Space It Out

Mercedes-Benz have no shortage of car lines, let alone variants, with several choices available in India, before customization begins. The new GLB-Class is a refreshing addition because it steps in to offer something few others do

- Jim Gorde

IN AN AGE WHERE THE GERMAN BRANDS seem to be dropping four-door coupés across different size scales like there's no tomorrow, a diesel-powered, allwheel-drive, seven-seater mash-up between MPV and SUV is refreshing.

The GLB brings a front face that is a little like its modularfront-architecture sibling, the GLA, but the side profile is a marked departure from convention. It's like an enlarged TClass but with a more muscular profile, with the blip up in the shoulder-line at the C-pillar a distinguishing element in its design. The roof-rails add to the utility quotient and the wrap-around tail-lamp clusters end in a somewhat MLreminiscent tail-gate. It's not particularly exciting to look at but Mercedes have gone for a function-over-form approach and that is a key factor in making it a standout model. It's all about utility and versatility.

The long-ish GLB sits high off the ground but offers lower seating, making for generous head-room and, with the split seating and sliding second row, remarkable flexibility. At the front, I'm seated quite comfortably with a familiar dashboard ahead. The twin sweeping displays offer a slew of information in crisp resolution. The digital info-display and clusters are behind the steering wheel with the other at the centre of the dashboard working as a touchscreen infotainment system with access to media, connectivity, and detailed vehicle functions.