Road Test: 2009 Mercedes-Benz B200 Turbo
The baby of the Benzes
Clare Dear, Canwest News Service
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class has a cuteness that can quickly endear it to prospective buyers. In fact, this compact crossover, which serves as the entry point to the premium German brand's lineup, has been winning hearts in increasing numbers since it was introduced in 2005.
However, with the current iteration reaching the midpoint of its life cycle,
Mercedes has given it a facelift inside and out for 2009 to further accentuate the B-Class's appeal to shoppers looking for a practical people hauler with upscale touches. Although it didn't start life with all the appropriate trimmings - plastic hubcaps, for example, weren't what target buyers wanted - the B-Class now has enough premium trimmings to wear the tri-star badge with pride.
My tester - a B200 Turbo Sports Tourer - was loaded with luxurious features such as soft, black Artico leather and Bastogne fabric upholstery, with soft padded panels on the doors - not the hard plastic so common in many competitive products. The sport-style front seats, which nudged against you in all the right places, were power adjustable in eight directions for both the driver and the passenger - again a convenience not typically shared by both positions. As one would expect (and appreciate in winter's cold), heated front seats are included.
The plastic wheel covers have been replaced with stylish alloy wheels on both the base B200 and the B200 Turbo.
Buyers looking for luxury touches, even at this level, expect a decent audio system and the B-Class delivers. My tester was equipped with the base package, which features AM/FM and a weather band, as well as a six-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3 capability. The system is Bluetooth compatible and there's also an auxiliary input jack in the glove box. The system also included the optional media interface package that added three connection cables to integrate just about any type of entertainment device. An upgrade to a 450-watt surround-sound system by harman/kardon is also available on both models.
The cabin is nicely appointed - the base interior gets aluminum trim. Opting for the available premium package changes the metal touches to Myrtle wood.
The upgrade to the premium level, whether in the base B200 or Turbo model, also adds a panoramic sunroof that spreads over both rows of seating, creating a wonderful sense of openness.
The large sunroof also adds to the B-Class's impressive visibility overall.
The steeply raked windshield provides a good view of the road ahead, while the side windows, which cut well into the doors, provide excellent visibility left and right. The glass in the tailgate has been extended to the sides in the '09 model - one of the subtle changes in this year's makeover.