Which? works for you Which? Car review MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) On sale: Sep 2005 Class: New price: 19,635 25,195 Used price: From 3,695 Performance: Boot & Storage: Ride comfort: Safety: Very safe. Spacious and practical. Wellbuilt. Smaller engines are weak. Expensive to buy used, and costly to service. handling: Reliability: Total score: 78% Recommended models in the range Which? Car Top Choice Model B180 CDI SE 5dr New price: 21,705 Used price: 5,750 Fastest Model B200 Turbo 5dr Tip Auto New price: Used price: 4,550 062mph: 7.4 secs Most Efficient Model B200 CDI Sport 5dr New price: 23,745 Used price: 6,275 Combined fuel economy: 54.3 mpg Cheapest Model to buy new B160 BlueEFFICIENCY SE 5dr New price: 19,635 Overview The Bclass is a spacious, practical familysized car somewhere between a fivedoor hatchback and a small MPV although it s so expensive secondhand that you could easily afford a more versatile, more modern MPV from another brand. All the same, it feels wellbuilt. The Bclass has plenty of boot storage space and shares the enhanced safety of its sandwich floor with the smaller Aclass, although at 4.2m in length it has a noticeably longer wheelbase. There may be better allrounders on the market but it s safe, flexible and comfortable and, significantly, it carries that MercedesBenz badge. The Bclass hatchback was available with several petrol engines in its life, including a 95bhp 1.5litre and a 116bhp 1.7litre, badged B160 and B180. We also tested the shortlived 193bhp B200 Turbo petrol model with automatic transmission, which proved a thirsty beast at 32.8mpg (officially 34.4mpg). Even the 1.5litre petrol engine was disappointing in fuel economy terms: 36.7mpg (officially 44.1mpg). Either of the two 2.0litre diesel engines makes a better bet: the B180 CDI (107bhp) and B200 CDI (138bhp). The B180 CDI automatic we tried recorded 40.9mpg (officially 50.4mpg). All models are available with manual or automatic transmission. Mercedes updated and facelifted the Bclass in summer 2008, introducing the BlueEfficiency petrol models. From summer 2009, these gained Mercedes EcoStop stopstart system to further improve fuel consumption around town. An allnew Bclass arrived in 2012. According to the latest Which? Car Survey, the 20052011 Bclass has a solid fourstar score, with petrol models particularly reliable. The most commonly reported problems are with the washwipe, air con and lights, while the suspension is a problem more specific to dieselpowered versions. Cheapest Model to buy used B150 5dr Used price: 3,695 Cheapest Model to Run (new) B180 CDI Sport 5dr New price: 22,015 Running costs: 17,472 (3 years/36,000 miles) Owner s View Comfortable, easy to get in and out of, good boot space and back seats fold down easily to take rubbish to the tip. Very comfortable to drive. I love this car, for me it is excellent.
MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) On the road The powerful B200 Turbo delivers smooth and strong acceleration right up to top speeds and gives a stable, safe drive. The B150 handles similarly well, although the 1.5 litre petrol engine performs less impressively than the B200 s. Performance With powerful acceleration and smooth, refined performance across the board, the B200 Turbo offers a more satisfying drive than the B150, which is acceptable but perhaps should be better for a car carrying the Mercedes name. To keep up with traffic, the B150 needs a lot of harsh acceleration and gearchanging, although the engine is quiet and civilised at all rev counts. The B200 s automatic transmission is seamless and wellmatched to the engine, making for a very relaxing drive, although it will sit at the top end of the rev range when your foot s to the floor. In the B150, the manual gears engage easily and precisely and the fivespeed transmission correlates well with the engine s characteristics, keeping some power in reserve at high motorway speeds in fifth. Acceleration (3762mph) 6.2 secs 5.8 secs 5.8 secs 8.9 secs 4.2 secs Performance We use the sophisticated electronic timing equipment to record standingstart and ingear acceleration, and repeat each test several times. Ride comfort Ride comfort is assessed by our laboratory experts who have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in a myriad of different models. Ride comfort Suspension is welltuned and absorbs most bumps effectively, with little sway or tipping of the car. Occasionally, some harsher bumps are transferred to passengers.
MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) On the road continued... Handling The Bclass has excellent stability on the road and is unfazed by side winds or poor surfaces. Steering is responsive, precise and smooth and a combination of the ESP stability control and the Steer Control systems aids the driver well in critical situations. The Bclass understeers in corners to help less experienced drivers, and traction control helps prevent wheelslip. Brakes ABS and the Steer Control augment the driver s braking to give a very stable performance in emergency situations, reducing the likelihood of sliding off course. In our braking tests, the B200 came to a halt from 62mph in 39m, while the B150 stopped in 38.5m. All models feature ABS and brake assist. Braking distance (620mph) 37.0m 39.0m 39.0m 38.5m 39.0m Refinement and noise At higher revs, both the petrol engines we tested became audible, although for the most part the cabins are quiet and engine and wind noise is welldampened. The workmanship of the Bclass is topgrade, with highquality materials, snugly fitting body components and special MercedesBenz inscribed aluminium rails providing a classy accent. Just a repair kit and emergency wheel were provided for flat tyre situations runflat tyres were available as part of an optional alloy wheel upgrade when new. Handling Onthelimit handling is explored well away from public roads to ensure a fair test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of the harshest tests in the industry.. Brakes The Which? Car braking test measures stopping distance from 620mph and is repeated ten times in quick succession to highlight any brake fade issues. Refinement and noise The Which? Car experts use a decibel meter to record interior sound levels at common UK motorway speeds, and combine this with subjective assessments to arrive at an overall score. Cruising noise 67dB 67dB 67dB 68dB 68dB
MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) On the road continued... Cabin and controls The Bclass s cabin is very well laidout, crafted to a high standard and easy to operate. The steering column is height and reachadjustable and the pedals, gear lever and ignition are wellplaced. On the dashboard the controls are clearly readable, with the radio, optional climate control and sat nav coming nicely to hand, as do controls for the powered front and rear windows. Weaker spots include the fog light controls, which are difficult to see, and a lack of storage trays in the front. The cooled glovebox loses a lot of space if the optionalfit CD changer is included. Fastening the front seat belts can also be a bit awkward, due to the position of the central storage box. Visibility and parking Options available when new included effective parking sensors and bixenon headlamps with cornering beams. Cabin and controls We penalise cars with difficult controls, and we look for things like backlit light switches and easytouse heating and ventilation adjustments. Visibility and parking Visibility is a major issue for motorists today, so each car gets a 360degree swivel view test to reproduce the driver s eye view and any obscured areas. Turning circle 12.0m 12.0m 11.5m 12.0m 11.5m
MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) Comfort and practicality The Bclass is roomy and comfortable, and provides 100 litres more boot space than the smaller Aclass; with the rear seats folded, you get a huge load bay. Getting in and out The Bclass s floor base is quite high, so passengers need to raise their legs a fair way to get in and out, but the high seats and wide door apertures make this easy. However, you need to watch the doors when facing uphill as the arresters are quite weak and the doors are prone to swinging shut. A remotecontrol fob activates the central locking and windows, and the headlights remain on to illuminate passage to and from the car. Seat space and comfort There s a definite feeling of space in the Bclass s cabin, with generous width and legroom. The front can easily accommodate passengers above 1.90m tall, with similar room in the back. The seats themselves are wellcontoured, with firm back support. An optional seating comfort package adds heightadjustment to the front passenger seat, and includes tilt adjustment and lumbar support for both front seats. The rear bench is also wellpadded, but gets a bit cramped with three people aboard. Getting in and out We take measurements all around the driver and passenger s door apertures and note the height of the seat, door sills and step down onto the car floor. The best cars don t require too much bending or stretching to get in and out. Seat space and comfort We assess seat comfort subjectively, using our road testers expert knowledge and experience from thousands of different cars. And we measure the head, legand elbowroom on offer in every seat, to see how well the car caters for people of all shapes and sizes.
MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) Comfort and practicality continued... Boot and storage The boot holds 390 litres, but can be expanded to 700 litres by folding down the rear bench. There s a further 65 litres of space under the boot floor, but not when the spare wheel is stowed there. Although the boot opens easily and the internal space is very accessible, there is a danger of injuring your hand when closing the boot door due to an awkwardlyplaced hand grip. Versatility is aided by an asymmetricallysplit folding rear bench. Removable front passenger seat and rear seat backrests were optional when new. Facilities for skibags or throughloading were never available, however. Boot space (seats up/down) 390 litres / 895 litres 390 litres / 700 litres 390 litres / 1090 litres 390 litres / 700 litres 390 litres / 900 litres Heating and ventilation Air conditioning is standard across the range. Heating performance is good in the front of the car, and only a little weaker in the back. Boot and storage Carmakers give official stats for boot space, but our tests are more realistic. We load the boot up with measuring blocks only as far as the rear window line, so that luggage is well secured and won t obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test with the rear seats up, and folded down (where possible). Heating and ventilation Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm each car up from a frosty 10 degrees in our climate chamber. Starting with a cold engine, we measure how long it takes to warm up the front and rear of the cabin. Diesel cars usually take longer. We also check the effectiveness of air conditioning, where fitted.
MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) Running costs and depreciation The Bclass is an expensive car to buy secondhand and workshop rates for maintenance are high, too, with Mercedes dealer servicing not coming cheap. Having said that, value retention is good so you should get a decent amount back when you sell the car on. Annual road tax (VED) and company car tax bandings quite low for most models. Fuel consumption Fuel consumption The 2005 B200 Turbo petrol engine we tested returned a poor average fuel consumption of 32.8mpg, compared to the official figure of 34.4mpg. The B150 managed 36.7mpg, significantly below the official figure of 42.8mpg. The B200 diesel showed an average consumption of 42.2mpg, as against an official figure of 47.1mpg. Petrol (combined mpg, claimed) Diesel (combined mpg, claimed) 34.4 mpg 45.6 mpg 47.1 mpg 54.3 mpg We test fuel economy under strict lab conditions using realistic test cycles to reveal the facts behind the figures. Our figures rarely match manufacturer claims as, unlike the official mpg test, we measure economy with both a hot and cold engine, and on the motorway. Urban (claimed/measured) 40.9 mpg/34.4 mpg 37.2 mpg/36.7 mpg 37.2 mpg/36.2 mpg 34.0 mpg/32.8 mpg 26.4 mpg/26.2 mpg Extra urban (claimed/measured) 57.6 mpg/50.4 mpg 56.5 mpg/53.3 mpg 56.5 mpg/51.4 mpg 50.4 mpg/46.3 mpg 41.5 mpg/40.4 mpg Motorway (measured) 36.7 mpg 37.7 mpg 37.7 mpg 32.5 mpg 30.7 mpg Combined (claimed/measured) 50.4 mpg/40.9 mpg 47.1 mpg/42.2 mpg 47.1 mpg/42.2 mpg 42.8 mpg/36.7 mpg 34.4 mpg/32.8 mpg
MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) Running costs and depreciation continued... Emissions Carbon dioxide emissions range from 136g/km from the B180 CDI to 175g/km from the B180 BlueEfficiency (petrol) with auto gearbox. Generally, tax bandings are reasonable for a bulky, heavy quasimpv like this and indeed, for a Mercedes. Emissions Petrol (CO2, claimed) Diesel (CO2, claimed) 146g per km 197g per km 136g per km 164g per km Emissions (claimed/measured) 148g per km/182g per km 159g per km/174g per km 159g per km/174g per km 158g per km/176g per km 197g per km/203g per km While testing fuel economy, we also collect exhaust gases to enable us to measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted. We also check whether particulate filters are effective at removing sooty emissions from diesel engines. Safety Safety and security Euro NCAP score Here is the video of the 2005 MercedesBenz Bclass Euro NCAP frontal crash test. Please enable JavaScript to access this content. We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP crash test scores (where available), alongside our own comprehensive safety checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results from our accident avoidance test after all, it s far better to steer around a crash than rely on the airbags... Security Adult occupant Child protection Pedestrian protection Which? safety rating Active (crash avoidance) 77% Passive (crash safety) 80% Child 60% Pedestrian 50% Security scores come from the security experts at Thatcham, who break into hundreds of cars each year. Most modern cars are very difficult to drive away, but are still too easy to steal from. Security Theft of car: Theft from car:
MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) Which? Car Survey results The Which? Car Survey is the UK s most robust reliability and owner satisfaction survey. In 2015, drivers told us about 58,000 cars, covering more than 484 million miles in the previous 12 months (that s equivalent to driving to the moon and back a hundred times). This unique feedback allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars. Note: Star ratings below are from 15 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown under Most common faults indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the past 12 months. Brand MercedesBenz ratings Sample size: 2,292 people Overall owner satisfaction for this brand 83% Brand reliability Dealer Sales Service Dealer Servicing & repair Model: MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) Ownership ratings Sample size: 112 people Overall owner satisfaction for this range 74% Driving enjoyment Ease of driving Comfort Dash layout and controls Practicality Value for money Running costs Incar technology About our survey Brand ratings Everyone who takes part in the Which? Car survey tells us about their car and the dealers who sell and service it. We analyse this feedback across all cars to give toplevel satisfaction ratings for each brand, including the brand s reliability record over the last eight years. All star ratings are out of five. Model ownership ratings These show how owners score this car in 12 different areas, from performance to heating. Owners ratings are subjective so may differ from Which? Car test scores but they give a good idea of what the car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars are scored against other cars in the same class (e.g. for space). Owner s View The car is very practical I have two young children and there is plenty of room for their car seats and a huge boot for the size of the car. It is also very easily parked and has great vision making it a safe comfortable car to drive. Owner s View Has a real feel of quality about it, looks great for a family car, runs well and is fuel efficient.
MercedesBenz Bclass (20052011) Which? Car Survey results continued... Reliability ratings Overall Reliability Up to 3 years old 48 years old Petrol cars Reliability Breakdowns average annual repair cost 110 Diesel cars Reliability Breakdowns 3% average annual repair cost 307 All cars Reliability Breakdowns average annual repair cost Breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months Average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12 months About our survey Reliability ratings We split reliability into breakdowns (including failure to start), faults (where parts need replacing) and problems (minor issues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where the car has been on sale for some time, and we have numerous survey responses from owners, we also split scores by the age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are out of five the more stars, the more reliable the car. Most common faults Most common faults Up to 3 years old 48 years old Washer / wipers 7% Air Con 6% Lights 5% Suspension components (D) 4% Ignition system (P) 3% Want to know what s most likely to go wrong as the car gets older? These are the five most common faults reported by owners, grouped by age into new, recent and older cars. A score of 40% means four out of 10 owners reported problems with that part of the car over the previous 12 months. Engine electrics and nonengine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause more headaches than mechanical parts in most modern cars. Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year