- Car Reviews
- Mercedes-Benz
NEW!
by Tim Healey (IC: employee)
Published: March 6th, 2024
Every time I drive an AMG-massaged Mercedes-Benz crossover/SUV, I get a sense of déjà vu.
They're all quick, fun to drive, and bestowed with the latest in Mercedes-Benz dash tech. That last bit means lots of screen space, enough customization options to make your head spin, and haptic touch that mostly works.
Here is my short-take snapshot of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB35 AMG 4Matic.
Pros
- This little one can move. Floor it, and after a half-second of thinking it over, the powertrain will comply and catapult you forward in a manner that's relatively rare among compact luxury crossovers. You can even seen how much of the 302 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque you're summoning via one of the screen options.
- MBux infotainment works well, though there can be too many menus. The "hey Mercedes" voice assistant generally understood my asks, but occasionally failed.
- Rear headroom isn't bad, but you can notice a subtle slope.
- It's cool that these cars have a "car wash" mode.
- Mercedes has the best haptic-touch buttons out there. They're still not perfect, and I sometimes wonder if this tech should even be used in cars, but if one has to use it, this is as good as it gets at present.
- Slapping the dial into Sport or Sport+ brings about a growling engine and some sharp handling.
Cons
- I don't love the dainty column shifter that feels like it will break if you sneeze on it.
- There was some low-speed clunkiness from the powertrain. Not sure if the hybrid assist was acting up or if the eight-speed DCT transmission was confused, but it wasn't Mercedes smooth.
- Engaging either Sport mode similarly causes wonky powertrain behavior at low speeds and light throttle.
- Sixty-eight grand seems too high, even for an AMG-massaged Mercedes. That's as-tested, to be fair, but the base price was a still dear $59,050.
- Apple CarPlay sometimes would not connect.
- As much as I like MBux, changing radio sources or channels requires too much menu-diving. Please, automakers, please, make certain functions simple, no matter how dazzling your infotainment tech is. Tuning radio stations or changing audio sources should be quicker and easier.
- Wet roads led to seriously squeaky brakes. The binders still felt stout, though.
See you next time.
[Images © 2024 Tim Healey/TTAC.com]
Become aTTAC insider. Get the latestnews, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to ournewsletter.
#DriveNotes #CarReviews #MercedesBenz #2024MercedesBenzGLB35AMG #2024MercedesBenzGLB35 #AMG
Tim Healey
Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.
More by Tim Healey
Published
March 6th, 2024 5:32 PM
Comments
Join the conversation
2of3comments
-
The Oracle 1 hour ago Weird little offering, the new nomenclature has confused me for a good bit now.
-
- Bkojote 1 hour ago
Are these piles of garbage built in Mexico like the GLB250?
The GLA/GLB are supposed to be the successors to the (fairly decent) GLK, but in reality they're the successors to the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Patriot, just a price class up. It's something to buy the IG model who thinks she's gonna be your third wife. Those overstyled interior LED's and AMG plastic decals will distract her while you seal the deal with the babysitter in your GT3.
-
Latest Car Reviews
Latest Product Reviews
Recent Comments
- SilverHawk I began by doing detail work at a used car lot. Later, I did marketing for a company that produced products for reconditioning and detail work.I began doing basic engine work at a motorcycle shop. Later, I got hooked on the engine rebuilding hobby. I may be somewhat awkward with a wrench in my hand, but it's still my first love.
- BrandX I worked for a couple of summers at the local Lincoln Mercury dealer. My uncle was the service manager. I remember sweeping the shop floor every Saturday morning. It seemed huge at the time - I think there were probably a dozen bays.
- MaintenanceCosts Progress, but we need about another $6k-$8k for it to be fully competitive with its gas competition.
- Alan Tim, I don't know how many of the B&B had jobs in the auto industry. Judging by their comments not that many.Myself was in aviation, my interest in motor vehicles started young and I have been involved in motor racing and off roading on and off all my adult life.
- Bkojote Are these piles of garbage built in Mexico like the GLB250? The GLA/GLB are supposed to be the successors to the (fairly decent) GLK, but in reality they're the successors to the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Patriot, just a price class up. It's something to buy the IG model who thinks she's gonna be your third wife. Those overstyled interior LED's and AMG plastic decals will distract her while you seal the deal with the babysitter in your GT3.
