2014 Mercedes-Benz B250 Sports Tourer

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class B250 is the second generation B-Class and it is one of the few premium small cars available today. Marketed as a Sports Tourer, A.K.A. “Wagon”, the B-Class is a hate it or love it design that promises to deliver the Benz experience in a smaller package.

Prices start at $30,500 while our test vehicle came equipped with the premium package, driving assistance package and bi-xenon headlamps, adding about $4k to the price. Standard equipment includes the panoramic sunroof, leather seats, leather multifunctional steering wheel, dual zone climate control, three cup holders, weight sensing system, power heated mirrors, split folding rear seats, heated 10-way manual adjustable front seats, ambient lighting, automatic headlights and wipers, forward collision warning, ESP, attention assist, ABS, trip computer, cruise control, ECO start stop, sport mode, paddle shifters, hill start assist and a high quality sound system.

The exterior design is a leap forward compared to the old one, the new sculpted sides and a much lower centre of gravity make the new one look nimbler, sportier and hands down more stylish. The LED daylights, dual exhausts and sporty bumpers are sweetly complemented by chrome elements bumping up curb appeal.

The oddly shaped roofline is essential to what is happening inside the car. The high roof is key to best in class headroom for passengers sitting in the front or back while at the same time visibility is probably class leading as well. The roominess is simply great no matter which seat you are in. The back seat could hold a meeting for three but throw the centre arm rest down to turn it into a party for two. Legroom is very generous, even if the driver or passenger are so tall that they could use a set of strobe lights on their heads. The cargo area at 488L is big enough to fit most of your stuff and in the event that it is not, you can always fold the back seats or open the ski trap to create even more space.

The materials used are mostly soft and high quality, minus the centre console and lower trim bits. Fit and finish are text book, so overall the quality feel is there. Ergonomically it takes some getting used to if you are new to the Benz world. The turn signal stack is also home to the wiper switches while the one on the right one is the DIRECT SELECT gear lever. To complicate things even more, on the left side there is another stalk lower down for the cruise control. The infotainment system is quick and easy to figure out, while the dial to operate it is easy and intuitive to use. The screen is big enough to also view the rear camera and the Bluetooth connectivity works very well. For your convenience a USB port is located under the armrest and an iPod converter comes with it.

The driving position is upright, proving the urban character of the vehicle, while the manually adjustable seat is very supportive and comfortable. We took the car on a 7-hour trip from Toronto, ON to Monticello, NY and arrived fresh and relaxed. Truly impressive is how this little Benz cruised at highway speeds below 2,000 rpm keeping the ride quiet and fuel consumption low. There is a little wind-noise, mostly noticeable on windy days, but overall, the sturdy and sure-footed B250 was great on such a long trip.

The 2.0L 4-cylinder Turbo engine is as smooth as butter even though it is capable of shooting to 100km/h in less than 7.5 seconds. Maximum power is 208 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque and mated to the 7G-DCT transmission the result is very pleasing. The paddle shifters are very well designed and shifting is quick in both auto and manual mode. Always available, pulling power is impressive and the B250 gathers speed a lot quicker than it feels. Dare I say, it feels rather sporty unless you drive it in Economy mode. The best part though is fuel economy; Premium is required but only 6.3lt/100km on the highway and 8.1lt/100km in the city. The standard auto start/stop system is refined and quick to respond making city driving a less guilty event.

The suspension does a really good job keeping the ride smooth and quiet but seems to have a weak spot for upheaval road defects. Especially the rear can feel like it takes a good hit at times but I fear that the run flat tires are to blame. Tackling corners is surprisingly involving as the steering is sharp, the brakes are linear and the chassis is more than willing to play. Progressive understeer is the result of exceeding its grip limits but it is quickly taken care of by the very discrete stability control. Braking from 100km/h to zero required 42m and showed good resistance to brake fade.

The compact dimensions do not really ruin the premium feel and the B250 is roomy, quick, well built and delivers excellent fuel economy. For the price, you might get a few more toys elsewhere, but the B-Class is classy and comes with an emblem very few can question.