the class. When you stomp the pedal, there's a noticeable delay before it starts accelerating, but with a lighter pedal application, it gets underway smoothly.
The GLB isn't particularly exciting to drive, but it is more capable than most SUV owners will need. The GLB's brakes are easy to control for smooth stops and impressively strong when you need to make an emergency stop. Around turns, the GLB feels sure-footed and planted.
Comfort
8.5/10
How comfortable is the GLB-Class? The GLB has a smooth ride and front seats that remain comfortable for hours at a time. We also like how the cabin stays pleasantly quiet on the highway, even on rough road surfaces. The climate control system also works well on both hot and cold days to keep you cozy at your desired temperature.
Interior
8.5/10
How’s the interior? The GLB's ride height and tall door openings make it easy to get in and out of. There's no need to step up or stoop down — just slip on in. Once inside, you'll find that all of the controls are logically placed and, after a very short time, you can operate them without having to take your eyes off the road.
The GLB's boxy shape affords generous space compared to most of its competitors. Its tall windows provide excellent outward visibility. One minor downside: The sun visors are too small and don't provide full coverage when moved to the side of the vehicle.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Save as much as $6,608 with Edmunds Click on the trim you’re interested in to see what Edmunds suggests you should pay to get a good deal. Savings vary by trim; $6,608 refers to estimated savings off of MSRP for the AMG GLB 35 trim.
2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class pricing in Lake Charles, LA
How’s the tech? The GLB gets high marks for its tech features. It comes with Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. MBUX is the easiest and best system out there, with many ways to control functions. It sometimes take a moment to process voice commands, but they work accurately.
The GLB's driver assist features are particularly good. The adaptive cruise works great whether you're driving in dense highway traffic or cruising on the open highway. The lane keeping assistance can be a little too aggressive in trying to keep you in the lane, but that situation is pretty rare.
Storage
8/10
How’s the storage? The GLB's boxy shape comes in handy when taking on cargo. It'll accommodate big and bulky objects, and the low liftover height of the cargo floor and the standard power liftgate make loading easier. There are also plenty of places to keep your personal items, with large door pockets and a sizable center bin. Spring-loaded cupholder tabs keep narrow beverages secure too.
For family duty, the GLB should work out OK. A rear-facing infant safety seat can fit, but only if you keep the rear seats slid all the way back and the front seats in a reasonable position. We did notice that some car seat bases we tested were a bit hard to latch onto the GLB's car seat anchor points.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Fuel Economy
8/10
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates fuel economy to be up to 28 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's a little above average for the class. Based on our real-world driving, we suspect the EPA figure should be achievable with a light foot.
Value
7.5/10
Is the GLB-Class a good value? The GLB splits the difference between the smaller and more affordable GLA and the slightly bigger and more expensive GLC. It's an appealing option as long as you know what you're getting. Buying one with a ton of options significantly inflates the price, and at that point you should consider the more refined GLC.
Compared with other extra-small luxury SUVs, you pay a little more for the GLB, but you also get more in terms of space, performance and comfort. As with most models in this class, the quality of materials feels a bit cheap in some areas, but overall the GLB feels worth its price.
Wildcard
8/10
The GLB's upright and boxy styling gives it a more traditional and utilitarian SUV look, which we like. Is the GLB fun? No, not really. But that's mostly because we've only tested the GLB 250 so far. The AMG variant should have drivers seeking more excitement covered.
Which GLB-Class does Edmunds recommend?
If you need all-wheel drive, the GLB 250 4Matic is the best choice. If not, the GLB 250 offers identical standard equipment without all-wheel drive. The high-performance AMG GLB 35 offers a level of performance most buyers won't need. And it costs significantly more.
Purchased the 2021 GLB because I was looking for a compact-sized SUV with third row seating for kids. The GLB also has a modern interior, I like the turbine-style air vents and the "surfboard" infotainment and instrument cluster. Despite what others have said about navigating the infotainment, I don't find it hard or cumbersome to use. However, one nuisance is having to scroll to the … radio presets every now and then on the instrument display, sometimes it doesn't save the last setting. I also like the large panoramic sunroof although that's a $1500 option. The engine is peppy and the car is nimble (for an SUV) and has great class gas mileage. There are a few annoyances though: 1) The 2nd row seats don't fold all the way down IF the seats are moved to the front most position (the headrest hits the front seats), this makes it even more difficult to climb into the 3rd row; 2) Android Auto and Apply Carplay doesn't take up the full 10.25 inch infotainment screen, Google Maps only displays 7 inches. Hopefully Mercedes will update it to fill the screen.
The GLB isn't very stylish, isn't very fast and performance-oriented, and it's not the most luxurious Mercedes; however it offers the perfect practicality. The only competitor is the Discovery Sport which is also a compact, luxury SUV with a third row.
18 months on - A great ride with a cautionary tale
A follow up to my earlier review "A nice blend of space, tech and value". Had this car for 18 months now - finished the first service.
All the key points are very valid. The car offers exceptional space for a small SUV, easy to handle, great tech, super boot space.
One nagging issue from the start was poor gas mileage. Right from the time we took possession of the car in 2021, we … never got close to the advertised gas mileage. I asked about that in the first service check and got no response from the dealer except everything was ok. A few months past first service, the engine light came on and stayed on. We didnt take the car in immediately and suddenly found ourselves with an unreliable engine that died on. On taking it in for service, the CSR immediately mentioned that some GLB engines had faulty engines with leaking cylinders. They took the car in and replaced the engine cylinders as it was within warranty. Since then the mileage is exactly as advertised and the car performance is great.
Moral of the story - if you GLB isnt giving you good mileage - get your engine cylinders checked,
I have a defective vehicle built during COVID…Rain water accumulates next to the driver’s side seat. After 6 attempts for the dealership to identify the issue they determined that replacing the door and frame seals would work. Two weeks later the vehicle was ready…Went to pick it up and they did a horrible job on installing the new seals and they cut the headliner too where it didn’t … even meet the seal. Needless to say I left the vehicle to redo the repair, in the interim I filed a claim with MB Customer Care… Two and a half weeks later the vehicle was ready… I Inspected the vehicle with the service manager and found a 10 inch circular wet spot on the headliner in the rear of the vehicle. At this point the service manager said that he was going to work with MB Corporate and assigned me to a sales consultant to get me out of the vehicle and into another at my current lease price….Here it is a almost 2 months later my vehicle still has the original leak and the headliner above the driver gets wet and is stained and the electronic display flashes on and off and the AC fan sounds like a jet engine. I cannot get help from Mercedes-Benz corporate or any response from the dealership.
This one is a lemon!
As with any family, with an additional kid we had to upgrade from my coupe. We were searching for a SUV that had space for kids and a dog, provided the latest tech and was efficient enough for California gas prices. After doing a month of research, the GLB fit the badge very well. We liked the look and the interior tech.
We have had it for a month now. The mileage is as advertised. Not … the most performance oriented engine but it can be zippy enough. We got parking assist which is really for city driving and parking. Music system is decent. All this at a price for a loaded regular brand. It’s been a good ride so far.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class, so we've included reviews for other years of the GLB-Class since its last redesign.
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NOTE: This video is about the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class, but since the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.
In the market for a brand-new SUV? Whether you're looking for small and affordable or large and in charge, Edmunds has you covered with our list of best-in-class SUVs for the 2022-2023 model year. From Honda to Mercedes to Volkswagen, our comprehensive list encompasses everything from budget and economy 2-row SUVs to luxury 3-row SUVs on sale today up to $100,000.
When a collision is unavoidable, this system emits a special noise through the stereo speakers that protects your hearing during impact.
Active Brake Assist
Emits an alert if a front collision is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't react in time.
Blind Spot Assist
Signals the driver if a vehicle is in a blind spot or if a car or bicyclist is approaching from behind when the GLB is parked.
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Rating
Overall
Not Rated
Driver
Not Rated
Passenger
Not Rated
Side Crash Rating
Rating
Overall
5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Rating
Overall
5 / 5
Driver
5 / 5
Passenger
5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Rating
Front Seat
5 / 5
Back Seat
5 / 5
Rollover
Rating
Rollover
4 / 5
Dynamic Test Result
No Tip
Risk Of Rollover
17.9%
FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2024 GLB-Class both on the road and at the track, giving it a 8.1 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2024 GLB-Class gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 34 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the GLB-Class has 22.0 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class. Learn more
What's new in the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class:
Updated front and rear fascias
10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen become standard
Mild reshuffling of features between trims and packages
Part of the first GLB generation introduced for 2020
To determine whether the Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the GLB-Class. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the GLB-Class's 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2024 GLB-Class and gave it a 8.1 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2024 GLB-Class gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 34 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2024 GLB-Class is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class?
The least-expensive 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class GLB 250 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8AM). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $44,450.
Other versions include:
GLB 250 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8AM) which starts at $44,450
GLB 250 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8AM) which starts at $46,450
AMG GLB 35 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8AM) which starts at $59,050
What are the different models of Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class?
If you're interested in the Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class, the next question is, which GLB-Class model is right for you? GLB-Class variants include GLB 250 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8AM), GLB 250 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8AM), and AMG GLB 35 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8AM). For a full list of GLB-Class models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
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