2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB

From afar, the Mercedes-Benz GLB looks much larger than it actually is. The boxy and upright proportions, which completely buck 2020s trends toward sleekness, totally belie its 182.4-inch length and suggest the lines of the automaker’s big GLS-Class. The GLB is similarly deceptive inside. Much like Doctor Who’s TARDIS, the cabin seems much larger than the footprint should allow, with more legroom and cargo space than most other SUVs this size. Stuttgart even offers it with an optional third row, one of only a handful of SUVs this size to offer this feature. 

All this space comes from Mercedes-Benz’s clever re-engineering and stretching of the smaller GLA-Class. Introduced for 2020, the GLB shares its front- or all-wheel drive (AWD) platform with the GLA and uses most of the same mechanical pieces, including the same turbocharged, 221-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, optional 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD) and fun handling. In 2021 the automaker added a much hotter 302-horsepower AMG GLB35, which ups the fun quotient but also the price. With a refresh due for 2024, Mercedes-Benz has made no changes to the GLB this year.

In size and price, the GLB slots in below the larger GLC-Class, which is all-new this year, and it shares its body and interior with the all-electric EQB, which debuted in 2022. While both are impressive, the GLB is meant as a more entry-level machine and competes with the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW’s X1 and X3, the Lexus NX and Land Rover’s Discovery Sport, the only other small premium three-row. The GLB’s optional third row bites into the GLB’s otherwise stellar cargo space, but it also adds some family appeal.

A $40,950 to start, the front-wheel drive GLB 250 is $8,000 cheaper than the GLC and $13,000 less than the EQB. Adding AWD is a $2,000 option for those who really need it, but it doesn’t change the GLB’s personality much. It’s agile and responsive, and while not quite as sporty as BMW’s alternatives, it’s still plenty of fun. The engine gets noisy when you push hard though. The $52,650 AMG GLB35 offers more speed, sharper handling and cooler visuals, but it’s a rough rider on anything but smooth Macadam.

Mercedes-Benz offers plenty of optional tech and luxury features on the GLB, but adding them can quickly balloon the price. Heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel and panoramic roof are all up-charges, and advanced driver assistance tech is available only as part of an all-or-nothing $1,700 package. Without it, only forward emergency braking and blind spot warning are included. It also feels a little less overtly luxurious than its GLC sibling or some other luxury crossovers like the similarly priced Lincoln Corsair.

It does, however, have lots of room, with more rear legroom and cargo space than even some larger alternatives. It’s a great value for a young family, although there are arguments for and against the third row. With it, there is some added flexibility you can’t get elsewhere, but sacrifices much of the cargo room when you use it. There are better bargains if you want more power or standard active-safety gear, but the GLB is attractively styled, nice to drive and practical. It makes a great starter luxury SUV or a great empty-nester ride. 

Performance: 11/15

The GLB 250 models use the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine as the smaller GLA, making 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Both front-drive and AWD models use an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

The GLB handles well thanks to its car-like underpinnings (also shared with the CLA sedan), and there’s more than enough power for most drivers. It’s not as athletic as alternatives from BMW or Acura, but it’s reasonably fun to drive and feels a little peppier than the GLC 300, even if it can get noisy on the highway or when you really gunning it. The optional 4Matic AWD system is highly capable on snow, ice or gravel trails, but the GLB just doesn’t have the ground clearance for serious off-road adventuring.

For those who want more speed, the Mercedes-AMG GLB35 turns up the heat considerably. It uses a more highly tuned version of the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four, but with 302 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It also uses the same eight-speed, dual-clutch gearbox. 

The extra power makes the GLB35 considerably quicker than the GLB 250, with zero-to-60 times of 4.9 seconds, nearly 2 seconds faster than the 250. The AMG engineers have also tweaked the suspension and fitted larger wheels and grippier tires, which on smooth pavement equates to a vigorously sporty experience. But those big wheels and that very firm suspension make the GLB35 a rough ride on anything but marble-smooth pavement, and even a few minutes on a gravel road can be fatiguing.

Fuel Economy: 12/15

It only drinks premium gas, but happily, the GLB isn’t very thirsty. The front-drive 250 returns 27 mpg combined, (24 city, 32 highway) with the AWD GLB 250 4Matic losing 2 mpg in each measure. For comparison, the Land Rover Discovery Sport, the only other three-row compact luxury crossover, is rated at 19 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, and the BMW X3 is estimated to achieve 21 mpg city and 28 highway. The Lexus NX hybrid and Lincoln Corsair PHEV, however, do even better.

The GLB 250 tested by Forbes Wheels returned closer to 25 mpg, but nailed its city mpg target at 23 mpg. The faster AMG GLB 35 trades slightly less fuel economy for more horsepower, and is rated at 23 mpg combined (21 city, 27 highway), but for its level of performance that isn’t bad. Most compact luxury performance SUVs cost more to start and drink more fuel.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 9/15

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB hasn’t been evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and earns two different ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Front-wheel drive GLBs get a four-star rating from NHTSA, while AWD ones get five stars, which is odd given that they have entirely the same structure. The European New Car Assessment Program (EuroNCAP), an EU entity that performs tests similar to IIHS, gives the GLB a top five-star rating.

Mercedes-Benz offers lots of advanced driver assistance tech like adaptive cruise control, active lane keeping assist, evasive steering, cross-traffic alerts and active lane change assist, but only the real basics like forward automatic emergency braking are standard. The advanced features, like adaptive cruise, are part of a $1,700 Driver Assistance Package, which hurts the GLB’s score in our evaluations. Add this package and the GLB 250 4Matic suddenly costs as much as the Genesis GV70 2.5T, which offers this gear standard.

There’s also a $1,090 Parking Assistance Package that adds 360-degree surround view monitoring and active parking assistance, which can automatically maneuver the vehicle into parallel or perpendicular spaces.

Comfort & Room: 14/15

Comfort is one of the GLB’s top selling points. Its supportive, comfortable front seats come with 12-way power adjustment with three memory settings standard, and its 38.1 inches of rear legroom tops most other similarly sized crossovers, though Lincoln’s Corsair is a close rival. 

The most important option for most GLB shoppers, however, is the optional third-row (an $850 addition). The GLB’s third row is more usable than that of the Discovery Sport and roughly equal to the mainstream Mitsubishi Outlander, but these are way back seats meant for the smallest of fries. Mercedes-Benz actually puts a label on the door jamb to let you know that the third row is for persons under 66.5 inches tall, and clambering back there isn’t easy.

With munchkins back there the second row has to slide forward 6 inches, which eliminates much of the GLB’s rear-seat room advantage over similar crossovers. Skip the third row, however, and the interior feels huge. There’s lots of room in the second row even for tall people, and it’s comfy all day long. It’s a kid-friendly space in two-row form, too, with big door openings and plenty of storage space.

Infotainment: 13/15

The base Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 models make do with a pair of 7-inch displays, one for the instrument panel and another for the central infotainment screen. They’re under a single pane of glass though, so they don’t look “poverty spec.” Opt for the $1,750 Premium Package and they are replaced with a pair of more impressive 10.3-inch units in the same housing. Plentiful 64-color LED ambient lighting, a $310 option, also jazzes up the cabin.

The GLB uses Mercedes-Benz’s newest MBUX infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard integrations. Navigation is available in the $1,300 multimedia package and includes augmented video for more precise directions on the display. A head-up display is optional, but only on the AMG GLB35. With touchpad, steering wheel controls, a touchscreen and voice control, the infotainment system is easy to use and very visual. There’s a slight learning curve, but this is also true of the GLB’s rivals.

Although GLB is equipped with four USB-C ports with at least one in each row, Mercedes-Benz realizes that not every driver has made a similar upgrade for their devices. A USB-C to USB-A adapter is also included.

Cargo Space & Storage: 14/15

For its size, the Mercedes-Benz GLB punches above its weight on cargo space. Without the optional third row, it offers 27 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, a 40/20/40 sliding bench and 62 cubic-feet with it folded. That’s considerably more than smaller alternatives like the Audi Q3 and falls just shy of the larger BMW X3 (62.7) and Volvo XC60 (63.6) overall.

Opt for the third row, however, and things are a little different. Seven-seat GLBs have just 5.1 cubic-feet behind the third row, barely enough for a small grocery run, but 24 cubic-feet with the third row stowed and 56.7 cubic-feet overall. That’s still about even with the Lincoln Corsair and more than the Lexus NX, but actually using the GLB’s third row is once again difficult.

Standard chrome roof rails can help accommodate bulkier items and cargo boxes if needed.

Style & Design: 8/10

The GLB’s squared-off shape has aged very well since its introduction, even if it isn’t as rugged as more off-road-oriented SUVs. It’s relatively plain looking in base model form but it does get standard 18-inch wheels and pretty LED headlights and taillights. If it’s not flashy enough, you can dress it up with appearance packages like the $2,700 AMG Line with an optional Night Package, which makes the regular GLB 250 look like the AMG version. The GLB35, of course, gets those sporty visuals by default and cooler wheels too.

Inside, the GLB just doesn’t feel as rich as the new GLC, even with the bigger screens and ambient lighting, but it doesn’t feel like a mainstream brand SUV either. There’s a clear difference in materials between the GLB and a vehicle like the Kia Sorento or Volkswagen Tiguan. Optional upgrades like wood trim also help the GLB feel a little more luxurious than it comes out of the box.

Is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB Worth it? Which GLB is the Best Value? 

Price-wise, the GLB falls closer to smaller, entry-level premium crossovers than other compact ones, so it’s an affordable way into a luxury brand. The base model, front-wheel drive GLB 250 starts at $40,950 (including an $1,150 destination fee), which is just about even with the entry-level Corsair and NX models but well below the GLC, EQB, X3 and GV70. 

This SUV offers lots of space in a compact footprint, but the standard equipment list is stingy for a luxury machine. Every GLB comes with power and memory front seats, a power tilt/telescope steering wheel, blind spot assist and forward automatic emergency braking, but beyond that many items, like heated and ventilated seats, cost extra. 

If you need AWD, it’s a $2,000 add, but we’d stick with the front-drive GLB 250 and add other options, mainly the $1,700 Driver Assistance package (with all the best safety features) and the $1,750 Premium package that nets you the bigger screens and proximity locking. There are many more a-la-carte options, but add too many of them and the GLB loses its price advantage over entries like the GLC, X3 and GV70.

We’d also skip the optional third row. It increases seating to seven, but given its height restrictions and how much cargo space it consumes, it only makes sense for drivers that plan on carting around children small enough to fit back there but big enough that they no longer require car seats. 

The racier GLB35 ($52,650) offers more power and cool visuals but greatly increases the cost. The 250 is a fairly fun machine to drive even if it isn’t as fast, and the price differential in what is primarily a family vehicle tilts our opinion towards the GLB 250.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB?

The GLB costs a little more to insure than its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $2,281, though this averages all 50 states. The AMG GLB35, however, is pricier at $2,454. That compares to $2,144 for the Lincoln Corsair, $1,929 for the Acura RDX and $2,411 for the Land Rover Discovery Sport. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.