POSH PEOPLE MOVER

The Mercedes-Benz GLB is a seven-seat SUV based on the GLA and squeezes itself into the gap between the GLC and GLS. We find out what it’s like

- Pablo Chaterji

Hands up if you’re as puzzled by Mercedes-Benz’s alphabet soup of models as I am. With the amount of three-alphabet cars it has in its line-up, I think I can be forgiven for having head-spin moments while trying to immediately figure out the difference between a GLA, a GLC, a GLS, an EQS and an EQC. Take the car you see here, for example — the GLB. It’s derived from the smaller GLA compact SUV (and A-Class sedan), but has more in common with the larger GLC (and even the GLS). Confused yet? Good, we can begin in right earnest.

Cabin quality is typically Mercedes — upmarket, plush, and screen-heavy

As mentioned, the GLB is based on Merc’s MFA2 front-wheel drive architecture, and is the biggest model in that particular set of cars. Indeed, it’s taller than the GLC (which is a class above it) and almost as long, thus giving it a sort of shrunken GLS vibe. The GLS is, of course, the full-fat Merc SUV — seven seats, supreme comfort, hulking road presence et al. If you think about it, Merc creating a more compact seven-seater at a much lower price point makes oodles of sense, especially for India where buyers begin to swoon when they hear the words ‘seven seats’ and ‘less money’ spoken in the same sentence; a three-pointed star on the nose serves to sweeten the deal to diabetic levels.