Mercedes B Class

Mercedes B Class

Average. If keeping up with the Jones' is what you're after, there's no finer way to make their shiny new Meriva feel a little cheap. However, they may make you look like a snail on the motorway...

Luxury was something rarely associated with small MPVs. Usually the duty of ferrying children (or their stuff) around falls to the more 'homely' brands of Renault, Ford and Vauxhall. However, Mercedes-Benz's first B-Class added a touch of grandeur to the segment.

The new B-Class continues the firm's designs on making the act of ferrying a family around an experience to enjoy rather than lament. Occupants get to enjoy a well laid out, beautifully made cockpit. Everything gives a light, airy environment for passengers and driver alike. Every lever and stalk feels solid enough that you know it will last far longer than you'll keep the car.

A particular interior highlight is the air vents, admittedly they're a small detail in the grand scheme of things but they do give the impression of class-leading quality.

Infotainment comes from a screen mounted to the dashboard, it pairs up with the Mercedes Command system rather well and is intuitive to use. The satellite navigation was a little tricky on the oft confusing Austrian test roads, though. The unit itself looks like a tablet PC has been glued to the dash, which may encourage thieves and looks a little like an afterthought.

Safety is a key feature - as well as the standard smattering of airbags, there are a couple of standout features. The blind spot recognition system works rather well. Though it does 'detect' parked cars on narrow roads and activates when you're stuck in traffic and perfectly aware of what's around you. The other is dubbed Pre-Safe. It gives a visible and aural warning if it thinks you're about to hit the car in front. While smart, it also activates when stationary and begins wailing when the inevitable cyclist/scooter rider cuts in front of you in traffic.

The engines on offer aren't going to excite the majority of drivers - they offer average pace in exchange for sterling fuel economy. While that's enough for some, it means hilly routes and overtaking can require planning. That said, the 180 CDI offers incredible refinement on the motorway, while the 200CDI suffers from a touch of diesel rumble. Both petrol engines are quiet, but the 200 offers more useable pace at the cost of MPG.

However, whichever engine you go for make sure you pick the brilliant manual option - the change feels far better than you get with cheaper alternatives. The seven-speed automatic should be avoided as it's far too slow and clunky.

Steering is another B-Class success - it's brilliantly weighted and offers great feedback on the move.

Economy is the B-Class' party piece, thanks to some aero tweaks it has a drag coefficient of 0.26.