Mercedes has announced a small suite of changes to its niche-busting B-Class with a subtle visual refresh, some new interior options and the addition of mild-hybrid assistance to petrol-powered models.
The updates to the B-Class range are broadly in line with those of Mercedes' upgraded A-Class, also revealed today, with which the B-Class shares its platform and powertrains.
Styling updates
The light visual update sees a new bumper and radiator grille added to the B-Class and four new alloy wheel options (in dimensions of up to 19 inches), including high-gloss black paint finishes. There's little change at the rear, with only the addition of new two-part LED taillights setting the new version apart from its predecessor.
Interior changes
As before (and as in the A-Class) there are two main screens at seven and 10.25 inches apiece, with the option of upgrading to two 10.25-inch screen instead, all running the latest version of the Mercedes MBUX operating system. The attractive turbine-shaped air vents remain in-situ too.
There have been a few small tweaks inside with a redesigned centre console and a new steering wheel trimmed in Nappa leather. In base models, the seats are clad in new embossed "Artico" - a leather substitute - with higher-spec variants receiving a small range of new colour and upholstery options. AMG-line spec, in keeping with its sportier character, sees the interior finished in a combination of Artico and a microfibre material (similar to Alcantara) with red stitching.
With the refreshed B-Class, it's now simpler for buyers to choose their desired level of equipment, with the most commonly chosen options now more logically grouped together into a series of packages. Items such as the reversing camera and leather steering wheel are now standard on all models, while some of these packages such as the parking package (a group of parking assistance features) and the mirror package (a package that includes automatically dimming and retracting mirrors) are expected to be included as standard once Irish specifications are announced.
As part of the Driver Assistance Package, the control of the Lane Keeping Assist is now much more comfortable, the company says, when using the Active Steering Control.
Another feature due to arrive next year is a fingerprint sensor for identification and authorisation of the driver, which is an additional security option.
More hybrid power
The facelifted B-Class now employs mild-hybrid assistance on both 1.3- and 2.0-litre petrol models making use of a 48-volt electrical system that features a belt-driven starter-generator to support the engine, especially under acceleration, to conserve fuel, reduce emissions and generally make the drive that bit smoother. No engine changes have taken place for the diesels.
Also electrically updated is the plug-in hybrid B 250 e, which, like the A-Class plug-in hybrids, receives an improved battery with a higher usable energy content to increase the electric-only range very slightly to 77km of mixed driving under the WLTP standard. There's a small power boost too of 7hp thanks to an uprated electric motor now developing 109hp out of the B 250 e's total output of 218hp.
One other useful change is that the electrical system has been improved too meaning so it can now be charged from an AC charger at up to 11kW, as opposed to a maximum of 7kW as before.
Irish pricing for the newly-updated B-Class is still to be confirmed, but don't expect anything too far north of the €42,650 starting price of the outgoing version.