- Powerful proportions with short overhangs and off-road-oriented design – the Mercedes-Benz GLB is a versatile lifestyle
- Up to 7 seats: The GLB offers maximum versatility by including a third seat row on request with two additional individual The seats offer people up to a height of1.68 metres a comfortable amount of space.
- The GLB comes with MBUX: Offering seamless connectivity and a superior degree of digitalization with its class-leading infotainment
- Useful in easy off-road terrain: The GLB 220d 4MATIC is equipped with a permanent all-wheel drive system, with fully variable torque distribution and different drive mode settings through the DYNAMIC SELECT
Johannesburg, South Africa – Living large has never been this easy or this luxurious before… till the Mercedes-Benz GLB arrived. Fusing power with comfort, space coupled with versatility, luxury with practicality. Life on the large side is just an SUV away in the Mercedes-Benz GLB. A versatile lifestyle SUV with bold proportions – sporting an off-road design that arouses the professional explorer hidden within.
Off-road orientation: the exterior design
“Its iconic and bold look lends the Mercedes-Benz GLB an unmistakable SUV character,” says Mark Raine, President of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa. “The powerful proportions of the GLB design with its off-road orientation, in combination with its luxurious value perception and high degree of digitalisation, makes it the perfect versatile lifestyle SUV. The obvious SUV genes and striking similarities to the G-Wagon are undeniable and give the GLB the ‘GNA’ inherited from the Godfather of all SUVs.”
Interior design
The interior of the GLB features a widescreen cockpit, with control and display via MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). A new feature is the characteristic off-road tubular element in an aluminium look, which rounds off the lower section of the instrument panel and houses the three round centre air vents.
4MATIC all-wheel drive
The sporty 4MATIC all-wheel drive configuration (on the 220d 4Matic only) allows the driver to use the DYNAMIC SELECT switch to influence the characteristics of 4MATIC. Other elements of the Off-Road Engineering Package:
- An animation of the driving situation can be called up in the media display. The realistic presentation of gradient, inclination angle and technical settings helps the driver to judge manoeuvres correctly.
- The hill-start assistance system Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) automatically adheres to a preselected, slow speed between approx. 2 and 18 km/h. It can be read out in the instrument cluster and in the optional head-up display. With targeted brake applications, the assistant helps retain control during steep downhill driving.
MULTIBEAM LED
Optional MULTIBEAM LED headlamps on these models offer a special off-road light function. This makes it easier to see obstacles in rough terrain in the dark. With the off-road light, the cornering light on the MULTIBEAM LED headlamps is continuously switched on up to a speed of 50 km/h. This results in wide and bright light distribution immediately in front of the vehicle.
Powerful and efficient: the engines
The new GLB places its trust in the four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, which were completely updated to relaunch the compact model series. In comparison to the previous generation, they are characterised by significantly increased power, improved efficiency and emissions.
The Mercedes-Benz GLB comes in a 250 and 220d 4MATIC model. The GLB 250 2-litre engine can run at a full speed of up to 100 km / h in 7.1 seconds with a fuel consumption of 8.47.6 l / 100 km. With the GLB 220 d 4MATIC (total fuel consumption 6.4 – 5.7 l / 100 km), the 2- litre diesel is also within this range.
Unrivalled in its class: The new GLB 35 4MATIC combines high variability, lots of space and great driving fun
With its passionate, striking design, great practicality and dynamics and space for up to seven occupants, the new Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4MATIC (combined fuel consumption: 7.6-7.5 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 173-171 g/km)1 is an unrivalled alternative in the segment of the versatile lifestyle SUVs. The turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine develops 225 kW and guarantees impressive driving fun with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 8G transmission and variable AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive (acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds). Not to mention the advantages of an SUV: raised seating position, plenty of space for passengers and luggage, and well-balanced off-road capabilities.
Vice President for Marketing and Sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars, Selvin Govender, announced the introduction of a special limited edition of the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4MATIC in 2022. Govender added that “The Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4MATIC offers incredible speed to match its practical three-row package, luxurious interior, off-road capabilities, and all-round versatility.”
1 The stated figures were determined in accordance with the prescribed measuring method. These are the “NEDC CO2 figures” according to Article 2 No. 1 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption figures were calculated based on these figures.
Customer segmentation:
Since the introduction of the GLB into the SA market, this particular SUV has been very well received by the target market, represented mainly by the most determined of individuals who don’t settle for anything less.
For instance, take these two audience buckets.
Customer Profile 1:
The most complete companion for the ultimate explorer. Take “Gareth Adams”, a charismatic and ambitious professional with an unquenchable thirst for life. From home to gym, from gym to the office, and from the office to an evening business dinner, the GLB and Gareth share the same DNA and vision for excellence that drives their success every step of the way. Compromise is not an option for either of these two, and comfort is non-negotiable.
Why only get amped up once you start training? For the 5AM club, every step in the process is key – that’s why, with the state of the art MBUX, Gareth doesn’t have to wait to get pumped at the gym. From the moment he enters his GLB, greeting it with a ‘Hey Mercedes’, his machine is ready to rumble, and gear him up with the right energy and tunes to start his day, cueing “Eminem – Lose Yourself”. This highly intuitive infotainment system is a flex on its own.
Still, that’s only the beginning; comfort takes precedence and makes all the difference in the day. That unavoidable peak hour traffic feels lighter when Gareth can rest his head in the copious amounts of headroom and extended legroom enjoyed in his seat – plus anyone else for that matter who may be along for the ride. Social butterflies need their space, their freedom, and room to breathe both in life and in their car. Who knows where the night may lead, who might want to tag along? In the GLB, the more the merrier, and with an optional third row configuration, there’s more room for the unexpected extras.
Whether on the coast or the inner city, this SUV will draw the eyes of everyone who crosses its path, commanding bold aesthetics with a familiar minimal contemporary design that imitates the iconic G-Class. The magnificent GLB is formed like an all-powerful cube, but isn’t built to confine.
Customer Profile 2:
No location or destination is out of the question for this mammoth of modern engineering and design. For career women and mothers such as “Lerato Luthuli”, safety is a priority that the Mercedes-Benz GLB caters to at all times. For a multidisciplinary being such as Lerato, experiencing the best of both worlds while balancing between family life to a personal life of abundance is essential. Why choose one when you can benefit from both?
Driving assistance, Active Brake Assist and the multi-link axles with MacPherson struts ensure every terrain is handled with the most sensitivity and strength, guaranteeing her and her family’s protection no matter the elements. Lerato can switch from sport to comfort at any given moment, depending on what she needs, with the GLB mirroring its user’s diversity. These vehicles go against the grain of what is expected – coupled with the driver to match.
Immersing her and her family in a world of their own, the GLB takes them anywhere and everywhere they want to go, with all the load capacity they’ll need – 1800 litres to be exact. From a quick trip to the grocery shops, to a road trip down to Knysna, the boot brags more space than expected, fitting all the groceries, cricket kits and golf gear one needs for the week and weekend getaways. Clearly no journey ever falls short, and nothing gets left behind.
Trips to fetch the kids and rush home in time for that afternoon meeting come with less stress for Lerato, with a powerful 4-cylinder engine propelling her and her family home, complemented with ultramodern driving assistance systems to guide her path for the easiest and most uncompromised navigation. As she maintains her work life balance and struts through her evening dance classes, her GLB struts through the city and makes the road her runway at every turn. The GLB combines the pursuit of comfort, class and family freedom all in one for this multifaceted working mom, an SUV as diverse as she.
The GLB is primed for the inner city lifestyle; styling a robust off-road design, the vehicle still sustains the elegance of a Mercedes-Benz, catering to both luxury and grit. It boasts an appearance full of character: powerful proportions, upright front section with striking headlamps and expressive design elements; which positions the GLB as a strong pragmatist with clear off-road genes, channelling the spirit of the G-Class.
This design philosophy is suited to the urban lifestyle lived by professionals like Lerato and Gareth. Driving an SUV that’s so on-brand, with a sleek design and elegant form while facing the cutting-edge nature of the city, is just what these go-getters need. Lerato and Gareth believe in choosing more, going beyond expectations, whether it’s attending concerts or mindfulness Yoga, networking or impromptu road trips. The Mercedes-Benz GLB ensures they don’t ever need to hold back, but continue to move forward in functional elegance.
Visit Mercedes-Benz to get your very own GLB, made for living larger in life.
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GLB FACT SHEET
- The GLB is the first Mercedes-Benz in the compact segment that is optionally available as a seven-seater.
- It is powered by completely updated four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines that offer a combination of fuel economy and performance
- Powerful proportions with short overhangs and off-road-oriented design, standard LED headlights, as well as 4MATIC all-wheel drive in the GLB 220d, make the GLB a versatile SUV and a spacious family car.
- The GLB 250 offers a combined fuel consumption 8.4-7.6 l/100 km 100 km, with max CO2 emissions of 171 g/km.
- The two-litre diesel engine in the GLB 220d 4MATIC offers a combined fuel consumption of 4 – 5.7 l/100 km, and max CO2 emissions of 144 g/km.
- With a wheelbase of 2829 millimetres, the GLB is 10cm longer than the new B-Class.
- The car is 4634 millimetres long, 1834 millimetres wide and 1659 millimetres
- As a result, headroom in the first seat row is 1069 millimetres – an optimum in this segment
- At 967 millimetres the effective legroom in the rear of the five-seater is at an especially comfortable level
- The boot compartment capacity of 570 to 1805 litres boasts the qualities of an estate car
- The second row can be moved fore and aft, enabling the boot to be enlarged by up to 190 litres
- The MBUX infotainment system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) offers powerful computer, brilliant screens and graphics, customisable presentation, full-colour head-up display, with optional navigation and augmented reality, learning software, and voice control activated with the prompt “Hey Mercedes”.
- The powerful proportions of the GLB underscore the off-road focus of the design, with an upright front section, striking headlamps and short overhangs at the front and
- The GLB 220d 4M is equipped with the permanent all-wheel system 4MATIC, with fully variable torque distribution. The Off-Road Engineering Package is standard on the GLB 220d 4M and includes an additional drive mode that adapts the power delivery of the engine for off-road driving in easy This is not available in the GLB 250.
The models at a glance:
| GLB 250 | GLB 220 d 4MATIC | |
| Transmission | 8G-DCT (automatic) | 8G-DCT (automatic) |
| Displacement (cc) | 1991 | 1951 |
| Output (kW/hp) | 165/224 | 140/190 |
| at rpm | 5500 | 3800 |
| Max. torque (Nm) | 350 | 400 |
| at rpm | 1800 – 4000 | 1600 – 2400 |
| Combined fuel consumption (l/100 km)2 | 8.4-7.6 | 6.4 – 5.7 |
| Combined CO2 emissions (g/km)1 | 191-173 | 168-150 |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s) | 7.1 | 7.6 |
| Top speed (km/h) | 240 | 217 |
| Retail Price | R907 000 (includes Service & Maintenance Contract) | R918 000 (includes Service & Maintenance Contract) |
2 Figures for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are provisional and were determined by the Technical Service for the certification process in accordance with the WLTP test method and correlated into NEDC figures. EC type approval and a certificate of conformity with official figures are not yet available. Differences between the stated figures and the official figures are possible.
