The 2015 Mercedes B-Class looks sportier courtesy of the revised front and rear fascia while the cabin has also been updated with a host of new features on offer.
Bringing its third product out of the 15 planned for this year to the Indian market, Mercedes-Benz has launched the 2015 B-Class premium compact tourer in the country with prices starting at Rs. 27.95 lakhs (ex-showroom, Mumbai). Mercedes’ first product based on the MFA platform to have kickstarted the compact luxury segment for the automaker, the updates to the B-Class come almost three years after the model went on sale and pack a host of cosmetic improvements and new features on offer.
While the styling updates aren’t as dramatic as expected on the 2015 Mercedes B-Class, the luxury tourer gets cosmetic tweaks including a revised front grille, sculpted hood, reprofiled headlight cluster with LEDs and integrated DRLs as well as a new bumper with wide air intakes that lends a sporty appeal. The sides continue with the same profile but get new alloy wheels with 16-inch alloy wheels offered as standard. Mercedes has discontinued the 17-inchers on the petrol version of the B-Class. Coming to the rear, the car gets a revised bumper with faux twin exhausts that give a clean look while the updated tail lights with new elements infuse some freshness in the styling. The B-Class has now lost some of its blandness courtesy of the updates that has always been a point of criticism for the car.
The changes are far more extensive inside the cabin and include 12 different ambient lighting options, new three-spoke steering wheel wrapped in leather, sportier dials and a larger 7-inch high-resolution display unit with an upgraded COMAND infotainment system and satellite navigation. The B-Class facelift also sports features like the panoramic sunroof, hill-start assist and hold function, seven airbags, rear view camera among the other bells and whistles that have been carried over from the outgoing model.
Under the hood, Mercedes India has made some major changes to the diesel powertrain. While the petrol variant continues to draw power from the 1.6-litre four-cylinder motor producing 122 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque; diesel power comes from the new 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine producing 135 PS and 300 Nm of torque. Both the engines are paired to the 7-speed DCT automatic transmission. The diesel variant now also carries the ‘200’ moniker instead of the 180 to signify the update. In addition, the automaker says that the facelift gets better NVH levels and the suspension set-up has been softened to improved ride quality.
Certainly, the most practical compact premium offering for the ample of space it offers, the B-Class could not achieve the same kind of success as its siblings the A-Class and the GLA have had in a short span of time. Nevertheless, the updates to offer the needed push to the B-Class that will put it on the list of prospective buyers that want something extremely practical without having to compromise on the luxe badge. Mercedes will commence assembling the new B-Class at its Chakan facility later this year and will bring down the prices by a significant margin on the tourer.
2015 Mercedes B-Class Facelift (ex-showroom, Mumbai) –
* B-Class 180 SPORT- Rs. 27.95 Lakhs
* B-Class 200 CDI SPORT – Rs. 28.95 Lakhs
