What's the news?
It's facelift time for the Mercedes B-Class, the second generation 'W246' model that has been on sale since late 2011. Apparently, 350,000 have been shifted globally in three years, so a refreshed version should continue to chug out of the showrooms at a steady rate.
Exterior
Well, it's a facelift so the front end gives the new B away first, with a revised bumper, wider radiator grille with twin louvre bars and integral daytime running lamps in the headlights. The rear bumper is subtly tweaked with a contoured covering and new chrome strip. LED 'High Performance' lights are an option on all models, except for the B-Class Electric Drive - which can't be specified with them at all. LED bicolour rear clusters round off the visual nips 'n' tucks.
Interior
With promises of 'more exclusivity, individualisation and an up-to-date feel', the actual physical upgrades include a larger, eight-inch info screen perched on the dash and new dials in the instrument cluster. Buyers can also pick from 12 colours for the ambient lighting, Keyless-Go is an option and a whole raft of safety tech is crammed in, as well as 'Mercedes connect me' telematics.
Mechanicals
Three engines, two fuels and six variants for the conventional range have been confirmed for global consumption, plus the 180hp/340Nm Electric Drive machine. There are two diesel engines, of 1.5- and 2.2 litres in capacity, plus a 1.6-litre petrol. The 1.5 diesel is found in the B 180 CDI and B 180 CDI Eco models, the latter of which dips below 100g/km for CO2 at 94g/km, while the 2.2 has 136hp and 300Nm for the B 200 CDI, and 177hp and 350Nm for the B 220 CDI, with both large-capacity diesels optionally available as all-wheel drive 4Matic models. The petrol version makes either 122hp/200Nm or 156hp/250Nm, creating the B 180 and B 200 models respectively. It should be noted that not all of these options may be open to Irish buyers - an announcement has yet to be made.
All B-Class models have a coefficient of drag (Cd) figure of less than 0.25, making them the slipperiest cars in their class according to Mercedes-Benz, while economy range-wide runs from 42.8- (6.6 litres/100km) to 78.5mpg (3.6 litres/100km), and no B-Class emits more than 130g/km CO2. The 7G-DCT dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox is offered on all models (expect for the B 180 CDI Eco, which is manual only, and the B 220 CDI, which has the automatic transmission as standard) and the B-Class Electric has a rated consumption of 16.6kWh/100km, with a top speed of 159km/h and 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds. That makes it the fastest accelerating B of all, the B 220 CDI next at 8.3 seconds and the B 180 CDI DCT slowest at 11.9 seconds. Top speeds range from 188- to 224km/h.
Anything else?
"As the first member of a completely new generation of compact class, for us the B-Class paved the way for great success in this vehicle segment. The pioneer is now in better shape than ever," says Ola Källenius, Merc's Swedish bigwig for marketing and sales. "The B-Class is the perfect (family) car for anyone who attaches importance to practicality, comfort and safety, but at the same time doesn't want to miss out on sportiness or driving dynamics."
Mercedes-Benz will give the revised B-Class its world debut at next month's Paris Motor Show, very shortly after which we will put it to the test.