The Mercedes-Benz B-Class is a
subcompact executive car manufactured and marketed by
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to as Mercedes and sometimes as Benz, is a German luxury and commercial vehicle automotive brand established in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a Mercedes-Benz Group subsidiary established in 2019) is headquartere ...
since 2005. Based on the
A-Class with larger dimensions, the European New Car Assessment Programme (
Euro NCAP
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a European voluntary car safety performance assessment programme (i.e. a New Car Assessment Program) based in Leuven (Belgium) formed in 1996, with the first results released in February ...
) classifies it as a
small MPV.
As of December 20, 2013, delivery of B-Class vehicles reached 1 million since its launch in 2005.
First generation (W245; 2005)
The first generation B-Class was introduced in Europe in spring 2005, and introduced in Canada in autumn 2005. The B-Class uses
front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longit ...
with sandwich floor construction, parabolic rear suspension, and a
two-box design — one for the
drivetrain
A drivetrain (also frequently spelled as drive train or sometimes drive-train) is the group of components that deliver mechanical power from the prime mover to the driven components. In automotive engineering, the drivetrain is the components o ...
and another the shared passenger/luggage compartment. The B-Class maximizes its interior volume via its height. Having derived from the smaller A-Class, it retained that car's sandwich floor concept.
All models included passive
automobile safety
Automotive safety is the study and practice of design, construction, equipment and regulation to minimize the occurrence and consequences of traffic collisions involving motor vehicles. Road traffic safety more broadly includes roadway design.
...
systems including
ESP
ESP most commonly refers to:
* Extrasensory perception, a paranormal ability
ESP may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment Music
* ESP Guitars, a manufacturer of electric guitars
* E.S. Posthumus, an independent music group formed in 2000, ...
,
ABS,
traction control
A traction control system (TCS), also known as ASR (from german: Antriebsschlupfregelung, lit=drive slippage regulation), is typically (but not necessarily) a secondary function of the electronic stability control (ESC) on production motor vehicle ...
, cornering lights, active lighting system, and headlamp assist. In the event of a frontal impact the engine and transmission slide beneath the passenger compartment.
In 2008 it was updated with a
start-stop system
A vehicle start-stop system or stop-start system automatically shuts down and restarts the internal combustion engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions. This is most advanta ...
and a BlueEFFICIENCY option. A new NGT variant was added, which could burn either gasoline or
natural gas
Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbo ...
.
In 2011 Mercedes-Benz did a world tour with three of its
Mercedes-Benz F-Cell
The F-Cell is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle developed by Daimler AG. Two different versions are known - the previous version was based on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, and the new model is based on the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. The first genera ...
vehicles, one of which was the B-Class. The
hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. Hydrogen is the lightest element. At standard conditions hydrogen is a gas of diatomic molecules having the formula . It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, an ...
-powered
fuel cell vehicle
A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is an electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor. Fuel cells in vehicles generate elec ...
was driven more than 30,000 kilometres in a circumnavigation of the globe, starting and ending in
Stuttgart
Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the ...
.
2007 Mercedes-Benz B 180 CDI (W 245 MY07) hatchback (2010-06-17) 02.jpg, Before facelift
Mercedes-Benz B 180 CDI (T 245, Facelift) – Frontansicht (2), 10. Juni 2011, Velbert.jpg, After facelift
2011 Mercedes-Benz B 180 (W 245 MY11) Anniversary hatchback (2011-11-17).jpg, After facelift
MB F-Cell Aachen.jpg, F-Cell
2010 Mercedes-Benz B 200 (W 245 MY11) hatchback (2010-10-16).jpg, Interior
Engines
The B160 and B180 conform to
Euro V
The European emission standards are vehicle emission standards for pollution from the use of new land surface vehicles sold in the European Union and EEA member states and the UK, and ships in EU waters. The standards are defined in a seri ...
emission standards. The rest of the engines conform to
Euro IV
The European emission standards are vehicle emission standards for pollution from the use of new land surface vehicles sold in the European Union and EEA member states and the UK, and ships in EU waters. The standards are defined in a seri ...
emission standards. A
diesel particulate filter
A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is a device designed to remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine.Tom Nash (May 2003) "Diesels: The Smoke is clearing", ''Motor '' Vol.199 No. 5, p. 54, Hearst Business Publ ...
is available as an option for the diesel units (this reduces about 99% of the particle emissions, without the need for additives).
Specifications
Second generation (W246; 2011)
The second generation B-Class was introduced at the
2011 International Motor Show Germany. European models went on sale in November 2011. Japan models went on sale in April 2012. They are assembled at Rastatt, Germany,
[2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class gets big-car features](_blank)
/ref> and from 2011 at Kecskemét, Hungary. By summer 2013, over 230,000 second generation B-Class cars had been delivered.
/ref>
It included new gasoline and diesel engines, mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient (commonly denoted as: c_\mathrm, c_x or c_) is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment, such as air or water. It is used in the drag equ ...
was lowered, despite growing in overall dimensions to the benefit of interior space. A new four-cylinder engine was introduced with the model, the M270
The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS) is an American-developed armored, self-propelled, multiple rocket launcher.
The U.S. Army variant of the MLRS vehicle is based on the chassis of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The first M270s wer ...
.
Safety systems included adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist and, a collision prevention adaptive brake system.
The vehicle received a facelift in 2015.
Variants and nomenclature
The last part of the model name indicates how the vehicle is powered:
* Natural Gas Drive: c, e.g. B 200 c (for compressed natural gas)
* Diesel: d, e.g. B 250 d
* Electric: e, e.g. B 250 e
* Fuel cell
A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requ ...
f, e.g. B 200 f
* All-wheel drive
An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand.
The most common forms of all-wheel drive are:
;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one w ...
: i.e. B 250 4MATIC
4Matic (stylized as 4MATIC'') ''is the marketing name of an all-wheel drive system developed by Mercedes-Benz. It is designed to increase traction in slippery conditions. With the introduction of the 2017 E 63 S sedan, Mercedes-AMG announced a p ...
BlueEFFICIENCY
BlueEFFICIENCY is a term used by Mercedes-Benz for a series of measures which reduce fuel consumption and emissions. These include:
* Start/stop function switches off the engine temporarily when the vehicle is stationary.
* Alternator management for regenerative braking
Regenerative braking is an energy recovery mechanism that slows down a moving vehicle or object by converting its kinetic energy into a form that can be either used immediately or stored until needed. In this mechanism, the electric traction mo ...
.
* Tyres optimised for rolling resistance have low energy requirements while driving and also help to reduce fuel consumption.
The B 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Edition was available from September 2011.
B 200 Natural Gas Drive
Production version includes a choice of manual and 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission, and was available from early 2013. European model was set to go on sale in February 2014.[Sales jubilee Mercedes-Benz B-Class: Mercedes-Benz B-Class – celebrating over one million sales](_blank)
/ref>
B-Class Electric Drive
Initial concept versions of the B-Class Electric Drive were developed under the Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO project using batteries from Li-tec and a drivetrain from Tesla, but Mercedes switched to using a drivetrain developed by Mercedes itself soon after. The Electric Drive was previewed at the 2012 Paris Motor Show
The Mondial de l'Automobile de Paris 2012, known in English as the 2012 Paris Motor Show, took place from 29 September to 14 October 2012 at Paris Expo.
Introductions Production cars
* Audi A3 Sportback
* Audi RS5 Cabriolet
* BMW 1 Series 3DR
...
, the 2013 New York International Auto Show
The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show that is held in Manhattan in late March or early April. It is held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weekend and closes on the first Su ...
, and the 2013 IAA International Motor Show 2013. Production for retail customers began in April 2014 at Mercedes-Benz Rastatt
Rastatt () is a town with a Baroque core, District of Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located in the Upper Rhine Plain on the Murg river, above its junction with the Rhine and has a population of around 50,000 (2011). Rastatt was an ...
factory. In May 2014, Mercedes announced the B-Class Electric Drive will be available in Germany and the UK in the first quarter of 2015. In November, Mercedes-Benz announced pricing for Germany and started accepting orders.
The concept has an electric motor rated and , 36 kWh
A kilowatt-hour (unit symbol: kW⋅h or kW h; commonly written as kWh) is a unit of energy: one kilowatt of power for one hour. In terms of SI derived units with special names, it equals 3.6 megajoules (MJ). Kilowatt-hours are a common bil ...
lithium-ion battery
A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery which uses the reversible reduction of lithium ions to store energy. It is the predominant battery type used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It also se ...
from Tesla Motors
Tesla, Inc. ( or ) is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles (electric cars and electric truck, trucks), battery energy storage from ...
. The vehicle has a driving range of with a top speed of . The battery can be charged at any standard domestic 230 V power outlet or 400 V rapid charging terminal.
Pricing in the U.S. starts at before any applicable tax credits and other government incentives. In 2015, over 1900 electric B-class were sold in the US. The United States Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it be ...
(EPA), under its five-cycle testing, rated the 2014 B-Class Electric Drive with an all-electric range
All-electric range (AER) is the maximum driving range of an electric vehicle using only power from its on-board battery pack to traverse a given driving cycle. In the case of an all-electric vehicle, it means the maximum range per recharge. For ...
of . The energy consumption was rated at 40 kWh
A kilowatt-hour (unit symbol: kW⋅h or kW h; commonly written as kWh) is a unit of energy: one kilowatt of power for one hour. In terms of SI derived units with special names, it equals 3.6 megajoules (MJ). Kilowatt-hours are a common bil ...
/100 miles for combined city/highway driving, corresponding to a fuel economy of 84 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent
Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe or MPGge) is a measure of the average distance traveled per unit of energy consumed. MPGe is used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to compare energy consumption of alternative ...
– MPGe (2.8 L/100 km; 101 mpg imp). The rating for city driving is 85 mpg-e (2.8 L/100 km; 102 mpg imp), and 83 mpg-e (2.8 L/100 km; 100 mpg imp) for highway.
Engines
Mercedes-Benz B 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (W 246) – Heckansicht, 30. August 2012, Velbert.jpg, Before facelift
2018 Mercedes-Benz B220d Exclusive Edition 2.1 Front.jpg, After facelift
2018 Mercedes-Benz B220d Exclusive Edition 2.1 Rear.jpg, After facelift
Mercedes-Benz B180 W246 interior.jpg, Interior
Third generation (W247; 2019)
The third generation B-Class was launched at the Paris Motor Show
The Paris Motor Show (french: Mondial de l'Automobile) is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held during October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show presently take ...
on 2 October 2018. At launch, the vehicle was claimed to feature the Intelligent Drive semi-automated driving system borrowed from the S-Class.
The vehicle received a facelift in 2023.
The design was improved with a much shorter front overhang. The controversial sculpting on the side part of the vehicle was not carried over to the W247 B-Class. Three infotainment system options is available, with entry-level models getting dual seven-inch displays. A seven-inch display with the larger 10.25-inch display is available, with top-tier models getting a pair of the large displays. It is powered by a full MBUX infotainment system, giving B-Class buyers access to its functions through a standard touchscreen. Features such as intelligent voice control, augmented reality, and a head-up display are optional. The all-electric configuration was removed, but a plug-in hybrid option was introduced. The plug-in hybrid comes with a 10.9 kWh battery which optionally supports DC charging and provides a WLTP combined cycle range of 66 km.
References
External links
B-Class
- Official Mercedes-Benz International page
*
Official Mercedes-Benz Canada B200 marketing page
*
Mercedes B-Class Now Sold In Canada
*
Mercedes-Benz B-Class UK Information
Press kit:
{{Mercedes-Benz timeline 2020 to date
B-Class
Cars introduced in 2005
2010s cars
2020s cars
Compact MPVs
Hatchbacks
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Euro NCAP small MPVs
Vehicles with CVT transmission
Production electric cars