2006 Mercedes-Benz B200 Reviews

From time to time you may have read my mutterings that fashion takes precedence over function in cars far too often. Which is why I admire the Mercedes-Benz B-Class so much, it's a major case of function pushing fashion aside. It is immensely practical, with a spacious interior (you need a large Mercedes S-Class to get more rear legroom), a tall seating position that provides good visibility, and variable luggage space that can be tailored in many ways.Mercedes-Benz B-Class is smaller on the outside than most compact SUVs so easier and safer to drive, as well as being lighter and therefore more economical and cleaner.Access to the rear seats through wide opening doors is excellent. As befits any mover, the Merc has numerous stowage areas including a handy centre console and sensible door pockets.The B-Class was launched in Australia in May 2005. Some are getting on in years, but with good maintenance and sensible driving should still have plenty of life left in them. As befits such a sensible vehicle it remained on sale for almost seven years, albeit with upgrades and a mild facelift until April 2012 when an all-new model was launched.Petrol, turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines are on offer, with the turbo-petrol units providing performance that can almost be called sporting in the latest, 2012, generation.There's a solid, quiet, refined feel in the Benz B-Class that belies it size. It's not quite as quiet and smooth to ride in as the larger Merc sedans, but it comes impressively close.Handling is pretty good for a mid-sized front-wheel-drive car, with decent balance, and minimal understeer at normal speeds. Exceed sensible cornering efforts and it remains controllable, with electronic aids moving in to help when required.These small Benzes aren't cheap in absolute terms, but you do get some excellent engineering and good build quality. Many owners are happy to pay thousands extra so they can be seen sitting behind that famed three-pointed star.Mercedes-Benz is well represented in almost all areas of areas of Australia, even in the far outback as diesel Mercedes cars have been a favourite with Aussie farmers for decades.Many owners get all their work done at Mercedes-Benz dealerships. These cars generally fetch higher prices than ones serviced elsewhere. You may pay more in the first place, but recoup your cash when it comes time to trade-in time.This isn't really the sort of car you should attempt to work on yourself, though a good home handyperson can do some of the routine service work.A correctly driven and maintained Mercedes B-Class should have plenty of life left in it, but it's still best to have one inspected by a Mercedes mechanic.If you find what appears to have been major repairs to the body either pass it up altogether or book it in for an after-crash inspection at a reputable panel repairer.Check the interior, particularly the rear seats and the luggage area for signs of rough and ready use.Before going for your test drive try and arrange for the engine to be completely cold, after an overnight stop is ideal. Make sure the engine starts easily and idles smoothly within a few seconds of kicking over.Check the engine never shows any signs of hesitation to your push on the throttle pedal. Also, that it pulls easily and strongly even on hills and with a load on board.

The Mercedes B-Class is an exceptionally practical vehicle built on a stretched version of the Mercedes A-Class platform. The release of an all-new model in March 2012 has generated added interest to those on the used-car market.A taller than average five-door hatchback, the B-Class has a huge amount of interior space, with almost as much legroom in the rear as in the big S-Class Mercedes. The B-Class’s front seats are large and well shaped and provide good support. There's plenty of space for two big Aussie males in the rear and three children will have stretch out room.The boot is bigger and more useable than that of many much larger cars. Not only is it huge, the luggage area is very versatile, and you can even create an almost van-like interior by removing every seat but the driver’s. The removable seats are an extra-cost option so may not be fitted to the one you’re examining.We wouldn’t go as far as to call the B-Class a ‘sports tourer’, as Mercedes has tagged it at times, but it does have a reasonably sleek style in its class.Petrol, turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines are all on offer, with the turbo-petrol units providing performance that can be called sporting without using too much imagination.The manual gearbox comes as a five or six-speed unit, but isn’t particularly common. Mercedes also gives you the choice of a continuously variable transmission that has seven manually-selectable preset ratios for use in specific driving conditions.There's a solid, quiet, refined feel in the new Benz B-Class that belies it size. It’s not quite as quiet and smooth to ride in as the larger Merc sedans, but it comes impressively close.Handling in the B-Class is very good for a mid-sized front-wheel-drive car, with decent balance, and minimal understeer at normal speeds. Backed up by Mercedes' inbuilt electronic stability program, this is one of the safest cars in its class size.These aren't cheap cars in absolute terms, but you do get some excellent engineering and there are a host of luxury and safety features. Of course, you do pay several thousand extra dollars for the privilege of sitting behind that three-pointed star, but many think it’s worth the money.Mercedes-Benz is well represented in almost all areas of areas of Australia, even in the far outback as diesel Mercedes have been a favourite with Aussie farmers for generations.This isn’t really the sort of car you should attempt to work on yourself, though a good home handyperson can do some of the routine service work. It’s common for owners to get all their work done at authorised Mercedes-Benz dealerships and these cars generally fetch higher prices than cars serviced elsewhere. You may pay more in the first place, but recoup your cash when it comes time to trade in your ‘serviced by Mercedes’ car.WHAT TO LOOK FORA correctly driven and maintained Mercedes B-Class is unlikely to have any faults, but it’s still best to have one inspected by a senior engineer at your motoring club.Take a good walk around the car checking for signs of damage to the bumper corners, the wheel rims (the front left is the one that generally suffers at the hands of poor parkers), and the door panels at their widest sections.If you find what appears to have been major repairs to the body either pass it up altogether or book it in for an after-crash inspection at a reputable panel repairer.Check the interior, particularly the rear seats and the boot for evidence of harsh use.Before going for your test drive try and arrange for the engine to be completely cold, after an overnight stop is ideal. Make sure the engine starts easily and idles smoothly within a few seconds of kicking over.Check the engine pulls easily and strongly even on hills and with a load on board. And that it never shows any signs of hesitation.CAR BUYING TIPCars with prestigious badges can be driven just as badly as those from the lowliest on the image stakes. Don’t fall for the fancy badge, have it fully inspected.

If the Mercedes-Benz A-Class suited young singles and couples without kids starting out in life along with older couples at the other end of the journey whose kids had fled the nest, the B-Class was the car for couples in the midst of family life.The B-Class was a logical extension of the A-Class concept, a larger version of the small peoplemover capable of hauling a tribe of kids to school, sports days or wherever they need to go.Outwardly it looked like an A-Class, there was the same upright stance, the same sloping front, and the same sweeping roof, but it was longer. That extra length was used to create a roomy and versatile interior that was perfect for its intended use.At launch there were two models, the B200 and the B200 Turbo, but they were joined a few months later by the B180 diesel. All were five-door, front-wheel drive hatches cum wagons capable of accommodating five adults and packed with features and safety equipment. Mercedes offered a choice of two 2.0-litre petrol engines, one of them turbocharged for extra zip, and a frugal 2.0-litre turbodiesel.All engines could be had with a Continuously Variable Transmission, CVT, which was the auto choice, or that could be with either five or six-speed manuals. The manual 'boxes were generally praised for the their ease of use, but the CVT copped some flak for being sluggish and unresponsive.On the road the B-Class demonstrated good grip and nice chassis balance, but for a more sporty drive there was a sports suspension package available as well. All models were well equipped with all the standard features wanted in a car today, including air, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, cloth trim, fog lamps, alloy wheels, central locking and CD sound.IN THE SHOPAnyone buying a Mercedes-Benz needs to do so in full knowledge that servicing and parts come at a premium, which makes it important to seek out a specialist who can service your car, and source parts, at a more economical rate. When checking a car prior to purchase test all the gadgets to make sure they work, fixing them later can cost a motza. If you're unsure get a mechanic to help you.Check for a service record, as like all engines, Mercedes-Benz powerplants suffer when forced to run on dirty oil. Also check for panel damage, particularly around the front, which is hard to see and can make it hard to judge when parking. Also check the interior for the damage that can naturally occur when transporting kids.IN A CRASHFive stars from ANCAP say it all. The B-Class is well geared for a   crash with front, side and curtain airbags, plus ABS brakes and ESP stability control.UNDER THE PUMPFor economy the diesel delivers to the tune of 6.2 L/100 km on   average and the pick of the B-Class bunch. The petrol engines deliver 7.2 L/100 km (non-turbo) and 7.9 L/100 km (turbo), and what's more 'Benz says they can handle E10.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $47,400 to $51,400Engines: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel, 80 kW/250 Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 100 kW/185 Nm; 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder, 142 kW/280 NmTransmissions: CVT auto, 6-speed manual, 5-speed manualEconomy: 6.2 L/100 km (B180 CDI), 7.2 L/100 km (B200), 7.9 L/100 km (B200 Turbo)Body: 5-door hatchbackVariants: B180 CDI, B200, B200 TurboSafety: 5-star ANCAP

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