Name: Mercedes-Benz GLB (2019 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Mercedes-Benz GLB
Rating: 63.0

Summary

The Mercedes-Benz GLB is a mid-sized SUV available with either five or seven seats. It is based on the smaller GLA model, although it is closer in size to the larger GLC. The GLB arrived in the UK in late 2019.

The GLB is available with either a petrol or diesel engine – unlike the smaller GLA, which is also offered as a plug-in hybrid. There is also a high-performance model called the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 – we have a separate page for this model.

It has received praise from reviewers for its comfort, safety and advanced technology; however, it has been criticised for limited practicality compared to similarly-priced rivals and for only offering a limited choice of engines.

As of July 2025, the Mercedes-Benz GLB holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 66% on our unique Expert Rating Index. It gets good grades for its low CO₂ emissions, but its safety rating and media review scores are only average and its running costs are high.

More Mercedes-Benz Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

Key specifications

Body style: Mid-sized SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £39,825 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2019
Last updated: Spring 2023
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The Mercedes GLB is a small, stylish SUV with a posh cabin and seven seats, but alternatives are more practical, cheaper and come with a greater choice of engines.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

“The Mercedes-Benz GLB looks great, has a big boot and is available with seven seats, making it desirable and practical.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

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Carbuyer

Andy Goodwin

More reviews

Auto Express

Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz GLB is a stylish family SUV with an upmarket interior and seating for seven.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 220 d
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz GLB 220 d is certainly the most competent rival yet for the Land Rover’s baby seven-seater Discovery Sport. It offers strong performance and refinement, along with a better-finished cabin and more coherent in-car tech, but you will have to forego some boot space to get it.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz GLB puts practicality above all else, and looks all the better for it. It’s not, by any stretch of the imagination, exciting to drive but it is comfortable and refined, and has one of the finest interiors in its class. A truly worthy contender for your next family car.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“A further spin-off from the A-Class hatchback family, the Mercedes-Benz GLB is both a compact SUV and a seven-seat family car in one. Where its GLA brother aims for the younger, crossover crowd the more upright GLB goes out and out for practicality and usability.”
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Business Car

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 220d 4Matic AMG Line Premium
Score: 8 / 10
“Up to now, there was a clear gap in the Mercedes-Benz range. We can imagine many drivers with Mercedes-Benz on their choice lists -particularly if they have a family – feeling the GLB is the model best suited to their needs.”
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Car

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“If you opt for a seven-seat GLB (a five-seat version is available), you might be pleasantly surprised with how much room there is, not just in the third row, but all-round.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: 220d AMG Line
“New GLB crowns Mercedes’ broad small car range and offers seven-seat practicality (just about), or plenty of passenger and luggage space for five, in a nice-driving package that looks the part as a mini off-roader.”
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Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 220d 4Matic
Score: 6 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz GLB is ideal for when Postman Pat goes first class – and is fine if you don’t have an issue with how it looks.”
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Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Unless you’re willing to spend mega money on a larger model, we don’t think there’s a more desirable seven-seat SUV on the market. The Mercedes-Benz GLB has got a superb interior and – provided you avoid the AMG model – shouldn’t cost a fortune to run.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
“Four ISOFIX child seat points will appeal to families, as will its various driver assistance systems that have trickled down the range from the S-Class.”
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Model reviewed: Mercedes-AMG GLB 35
“The Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 is an entertaining SUV oddity. In fact there’s nothing else quite like it, and it’s executed in the usual Mercedes-Benz way – with a quality interior and entertaining driving experience. Its biggest catch, however, is going to be the price which is expected to be in the region of £50,000.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz GLB is a convincing, if pricey, option. Space in the third row of seats isn’t far off the Skoda Kodiaq and Kia Sorento, yet in return you get a car that’s nicer to drive, has a better interior and features the all-important Mercedes-Benz badge.”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: Range overview
“Mercedes-Benz bills its new GLB as the ultimate all rounder — and it might be just that”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 220d AMG Line Premium Plus
Score: 8 / 10
“Surprisingly better than it has a right to be, this B-class on stilts has a great ride quality and decent body control (at least it does on air suspension, although that isn’t available in the UK) and the interior of the top models is gorgeous. You will look like Postman Pat, though.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Not a bad effort from Mercedes. Will do very well, even if the Disco Sport is more likeable and Kodiaq more practical”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: November 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 92%
Child protection: 88%
Vulnerable road users: 78%
Safety assist: 74%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of July 2025, the Mercedes-Benz GLB has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of July 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Mercedes-Benz GLB to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the GLB, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	39 mpg	D	37 – 50 mpg	B – D
Diesel models	48 mpg	C	45 – 50 mpg	B – C

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	164 g/km	C	159 – 172 g/km	C – C
Diesel models	156 g/km	B	148 – 166 g/km	B – C

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	30	C	27 – 50	B – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£275	C
Year 2	£669	C
Year 3	£1,208	C
Year 4	£1,383	C
Year 5	£1,853	C
Overall	£5,388	C

Running costs for the Mercedes-Benz GLB range are a mixed bag, according to data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our commercial partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel economy is disappointing for petrol models and around the market average for diesel-engined versions. Compared to the rest of the mid-sized SUV sector, the car’s service and maintenance costs are pretty average. Based on data from the UK’s insurance group assessor, Thatcham Research, insurance costs are also likely to be around the market average.