Mercedes-Benz jumped on the North American hatchback bandwagon in the mid-2000s with the B-Class, just as numerous other automakers were flooding the marketplace with their own small wagons and hatchbacks.
Benz obviously saw the hatchback resurgence that had begun earlier in the 2000s, as carmakers figured out consumers would warm up to this practical body style again if they were positioned slightly upscale from their sedan counterparts.
For 2018, the second-generation B-Class -- introduced here as a 2013 model -- carries on with some minor changes in standard features and option packages. The basic package now includes a backup camera, as well as an Avantgarde Edition package that was optional last year.
As a result, the latest B-Class is about $4,000 pricier than the 2017 model, but includes blind spot assist, automatic climate control, eight-inch infotainment display, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, power-adjustable front seats with lumbar, auto-dimming rearview and side mirrors, panoramic sunroof and LED headlights. The result of this year's changes is a streamlined B-Class lineup that suggests Benz is gearing up to either redesign this little car, or phase it out.
Unchanged are the B-Class's mechanicals, which include a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That power gets to the road through a seven-speed automatic transmission that can be optioned with all-wheel drive from the standard front-wheel setup.
Those are the same drivetrain choices that come with the CLA-Class sedan and GLA-Class crossover models, both of which were derived from the B-Class and give Benz a comprehensive range of compact models priced to attract aspirational buyers looking to get into a luxury-branded vehicle for the first time.
The B-Class is the most modestly-styled of the trio, but its buyers enjoy the same torquey, smooth powertrain as those trendier models. And even though this is the least cool of the little Benzes, the B-Class gives Mercedes a practical and reasonably affordable small car that other European automakers can't directly compete with in North America, as they tend to save their small, tall-roofed hatches for the European market.
Other standard kit includes LED taillights and daytime running lights, heated side mirrors, 17-inch wheels, leather-trimmed steering wheel, steering wheel-mounted shift paddles, Artico upholstery, heated front seats, ambient lighting, CD player, keyless start, attention assist, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers and active brake assist.
With the Avantgarde package now standard, the only options beyond exterior colour are a few stand-alone extras that include active park assist, a storage package, navigation and satellite radio.
Inside, you can choose from black, grey and beige seat upholstery, and a dark ash wood dashboard trim is a $250 bump over the standard faux carbon fibre-look material.
Fuel consumption estimates for the front-drive model are 9.7 and 6.6 L/100 km in city and highway driving respectively.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
