The Mercedes-Benz GLB crossover SUV was launched in 2020 as a new model slotted between the subcompact GLA and the compact GLC. Like the smaller GLA, the GLB ditched the German automaker’s traditional longitudinal engine mounting and rear-wheel-drive (RWD) design in favour of a transverse engine arrangement on a front-wheel-drive foundation, though all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard in Canada. This type of chassis design allowed Mercedes-Benz to maximize interior space, which in turn meant the GLB could be fitted with a small third row of seats.
In GLB 250 form, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine offered up 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Starting in 2021, Mercedes-Benz offered the GLB in high-performance AMG GLB 35 guise with a peppier turbocharged engine rated at 302 hp and 295 lb-ft. Either way, an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission handled shifting duties.
With the sporty GLA and the practical GLB both available with more than one powertrain, Mercedes-Benz used a multi-pronged attack to give potential buyers several solid choices in a segment full of strong competition. Thanks to a comparatively long wheelbase leading to a sizable interior, the GLB straddles the subcompact and compact segments to compete with the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and X2, Cadillac XT4, Jaguar E-Pace, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Lexus UX and NX, Lincoln Corsair, and Volvo XC40.
A light update for the 2024 model year helped the GLB stay relevant in its segment, and an all-new version is on the way in 2027.
Mercedes-Benz GLB Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Mercedes-Benz GLB years are the best?
There’s currently only one generation of GLB with a new model on the way for 2027. As part of that initial run, the 2024 refresh brought updated styling and larger standard digital screens inside. Therefore, 2024 and newer models are more desirable.
Which Mercedes-Benz GLB years are the worst?
Newer is generally better, but J.D. Power reliability surveys indicate that the GLB SUV has been of average reliability overall. The 2023 model year is rated higher than the 2021 model year, but both fall into the average category. CarComplaints.com only has data for the 2020 and 2021 models, and there aren’t many recorded issues. In this instance, buyers in the market for a used GLB SUV should set their budget and prioritize odometer reading, service history, and overall condition over and above any specific model year.
Is a used Mercedes-Benz GLB a good deal?
Yes, buyers looking for a roomy compact luxury SUV will likely find a used GLB offers what they need at prices that compare well with its competitors, including the BMW X1. The Mercedes-Benz GLA is built on similar bones as the GLB but offers an AMG-badged 45 model that’s even more powerful than the GLB 35. Performance-minded buyers should consider both the AMG-badged GLA and GLB.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Multiple powertrain options
- Impressive technology
- Spacious
Cons:
- Cramped third row
- Irritating transmission
- Desirable features aren’t standard
Mercedes-Benz GLB Generations
Mercedes-Benz GLB First Generation (2020–Present)
By the time Mercedes-Benz put its GLB SUV in showrooms in 2020, the small premium crossover market was already saturated. The German automaker first entered the segment in 2015 with the first-generation GLA, a low-slung and sporty model aimed at style-conscious buyers. The GLB was built atop a similar chassis but with a very different mission. With boxier styling, more ground clearance, and a roomier interior, the 2020 GLB 250 was much more practical than the GLA and large enough that Mercedes-Benz could offer it with an optional third row of seats.
While it can be equipped with a third row, seemingly opening up seating for seven, those in the very back aren’t going to find a ton of space or comfort. With 740 millimetres of legroom (which can go away almost entirely with the adjustable second-row seats slid back) and 844 mm of headroom, the third row is sized for children or very occasional use. The GLB’s upright body, however, makes for roomy first- and second-row accommodations.
Cargo capacity varied by configuration. In two-row form, the GLB offered 565 litres of cargo space with all seats in place. That expanded to 1,800 litres with the rear seat folded. GLBs equipped with the third row (which folds flat when not in use) offer a bit less space at 560 litres behind the second row or 1,755 litres with the back seat folded. Helping to make use of that space, the second row can be slid back and forth and offers a range of seatback recline.
The GLA is 4,412 millimetres long with a 2,729-mm wheelbase; the GLB is 4,634 mm long with a 2,829-mm wheelbase; and the GLC is 4,716 mm long with a 2,888-mm wheelbase. A little more than eight centimetres of length separated the GLB from the GLC, but with an initial base price of under $45,000 before fees, the GLB was thousands of dollars less than its GLC sibling.
What’s more, the GLB did not feel like a bargain product. This is particularly true inside because the interior was crafted with high-quality materials and equipped with the latest technology Mercedes-Benz had to offer.
Standard GLB equipment included a pair of digital screens measuring 7 inches across, one serving as a digital instrument cluster and the other as the car’s touchscreen infotainment system. A touchpad on the centre console provided another way to interact with the car’s infotainment software. Buyers could optionally choose larger 10.25-inch screens. Either way, infotainment duties were handled by the modern MBUX infotainment software, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were both available.
In Canada, Mercedes-Benz equipped the 2020 GLB with keyless start, dual-zone climate control, a power liftgate, power driver and passenger seats with heating and memory functions, and a panoramic sunroof. Basic cruise control was standard along with crosswind assist and rain-sensing wipers.
Optional equipment included the larger dual digital screens, keyless entry, blind spot monitoring, automatic high beams, a wireless charging pad, and sport appearance features. A Driver Assistance Package added desirable active safety equipment such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, forward collision detection, automatic emergency braking, emergency stop assist, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic braking, blind spot warning and assist, and a speed limit assist system that was aided by the car’s navigation system.
The Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 appeared for the 2021 model year at just over $57,000 before fees and came with more standard equipment than the GLB 250. In addition to the upgraded 302-hp engine, the AMG-badged GLB got the 10.25-inch touchscreens as standard along with 19-inch wheels, upgraded suspension and brakes, ambient lighting, a sport exhaust, and more. Options for the AMG model included a driver’s pack with 20-inch wheels, a performance steering wheel, advanced drive modes, and a track driving recorder, as well as the third-row seat, making this the first compact three-row SUV to wear the AMG badge.
After minor updates for the 2022 and 2023 model years, Mercedes-Benz refreshed the GLB for 2024. Both the GLB 250 and AMG GLB 35 got a 48-volt hybrid assist system for their 2.0-litre turbocharged engines. Fuel consumption for the GLB 250 went down by 0.7 litres per 100 kilometres to 8.7 L/100 km combined, though the AMG model’s combined rating went down by just 0.2 L/100 km to 10.2 L/100 km combined. The 2024 GLB models got updated styling with a new front fascia, revised headlights, and redesigned taillights. Inside, the larger 10.25-inch screens became standard across the range.
Again, only minor updates were made to the GLB lineup in 2025 and 2026. By 2026, the base price of a Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 had crested $55,000 and the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 had risen to nearly $70,000. At the time of writing, an all-new GLB was on the way for the 2027 model year to be offered in both gasoline-fueled and electric forms.
According to CarGurus.ca pricing data, average prices for used Mercedes-Benz GLB SUV models range from around $24,000 for 2020 models to more than $60,000 for 2026 models. The GLB has proven reliable, though high repair costs are to be expected from cars wearing the three-pointed star.
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