2020 Mercedes-Benz B-Class - First impression

Mercedes-Benz has recently launched the 2020 B-Class in the Philippines for a price of Php 2.69 million. This is the third generation of the car and unlike its previous model, it is available in only a single variant, i.e, the B 180 trim. The B-Class made its world debut in October 2018 which isn’t that long ago and it has already stepped into its third generation. So how is the new 2020 Mercedes-Benz B-Class? Here is our first impression.

The overall silhouette of the new B-Class would look similar to the previous generation model but there are a host of changes that Mercedes has incorporated. At the front, the grille has been made bigger and still looks gorgeous and premium with that Tristar badge in the centre. The LED headlamps have been worked upon as well and look sportier and more aggressive than before.

The side view of the car gives you a new set of alloy wheels which do look good but aren’t as sporty as the ones on the previous model. These tend to add a more mature and business-type style to the car rather than making it look aggressive, sportier, and fast. While these might appear to be out of place when looked upon individually, they gel with the overall new look of the 2020 B-Class in which Mercedes has smoothened out the corners and made them curvaceous.

Moving to the rear end of the car, we have a new pair of tail lamps that is sleeker than before and looks much better and sportier. We also have a tailgate-mounted rear spoiler for that added touch of sportiness. What else new at the back is the added diffuser.

Now let us talk about the interior of the new B-Class. Since it’s a Mercedes, so expect the use of top-quality materials, luxury cabin, and an immaculate fit and finish. We don’t really need to elaborate on these topics. What we need to focus on here is the new MBUX infotainment system which replaces the previous COMAND system.

It is a seamless long display that includes dual monitors that show the infotainment system, multi-info display, as well as the instrument panel. How cool is that? It also features the latest connectivity options like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Mercedes has also added a voice recognition system which can be activated by saying "Hey Mercedes" and understands a set of preset voice commands.

The dashboard of the new 2020 B-Class is similar to what we have seen in the A-Class launched here in the Philippines a few months ago. It has aircraft-inspired AC vents that simply look fabulous. We are a huge fan of this design and style. And, of course, we have the distinctive dual-tone theme in the cabin.

If we talk about space, there is plenty of it for all the occupants and if you want to increase the boot space you can do that by folding the rear seats which come in a 40:20:40 split configuration. After folding them, the boot space expands to 1,540 litres. Some of the other mentionable interior features include power-adjustable driver's seat with memory function, climate control, leather seats, engine start/stop button, automatic headlights, and cruise control.

Digging more into the 2020 Mercedes-Benz B-Class specs, we found what most of you would be interested in - the engine. Powering this vehicle is a new 1.3-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine which churns out 136 PS of max power and 200 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to an advanced 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox which provides seamless gear changes and a smooth drive.

In terms of safety, there is a standard safety kit that includes ABS with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution) and BA (brake assist), vehicle stability control, traction control, (TPMS) tyre pressure monitoring system, hill-start assist, and airbags.

The new 2020 Mercedes-Benz B-Class price of Php 2.69 million puts up a lot on the table. Launched by Auto Nation Group, who is the official distributor of Mercedes-Benz cars in the country, the new B-Class would be a good choice for people who previously had a look at the A-Class and wanted a bit more.

Also Read:- Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport is a perfect blend of style and practicality