Mercedes-Benz’s first seven-seater compact crossover will arrive at U.S. dealerships in late 2019. The automaker on Monday introduced the new GLB in Salt Lake City, carving out yet another niche in the burgeoning crossover market.
“It feels like a younger brother of a mix of the GLS and the G,” Daimler CEO Ola Källenius said. “It has a little ruggedness of the G, it has some of the elegance of the GLS.”
The GLB is expected to arrive at stores by Christmas, U.S. dealers were told last month. In the U.S., the GLB will compete with the BMW X1, Range Rover Discovery Sport and Volkswagen Tiguan. It will slot between the GLA and the GLC in the Mercedes crossover/SUV lineup.
The GLB is powered by an updated, more powerful 2-liter, 4-cylinder M 260 engine that delivers 221 hp. The engine’s cylinder bore is widened at the lower end of the cylinder liners to minimize friction, lowering fuel consumption. The pistons feature cooling ducts for more efficient combustion. The aluminum, four-valve cylinder head features a variable-valve timing system that can increase fuel efficiency or boost engine performance.
The GLB will be offered in an all-wheel-drive variant that will include an off-road package.
For the first time in a Mercedes, the GLB offers an optional third row with two additional seats that can be folded for extra cargo capacity. The third-row seats fit two medium-sized occupants, Mercedes said.
The instrument panel in the GLB consists of a single piece, which has optical cutouts in the driver and front passenger area. A widescreen cockpit faces the driver, while the functions and displays are controlled via Mercedes’ AI-powered multimedia system, MBUX, or Mercedes-Benz User Experience.
The GLB shares components with the next-generation GLA but offers a more functional and spacious package suitable for families, Kim said. At 111.4 inches, the GLB’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than the GLA.
