Topic: Test Drive: 2014 Mercedes-Benz B 250

[Autos_Editor]

The Sedenses review a 2014 Mercedes-Benz B 250, and like it so much they buy one.

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[tpl]

Having owned a 2013 B250 I agree with this review as being a good and accurate assessment. My car did not have the sunroof, nor the automatic hvac system but was otherwise identical.

That little gearshift does take some getting used to but it is addictive!   I keep trying to put both the Q5 and the Fit into reverse when leaving my drive and turn on the wipers instead.

I see in the pictures that M-B have relented and re-read the Canadian regs on rear headrests and now they can go down to touch the seat backs.   I was in the process of finding a car upholstery specialist to carefully remove the seat back fabric so that I could fix whatever was stopping them going down.

I agree about the runflats. I put non RFT winter tires on in 17" and I suspect that the suspension is very aggressively tuned for the run flats. The non-RFTs ( Xice 3) were quieter but just did not seem to work well.   This may have changed for 2014.

A minor problem with the car is that as it is not sold in the USA there is very little aftermarket for parts, aftermarket or euro parts.

[SKYMTL]

This looks like an excellent little family hauler, though its requirement for premium fuel is a bit of a disappointment. 

If Mercedes launches the diesel version here in Canada (one could hope!), it would be a killer daily commuter. 

[tpl]

The competition to the B250 is probably the Golf GTI Mk VII with DSG.   A bit smaller, a bit more expensive perhaps ( in the real world of sitting down in a car dealer) but perhaps cheaper to maintain and with far more dealers and indy places should it need work...and no runflat tires.

If the dimbulbs at VW had brought the GTI  VII  to NA  in 2013 when it was released in Europe rather than waiting until it could be produced in Mexico I would have bought one instead of the B250.

[tpl]

This looks like an excellent little family hauler, though its requirement for premium fuel is a bit of a disappointment. 

If Mercedes launches the diesel version here in Canada (one could hope!), it would be a killer daily commuter.

I agree about the diesel.  There is a B180 elsewhere with a small diesel but whether that engine could work with no DEF  here I don't know...if they made room for a DEF tank I'd rather they made room for a spare tirte and no RFT tires.

As for premium fuel.   I just think of it as being the euro-95 that 99% of euro cars use in their natural habitat.

[SKYMTL]

True but that premium fuel does add significantly to the overall cost of ownership. 

Your point about the parts is a good one, especially considering many of the component commonality with the B-series isn't shared with any North American car.  In the EU, there's commonality with the whole B-series range and the A-series. 

[mixmanmash]

True but that premium fuel does add significantly to the overall cost of ownership. 

Your point about the parts is a good one, especially considering many of the component commonality with the B-series isn't shared with any North American car.  In the EU, there's commonality with the whole B-series range and the A-series.

Really?  I think I did the math on this one and posted it several times.

Taking a car that does 10L/100km, driven 20000kms/year, you are looking at 2000L/year.

Regular in Edmonton today is $1.16/L.  Premium is about $1.33.  The differences in other parts of the country are less between the two.

Your cost per year is:

Regular: $2320
Premium: $2640

That's $320.  Less than a dollar a day.  Really in the overall scheme of things it isn't making a huge difference in operating cost.

[Wildsau]

True but that premium fuel does add significantly to the overall cost of ownership. 

Really?  I think I did the math on this one and posted it several times.

Taking a car that does 10L/100km, driven 20000kms/year, you are looking at 2000L/year.

Regular in Edmonton today is $1.16/L.  Premium is about $1.33.  The differences in other parts of the country are less between the two.

Your cost per year is:

Regular: $2320
Premium: $2640

That's $320.  Less than a dollar a day.  Really in the overall scheme of things it isn't making a huge difference in operating cost.

Thanks Mixmanmash. I was considering doing up my own scenario but you did a better job explaining it. We did consider the premium fuel factor when making our decision, and realized that the difference over the course of a year is minimal. Add to that the fact that my wife only drives about 12,000-13,000 kilometres per year, not to mention that our lifetime average on the car has now dropped to 8.8 L/100 km and it becomes even less of an issue. For us anyway.

[Silverjesus]

I disagree with exterior styling grade of 4 out of 5.  If this box gets a 4, most of the other Mercedes models deserve more than 5 out of 5

[Wildsau]

A couple of additional notes to add to my review:

If it were available in Canada, we would have purchased the diesel variant, and again, if available, we would have chosen all-wheel drive.

We are very likely going to replace the run-flats with NRFs sooner than later. This is purely an urban car, so even though there isn't enough space for a spare, the combination of a can of Fix-A-Flat and our personal roadside assistance plan will be enough coverage to make me comfortable. We're also putting winter tires on it, come October(ish).

And finally, here's the one point that made our decision a very easy one. We showed up on the weekend where this particular Edmonton dealership were having a one-day "demo clearance". They had 5 B250s to chooose from, and none of them were demos. All brand-new, all 2014s, yet all qualified for a $10,000(!!!) rebate. I couldn't have negotiated that kind of deal on a $36,000 vehicle in a million years. So even though we were prepared to pay whatever the $36,000 list price would have been after haggling, this took the car into a new stratosphere in terms of value. I'm not sure I'll never be able to score a nearly 25% rebate on a vehicle I was ready to buy anyway, but I won't complain - we'll put those savings toward our European vacation this summer. 

[Wildsau]

I disagree with exterior styling grade of 4 out of 5.  If this box gets a 4, most of the other Mercedes models deserve more than 5 out of 5

Haha! I'm surprised it took this long for someone to call me on that. Obviously a horribly subjective field in the ratings, but I love hatchbacks and wagons and this shape really resonates with me. But it's definitely not for everyone.

[tpl]

I have noticed that MB dealers here in the GTA and environs are trying to get the Bs,Cs and some of the GLKs out of the showrooms to make room for the new C and, I guess the CLA and GLA for 2015.

Surely most of that $10k must have been an MB corporate deal.



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[SaskSpecV]

I disagree with exterior styling grade of 4 out of 5.  If this box gets a 4, most of the other Mercedes models deserve more than 5 out of 5

Haha! I'm surprised it took this long for someone to call me on that. Obviously a horribly subjective field in the ratings, but I love hatchbacks and wagons and this shape really resonates with me. But it's definitely not for everyone.

I'm with you Tom, the new B looks great.  We 5-doorophiles need to represent!
Sounds like a great deal, BTW.  But make sure you keep us posted when it comes time for regular maintenance...will the "F" is this FGC stand for "Fabulous", or what we all think it means?

[mixmanmash]

A couple of additional notes to add to my review:

If it were available in Canada, we would have purchased the diesel variant, and again, if available, we would have chosen all-wheel drive.

We are very likely going to replace the run-flats with NRFs sooner than later. This is purely an urban car, so even though there isn't enough space for a spare, the combination of a can of Fix-A-Flat and our personal roadside assistance plan will be enough coverage to make me comfortable. We're also putting winter tires on it, come October(ish).

And finally, here's the one point that made our decision a very easy one. We showed up on the weekend where this particular Edmonton dealership were having a "demo clearance". They had 5 B250s to chooose from, and none of them were demos. All brand-new, all 2014s, yet all qualified for a $10,000(!!!) rebate. I couldn't have negotiated that kind of deal on a $36,000 vehicle in a million years. So even though we were prepared to pay whatever the $36,000 list price would have been after haggling, this took the car into a new stratosphere in terms of value. I'm not sure I'll never be able to score a nearly 25% rebate on a vehicle I was ready to buy anyway, but I won't complain - we'll put those savings toward our European vacation this summer. 

Given the amount that your wife drives, and assuming that it would be used in mostly city driving and short distances, I'm not so sure I would recommend you go with the diesel.  The problem mostly lies with these modern diesels.  Short drives wouldn't be enough to get the engine up to operating temperature, especially in winter.  This isn't a concern for heat as they use electric heaters, but mostly wear/tear and efficiency range of the engine.  Second, because it's short drives, it may never be able to get into a zone where the particulate filter can regen and that is not a cheap fix.  Emissions on diesel engines consist of 3 different major systems - EGR, DPF (diesel particulate filters), selective catalytic reduction (this is urea injection for NOx reduction) and it's that DPF that needs longer highway drives to regen.

In my dad's old 2006 E320 CDI, the only emission system on it is EGR in which case it doesn't matter.

I agree with you on the runflats.  Get rid of them and keep a good flat repair kit in the car.  There's those ones that use a small compressor with a liquid that seem to be the best.  And you can always get the replacement canisters for them.

And super killer deal - $10k off is a no-brainer.

[Ex-airbalancer]

You got 25% and did not post it at the time , to let other people get in on it 

[mmmbacon]

I don't think there is direct competition for the B250, as it seems to attract the same type of people that otherwise would buy a Toyota Matrix in a different budget. Maybe the Kia Rondo, but that one sits in a lower price range. Even in Europe there aren't many competitors as most MPVs are sold by non-luxury brands (Citroën C4 Picasso, VW Golf SV, Vauxhall Meriva, etc). The VW GTI is a sporty car while the Mercedes is a practical MPV, while there might be some cross shopping I don't think is usual.

I welcome some of the improvements of the new B250. Ride and the transmission were unconvincing on the previous model, CVT was terrible. If Mercedes offered a B250 4MATIC version, I would probably consider it as a replacement for my current vehicle.

[Rupert]

   The Rondo covers a lower price range but in lux trim is only a few thou$ shy and one wonders what the incentive would be not to choose the MB at that level. The Rondo does have an extra row of seats option though...if that is needed. The Rondo does not have the tunnel which is nice not to. What's it for anyway?
   I like the quality ref. and suppose the duel clutch auto is good in the MB. A lot to like in fact. Still one wonders why there is a need for two speedometers...one hard to read, from the text. Why not save a bit of cash and put the speedo on the centreline of the steering wheel; where its dia. can be larger and numbers also. It is what you look at most on the dash. Hmm...take a look at the Micra. (GLK also?)
   I think that this config. is more versatile than a three box car and find the B250 compelling now.
   

[mmret]

Why not save a bit of cash and put the speedo on the centreline of the steering wheel; where its dia. can be larger and numbers also.

Centered speedo ring was MB's usual thing (except maybe on the A/B and Sprinter) until very recently with the redesigns. There was still an LCD screen in the middle of that gauge though. The needle for the gauge was actually a little arrow attached to a ring on the outside.



Now they appear to be changing to a more traditional two-gauge setup with the info display between (ie: B, S, new C)



I actually liked the centered-ring version better, but maybe that was too expensive or something.

[tpl]

   The Rondo covers a lower price range but in lux trim is only a few thou$ shy and one wonders what the incentive would be not to choose the MB at that level. The Rondo does have an extra row of seats option though...if that is needed. The Rondo does not have the tunnel which is nice not to. What's it for anyway?
   I like the quality ref. and suppose the duel clutch auto is good in the MB. A lot to like in fact. Still one wonders why there is a need for two speedometers...one hard to read, from the text. Why not save a bit of cash and put the speedo on the centreline of the steering wheel; where its dia. can be larger and numbers also. It is what you look at most on the dash. Hmm...take a look at the Micra. (GLK also?)
   I think that this config. is more versatile than a three box car and find the B250 compelling now.
   

The B250 sort of has 3 speedos.   The big round analog dial. A big easy to read digital speedo readout between the tachometer and the dial speedo directly in line with the centre of the steering wheel and in the digital display at the top of the instruments one can select a small digital speedo in miles per hour presumably for driving in the USA.

The dual clutch auto is very good...perhaps not quite as good as VWs DSG but 90+% of the way there.

Really the only bad thing is MBs decision to have the runflat tires.


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[mmret]

If you couldn't have a spare, even a mini spare, would your rather take your chances without RFTs?

I would vote yes, in general, but I don't take roadtrips to far off places and can always get a towtruck. RFTs are only good for about 50 very dodgey kms once shredded anyways are they not?