Is it a real Benz?

Loyal Mercedes-Benz owners must be having a hard time lately. Their cars probably had reliability issues, although the situation seems to be improving year after year. Worse, though, is that the company launched the B-Class in Canada last year, which probably made quite a few S-Class owners unhappy, as their favourite brand is now selling a hatchback.

And I'm not even talking about the smart fortwo, which shares the same showroom...

The B-Class is the entry-level model of the prestigious brand.

Few horses
It's ironic to see a company selling 604-hp and 738-pound-feet cars on one side of the showroom, and 134-horsepower B200s on the other side. The small 2.0-litre engine, with a single camshaft and only 8 valves, generates 136 lb-ft of torque; it's clear that the B200's mission isn't the same as the S65 AMG's.

But in my humble opinion, however, this engine is up to the task. The B200 is no bullet, but it accelerates adequately, and obviously has no problem keeping up with the traffic flow. 100 km/h is achieved in about 10.5 seconds. Equipped with the Autotronic continuously-variable transmission, the B200 seems hesitant and is slow to react during launches; the gearbox is calibrated for maximum fuel efficiency.

And maximize fuel it does: I averaged 9.3 L/100 km, which is much appreciated. The engine requires super unleaded, though. For quicker driving, you can activate the transmission's Sport mode, which changes gears more aggressively.

Mercedes-Benz markets the B-Class as a "Sports Tourer", which is a little optimistic. The car is not very sporty, because the steering, although light and pleasing, is slow and doesn't encourage one to hit the twisty roads at a high velocity. However, the suspension is very comfortable on the highway, and absorbs road imperfections very well during city commuting. In normal driving situations, I was pleasantly surprised by this car.

The B200 offers good road manners under normal driving conditions.

Good looks
From the front, it's unmistakably a Benz. The front end is dominated by a massive grille that harbours the German brand's logo, of course. Its profile shows a sheetmetal crease that flows upwards from the front wheel and straight over the rear one. Very nice.

The rear-end design is rather conservative.

The B200's posterior looks more generic, and the rear overhang couldn't be shorter; the wheelbase is almost as long as the overall length of the car. And fortunately, Mercedes replaced the wheel covers on the 2006 model by sporty alloy rims this year. Let's just say that a luxury car with hubcaps looks pretty cheap...

Although everyone considers the B-Class as a small car, it's actually as big as a Toyota Matrix, and only slightly smaller than a Mazda5.

Luxurious cabin, even without leather
You don't need cowskin to create a cockpit that's both luxurious and attractive. The cloth seats of the B200 are very comfortable and can be adjusted to fit anyone.

In back, the amount of space is impressive; there is a lot of legroom, and if they're willing to rub shoulders, three adults will fit on the bench seat. In a high-roofed vehicle, like this one, no one will rub his head on the ceiling.

The cargo hold is also spacious: 544 litres, or 1,530 when the rear bench is folded away. That's more than in the Matrix (428 and 1,506 litres) as well as the Audi A3 (371 and 1,019), but not as much as in the Mazda5 and Kia Rondo.

As a bonus, the driver will benefit from a high seating position; you don't sit in the B200, you climb up into it. On the highway, I'm sitting just as high as the occupants in minivans that I'm passing. That's an important purchase factor for many people.

For the rest, everything is typical Benz: the doors close with a solid sensation, the materials used inside are top-notch, and every button and switch seems designed with great care. The car is very quiet on the highway.

The quality of materials is great and the overall visual effect is a success.

Besides the key that needs an extra effort to pull out of the ignition, and the angle of the seatbacks that adjust with a knob instead of a lever (typical of German cars), I have only good things to say about the B200's cockpit.

The B200 is powered by a 134-hp 4-cylinder engine.

Competition
Besides the Audi A3, there isn't really a direct competitor for the B-Class in Canada, and then again, it would measure up better with the B200 Turbo  which costs $35,400 and up. The A3 2.0T is offered from $33,800. My B200 tester carries a base price of $31,400 and includes the $1,500 Premium Package (cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, lighting package, heated seats, etc.) and the $1,500 CVT automatic, for a total of $34,400.

You could also arguably consider the B200 as a more-luxurious alternative to the Toyota Matrix and Kia Rondo, a type of vehicle that's become more and more popular.

Conclusion
So, is the B-Class worthy of the Silver Star? I tend to think it is, since it possesses most of the elements that make a Mercedes a Mercedes. It's not very quick, and the CVT gearbox is a little lazy, but in general, I adored my week behind the wheel. And despite the reliability problems of the company's recent products, there's a reason why there still are so many repeat buyers.

In addition, it's $7,000 less than a C-Class, so the entry price to get into a Mercedes-Benz hasn't been as "affordable" for over 15 years.

However, be prepared to get some snobbishly nasty stares from S-Class owners when you'll visit the dealership for your oil change.


Low fuel consumption
High driving position
Impressive interior space



Lazy automatic transmission (unless switching to the Sport mode)
Seatback angle adjustment is set with a knob



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