2022 Mercedes-Benz GLB Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLB slots into the automaker's SUV lineup between the GLA and the GLC. It comes in GLB250 and AMG GLB35 specification. In Canada, the GLB250 features standard 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD; front-wheel drive (FWD) is not offered in our market), while the AMG GLB35 has a more powerful drivetrain including a more sophisticated AWD system.

This year, a handful of changes are in store. A new Night Package is available with black grille louvers and black badges. If you’re into it, Rose Gold is a new paint colour for the AMG GLB35. Prices kick off at $47,000 for the 2022 Mercedes GLB250 with 4Matic AWD, not including the destination charge to ship it north from Mercedes' Aguascalientes, Mexico, factory, which varies depending on your location across Canada.

Our test vehicle arrived in AMG GLB35 spec, and with a starting MSRP of $59,300. Options included metallic paint, 21-inch wheels, and both the Premium and Multimedia Packages, bringing the grand total to approximately $63,500 before destination fees (Canadian, estimated).

You can dress up a GLB250 to resemble the AMG GLB35, though the latter comes with the exclusive vertical grille bars that signal the “real” AMG-massaged version of the SUV. No matter what you add, though, from a design standpoint, the GLB is an acquired taste. After all, you can decorate a cardboard box, but at the end of the day, it’s still a cardboard box.

There’s no hiding the GLB’s steep windshield angle, nearly vertical rear window, and short overhangs. Form definitely takes a back seat to function here, though our test model’s 21-inch multi-spoke wheels lent the AMG GLB35 some style and presence.

So did the interior, which is beautifully rendered in the Mercedes-Benz tradition. From the full-colour high-definition instrumentation and infotainment displays to the artistic air vents that glow with ambient lighting after dark, the GLB’s cabin is a treat day and night.

If you’re new to Mercedes, the controls require some acclimation. From the steering wheel stalk that serves as the gear selector to the touch-sensing buttons on the steering wheel, little about the GLB user experience is conventional. And even when you’ve had plenty of time to get to know the SUV, it’s easy to forget where a setting is located or how to find a specific function.

As for quality, it is plainly evident in various spots within the cabin that this is an entry-level Mercedes. Also, especially with the optional 21-inch wheels, the road noise is incredibly loud. If you’re expecting a traditional luxury vehicle experience, the GLB could disappoint you.

Both versions of the GLB employ a turbocharged 2.0-litre inline-4-cylinder engine. However, the AMG GLB35 version is enhanced to produce 302 horsepower between 5,800 rpm and 6,100 rpm, and 295 pound-feet of torque between 3,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm. These are gains of 81 hp and 37 lb-ft, respectively, over the GLB250's turbo engine.

The performance tuning doesn’t stop there. The AMG GLB35 has an AMG SpeedShift eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, AMG Performance variable 4Matic AWD, and an AMG Sport Exhaust system. Dynamic Cornering Assist is a brake-based torque vectoring system, and drivers can calibrate the SUV’s dynamic behaviour using both the Dynamic Select and the AMG Dynamics mode settings.

According to Mercedes, the AMG GLB35 zooms to 100 kilometres per hour in 5.2 seconds, a full 1.7 seconds quicker than a GLB250. The official Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption rating for the AMG GLB35 is 11.2 litres per 100 kilometre in combined driving, up from 9.5 L/100 km for the GLB 250 4Matic. We averaged 10.8 L/100 km on our testing loop.

Eventually, you’ll need to slow down and stop. Therefore, an AMG High-Performance Braking System is standard on the AMG GLB35, sporting four-piston front calipers gripping 13.8-inch perforated discs. An AMG Ride Control adaptive damping sport suspension is also standard, along with Direct Steer, which is a variable steering system that is quicker to respond to driver input and lighter in terms of effort when you’re traveling at lower speeds.

Unsurprisingly, the AMG GLB35 emphasizes performance over daily-driving comfort. Unless you purposely quicken its pulse by choosing one of the more aggressive driving modes, the powertrain exhibits some lag in throttle response. Also, the DCT can seem a little confused and the performance brakes tend to grab and feel a bit uneven in urban driving settings. The ride is firm too, especially with the optional 21-inch wheels. On the highway, the hood flutters a little at speeds over 110 km/h.

Based on our experience, most people will be happier with a GLB250. It's not as fast, but based on our previous experience with this version of the SUV, it is better to use as a daily driver.

On the other hand, driving enthusiasts will delight in the AMG GLB35’s demeanour on a writhing mountain road. Switch to Sport+ mode, and this SUV transforms into quite a feisty little bugger. The engine responds to your right foot without delay, shifts are louder and sharper, and grip is excellent. The GLB’s small footprint and outstanding outward visibility make this Mercedes feel lithe and nimble, and the brakes stand up to repeated hard application with no hint of fade.

Overall, the AMG GLB35 is a blast to drive on twisty two-lane roads. We can’t think of another entry-level luxury SUV that offers this much fun while driving. However, you’re really gotta want a quick and small Mercedes SUV to put up with how firm, loud, and finicky the AMG GLB35 can be in all other driving situations.

Space-constrained urbanites who need a relatively roomy but small SUV will find plenty to like in the Mercedes GLB. This vehicle is designed for comfort and cargo and even offers an optional third-row seat suitable for children.

Standard equipment includes dual-zone automatic climate control and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. Simulated leather upholstery called MB-Tex is standard, but you can opt for the real thing if you prefer it. Heated front seats are standard and a heated steering wheel is available. You can also get a panoramic glass sunroof for more natural interior light while an available 64-colour ambient lighting system allows owners to customize the SUV’s appearance after dark.

Getting into and out of the GLB is easy regardless of which door you use, and both the driver and front passenger will find themselves sitting tall with an excellent view out. Storage is decent, but Mercedes missed an opportunity to add a small tray on the dashboard to the right of the centre display screen.

The rear doors open wide to reveal comfortable seating for two adults. You can try to squeeze someone into the middle, but we don’t recommend it. The front seatbacks are paneled in hard plastic, but there is enough legroom that this isn’t an issue unless you slide the second row forward in order to make more room for people in the third-row seat, or for cargo.

Yes, a third-row seat is optional for the GLB. This might make sense in Europe, but the kids-only optional rear seat makes less sense in North America. Plus, it reduces storage space underneath the GLB’s cargo floor. If you need a three-row SUV, the GLB isn’t a good choice.

A power rear liftgate is standard. When it rises, it reveals a cube-shaped 560-litre cargo area that can hold four full-size suitcases and then some. If you fold the second-row seat flat, the GLB accommodates 1,755 litres of cargo space.

Though the GLB’s high-tech interior can appear daunting, its standard Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system can help to make it more accessible.

In the AMG GLB 35, MBUX includes a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. All GLB models have Bluetooth, though in Canada Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are optional, which is surprising. The Premium Package adds SiriusXM satellite radio, and the Navigation Package equips the GLB with a navigation system.

Additional upgrades that were not present on the test vehicle include Wi-Fi service and a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system.

Essentially, if you can use a modern smartphone, you can figure out how to use the GLB’s MBUX technology. You can interact with MBUX via natural voice recognition, the touchscreen display, the physical centre console controls and touchpad, and the steering wheel controls. As you become familiar and comfortable with the system, you’ll likely have a primary control preference but will actually use a combination of methods while driving.

Aside from the colourful, high-resolution graphics and excellent touchscreen functionality, the natural voice recognition and a digital assistant that wakes with a “Hey Mercedes” prompt works really well. It responded accurately to all of our standard test prompts, but when asking for directions to the closest hospital it recommended several medical facilities other than hospitals.

Despite a price tag surpassing $60,000, our test vehicle did not have the optional Driver Assistance Package. It costs $1,700, and it adds 12 desirable driving assistance and collision-avoidance technologies, including features like adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance, which come standard on a lowly Toyota C-HR.

Among the missing features was evasive steering assist, which adds stability when a driver takes sudden evasive action to avoid a pedestrian or obstacle. The test vehicle also did not have lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, or rear cross-traffic warning systems. Active Emergency Stop Assist, which can safely halt the GLB if a driver falls asleep or suffers a medical emergency, was also missing in action.

Based on previous experience with the contents of this option package, you’ll want to spend the extra money. It provides exceptionally sophisticated safety features that you will actually use. However, it requires you to first purchase the Premium and Multimedia option packages, so if you’re on a budget, then forget about getting the AMG GLB 35 and instead choose a GLB 250 that has all of this equipment on it.

The test vehicle did, however, include standard Active Brake Assist (forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking) and optional blind-spot monitoring. Rain-sensing wipers and an Attention Assist driver monitoring system are also standard.

Crash-test ratings for the GLB are unavailable.

If you’re seeking a cost-effective solution to your transportation needs, a Mercedes-Benz is not the answer – even among luxury brands. However, because the 2022 Mercedes GLB puts so much emphasis on practicality and utility at a relatively affordable starting price, it makes a better argument for itself in this regard than most other Benz models.

As much fun as the AMG GLB is to drive on a twisting mountain road, it requires some dynamic compromises in the situations where you’re likely to find yourself on a regular basis. The firm ride, the grabby brakes, and the road noise from the big performance-oriented tires can quickly wear on a driver.

That’s why we recommend the GLB250. It feels quick enough, thanks to its thick torque band and more accessible peak horsepower, and is just as nimble in daily driving situations. Plus, it offers far more interior room than you might expect given its diminutive exterior dimensions. Go easy on the upgrades (though we recommend the Premium and Advanced Driver Assistance option packages), and you can park a GLB as a new car in your driveway for less than $55,000.

But it still isn’t a cost-effective choice in a small luxury crossover SUV.

Note: Images show a US model.