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Mercedes-Benz B200 2006 Review

The B200 picks up a six-speed manual gearbox and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Always, something seems to be happening — from an all-new flagship to bigger and bolder engines in existing cars.

The new S-Class has just arrived, Benz is pushing diesels, the crossover R-Class will reach Australia later in the year, and we can look forward to 6.3-litre V8 engines in the coming cars.

How does the B-Class fit into the jigsaw? If Mercedes-Benz is right, it is just the thing for the young family.

It believes the B will be ideal for the sort of people who might be considering a Volkswagen Golf or BMW's 1-Series.

Officially, the B-Class is a "sports tourer", but to you and I it is more likely to be dropped into the people-mover basket.

It's a mini model, but a family van that could also be shopped against a Honda Odyssey.

It shows just how much the lines have been blurred between traditional car classes in recent years, because it is based on the baby A-Class yet has one of the roomiest and most versatile cabins in the business.

And it also comes with the promise of a reasonably sporty drive, provided you choose the right engine.

The B-Class has been in Australia for only a couple of months but is already rated a success. "Incoming orders are currently ahead of production we have ordered, so we are negotiating to increase B-Class production, especially once the B180 CDI comes on stream," the spokesman for Mercedes-Benz in Australia, Toni Andreevski, says. What he won't say is that the B is stealing sales from the A, and Mercedes believes it will punch a growing hole in the results for its compact contender.

It is not hurting the C-Class, however, which points to the position it has in showrooms.

Pricing for the B-Class has been set from $44,900, which is reasonable in the class and lines up against the BMW 1-Series from $34,900 and the Audi A3 five-door from $36,900.

But the Benz price is for the B200 and there will be a cheaper B180 before much longer which should ease down into the $30,000-something range.

There are two B-Class cars at the moment, the B200 with 100kW and the B200 Turbo with 142kW, and a price that moves up to $48,900.

There are three optional packages — sports, luxury and touring — which can add anything from $1350 to $4786.

Both Bs have the same five-door and five-adult cabin, front-wheel-drive, alloy-wheels, airconditioning and rain-sensor wipers.

There is plenty of safety gear too, with six airbags, anti-skid brakes with brake assist, electronic stability control and electronic steering assistance.

The B200 picks up a six-speed manual gearbox and 16-inch alloy wheels, as well as twin-pipe exhaust and chromed pieces on the bodywork.

ON THE ROAD

The B-Class is going to do well in Australia. It will be ideal for many of the active thirtysomethings — single, married and committed — who want a vehicle that is more than just a car.

It is also a significant step up from the A-Class, which has always been the Benz for people who can only just make the money work or who want a second or third car as a shopping trolley.

The B is much more substantial than the A, and few people would make the connection if they saw the newcomer without knowing its development history or were told the story.

As a drive, it feels more substantial and loses almost all of the chop-chop bumpiness.

It is not a sports car, and won't threaten a 1-Series or Golf on a winding road, but it has good grip in corners and the balance and feel are good enough for the class, price and customers.

Apart from electronic stability control, which is becoming a must-have safety feature, the B also has steering assist. The electric power steering can actually give you extra help if the car believes, through its hi-tech sensors, that you're not turning enough and could run off the road.

We don't know if we like it, and sporty drivers will hate it, but it could be the next step on the safety ladder.

The test car was a B200 Turbo and it got along pretty well, with good bottom-end acceleration and plenty of passing power.

But we have also tried a basic B with continuously variable transmission and it felt sluggish and unresponsive, the gearbox sounding as if it was working hard all the time.

The six-speed manual turbo was more enjoyable, though most owners are going to be travelling down the auto road.

The tester came with both the touring and sports packages, which brought more enjoyment with a sunroof and sports suspension, but took the price (with metallic paint) to $55,250.

The roof is good, we didn't really mind about the suspension, and the value is not great.

Really, the B-Class is not about sporty driving. It's more about transport and choices. It has a good cabin with a nice, high driving position, plenty of storage space and one of those variable seat systems that turns it into the Tardis.

We would not pick it for driving enjoyment, but it scores well in every other area.

THE BOTTOM LINE

One of the most versatile compacts on the road, with enough luxury to give it a special place. 77/100

Pricing guides

$6,765
Based on third party pricing data
Lowest Price
$4,950
Highest Price
$8,580

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
B200 2.0L, PULP, 5 SP MAN $5,610 – 7,920 2006 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2006 B200 Pricing and Specs
B200 Turbo 2.0L, PULP, CVT AUTO $5,610 – 7,920 2006 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2006 B200 Turbo Pricing and Specs
B180 CDI 2.0L, Diesel, 6 SP MAN $5,610 – 7,920 2006 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2006 B180 CDI Pricing and Specs
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication.  Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.