Mercedes-Benz B200 CDI Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Mercedes-Benz B200 CDI range
Prices: £22,540 – on the road
Insurance Group: 10E
Emissions: 140-165g/km
Performance: Max Speed 124mph / 0-62mph 9.6s
Fuel Consumption: (urban) 41.5mpg / (extra urban) 62.8mpg / (combined) 52.3mpg
Safety: Twin front & side airbags / ABS / ESP
Dimensions: Length/Width/Height 4270/1777/1604mm August 2nd 2008

Earth Friendly Luxury

Our Rating: No Rating Available

It seems that once again Mercedes is taking the lead on creating an entirely new class. Many people will try to say that the cars in the Benz B-Class belong in either the compact executive estate class or the family hatch class. The fact of the matter is that the B-class is a car that belongs in a category all of its own. From the exterior it appears to be of the compact family hatch variety, but once you get inside it feels more like a mini-luxury estate. Maybe it is it should be considered a combo car that seamlessly melds together a family hatch and a mini luxury estate.

This article will focus on the top of the line engine choice which is a 2.0-litre4-cylinder 16-valve common-rail injection powered by diesel oil. Mercedes has paired the engine in the B200 CDI with a standard 6-speed manual box that can be upgraded to a cool Autotronic self-shifter. This engine will get the luxury car from 0-62mph in just 9.6 seconds which is impressive no matter how you classify the car. Drivers who are looking for top speed numbers can expect to get up to 124mph.

One of the best parts about this engine in the B200 CDI is the fact that it gets astonishing fuel consumption with an estimated 52.3mpg in combined driving. CO2 output is also excellent with just 140g/km which places it in a lower tax bracket than some of the other engines in the B-class.

The Mercedes-Benz B200 CDI comes with a nifty power steering configuration that is termed electro-mechanical which is designed to keep the car going in the proper direction. Some people complain that it feels odd at first, but once they get used to how it feels they love it. The car maker has also fitted the B200 CDI with a decent stability control that may be too much for such a little car, but one can never be too safe we suppose.

Looking at the car it is hard to tell that it is a Mercedes at all until you see the front grille with the famous three-point logo floating in the impressive front grille. Of course the real question will be if people will want to pay for a Mercedes if the car doesn't scream Benz. Luckily for the German carmaker the ride quality and interior styling are enough to make sure people understand they are driving a car from one of the foremost luxury brands in the world.

Of course this being a luxury car maker Mercedes has included an impressive array of standard features that will please even the most discerning driver. Some of these excellent appointments include; heated front mirrors, rear fog lamps, alarm system with immobilizer, air-conditioning, power front windows, and a Mercedes-Benz Audio 20 stereo system.

The Mercedes-Benz B200 CDI may just change the way people view how you classify a car. This car shows the world that you can drive a luxury car that has excellent drivability and amazing luxury appointments and still be friendly to the earth. Of course these will be plenty of people who feel they need to prove their worth by owning petrol guzzling power cars, but for those people who are don't need to wear their wealth and power on their sleeve the B-Class is a great option.