For those who cannot afford the GLE, but still want the third row.
This eighth member of Mercedes’ compact car range stands out thanks to the optional third row. It is a unique selling proposition as you cannot have seven seats in any compact SUV made by a luxury brand. The GLB has no direct competitor, which should enable Daimler to attract customers who would otherwise choose a BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer.
The third row can only be used by people who are at least 1.68m (5 ft 6in) tall. Minivan enthusiasts have more reason to choose the GLB over a traditional people-mover. The second row slides forward, and the angle of the backrests can also be adjusted. The third row has two individual seats that can be reclined and they are flush with the cargo compartment. This allows you to transport more items than seven people.
Cup holders are installed between the seats for those who sit in the back. There are also two storage compartments that each contain a USB port. Mercedes was very concerned about safety when designing the GLB. The two people in the back will have retractable seatbelts and belt tensioners. While the side window airbag will protect them, they will also have seat belts with buckle tensioners. For the third row, there are two options for anchorages: TOP-Tether and ISOFIX.
Mercedes has released promotional videos that allow us to see the GLB in action, including the well-equipped Edition 1 (the White one) which will be made available for the first 12 months. The GLB will not be manufactured at the Kecskemet plant in Hungary, as opposed to other compact Mercedes cars sold in Europe. The vehicle will instead be built in Mexico, Aguascalientes and Beijing for the SUV-hungry Chinese market.