2022 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 Review

Intro

With the abundance of SUV models from car manufacturers, it is not hard to find a good-looking SUV that offers decent performance. Finding one that can give you an adrenaline rush and be described as sexy is another story. 

Mercedes-Benz’s AMG version of its sub-compact GLB SUV certainly delivers on both fronts. With an aggressive exterior, a feature rich interior, a roomy interior, and a 302 hp twin-turbocharged engine, the GLB 35 is one of my favorites from the three-pointed star brand. 

Thanks to Mercedes-AMG Canada, I had the chance to test drive the 2022 model for one week. Below is my unbiased review.

Exterior

The large center grille of the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 features chrome vertical slats and an oversized Mercedes-Benz’s logo. It sets the tone for the rest of the car. Handsome LED headlamps and prominent lower air intakes add to the boldness of the front fascia. Our tester is equipped with the optional Night package, which gives the car a high-gloss black front splitter that contrasts nicely with the white body paint. 

The side profile has more of a sleeper look thanks to GLB’s boxy design that also contributes to the car's roomy interior. A set of 21” multi-spoke matte black alloy wheels and a TURBO-4MATIC badge reminds you that it is a performance vehicle. 

The rear view of the GLB is modern looking with a unique light signature and a large air diffuser. With the optional Night package, the rear apron is gloss black, so are the dual exhaust tips.

Interior

The GLB 35 comes with AMG exclusive sport seats and steering wheel. They are upholstered in black faux leather with red double topstitching. The seats are very supportive and comfortable. The faux leather in conjunction with large side bolsters do a wonderful job of holding you in place. The steering wheel is beautifully crafted and features a flat bottom design. Unfortunately, a steering wheel warmer is not available for the AMG model. 

The dash features a dual screen infotainment display, jet turbine inspired illuminated air vents, brushed aluminum tuber trims, and carbon fiber inlays. It has a rugged yet futuristic vibe that catches your attention. The optional ambient lighting system provides up to 64 different colors and various animated effects controlled by the MBUX infotainment system. Below the center air vents is a roll of climate control buttons. The buttons are made of real aluminum and provide satisfying tactile feedback. 

Due to its boxy design, the rear seats provide excellent head and legroom. It is a sub-compact SUV but competes well with many compact SUVs in terms of interior space. The back of the center console features two dedicated air vents for the rear cabin, and a single USB C port. There is clearly enough space for one more USB port, and the lack of it could spark a fight among the kids sitting in the back during those long road trips. At least they will be able to enjoy the view through those massive side windows and the split panoramic sunroof. 

Our tester did not come with the optional 3rd row seats. The option of having a 3rd row seat puts the GLB 35 in a league of its own. 

Infotainment

The 2022 GLB 35 comes with the proven Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system that features two standard 10.25" displays positioned right next to each other to appear as one giant screen. The left screen sits right in front of the steering wheel and displays important vehicle information such as the speed, fuel economy, and engine rpm. The right screen, which is a touchscreen, sits right on top of the center console. It is multi-functional, and has an extensive, yet intuitive user interface. Android Auto and Apple Carplay are standard for the US market, but are only available with the Premium Package for us Canadians.

The second part of the MBUX system are the touchpads on the steering wheel. They are similar to the small touch pads we used to see on older Blackberry phones. The left one controls the left display, and the right for the right, simple. I love the fact that you never have to take your hands off the steering wheel to access all functions of the infotainment system.

There is another way you can control the many functions of the car without taking your hands off the wheel. This is accomplished via the LINGUATRONIC voice assist. It is a natural language smart assistant that functions like the Apple Siri or Google Assist. Simply say "Hey, Mercedes", or press the voice command button, and you can ask the GLB 35 to make a phone call, plot a new navigation route, close the roller sunshade, or change the interior light. The voice assistant can control basically anything that is not safety related. The system is smart enough to understand natural language commands like "I am cold" or "I am hungry", and responses by raising cabin temperature, or to find the closest restaurant.

The final part of the MBUX system is the track-pad that is located in the center console. There is a padded resting place for the wrist, which allows your fingers to scroll through the display menu effortlessly. 

One cool optional feature of the new infotainment system is the virtual reality style navigation system. When you are close to a junction, the center display would pull up the video feed from the front camera, and superimpose arrows to show you exactly where to turn. It is a very cool technology but does require you to take your eyes off the road to see. If you don’t want to take your eyes off the road while driving, the optional head-up display provides all of the same information directly onto the windshield in front of the driver. It is one of the larger, higher resolution HUDs I have seen.

Safety and Driver Assistance

The GLB 35 comes with the following standard safety features:

• Active Brake Assist
• ATTENTION ASSIST
• Adaptive braking technology
• Tire Pressure Loss Warning System
• One-touch SOS calling 

The following features are optional:

• MULTIBEAM LED headlamps
• Adaptive Highbeam Assist
• Blind Spot Assist
• Vehicle Exit Warning
• Traffic Sign Assist
• Active Parking Assist
• Active Blind Spot Assist
• Active Distance Assist
• Active Lane Change Assist
• 360 camera

The 2022 GLB class earned a 5 star rating by NHTSA.

Driving

The Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 is such a treat to drive. The engineers at AMG are able to squeeze 302 hp of power and  295 lb.ft. of torque out of a 2.0L engine. More impressively, the low end torque is excellent. Coupled with an AMG specific dual-clutch 8-speed automatic transmission, the GLB 35 is able to go from 0-100km/hr in just 5.2 seconds. 

At parking lot speed, the transmission could feel slightly clunky, as with many dual-clutch systems, but this is a car that begs to be driven hard. Once at speed, the 8-speed transmission is fast and very responsive, especially in Sport mode. 

What really sets the GLB 35 apart from other SUVs is the way it handles. AMG engineers increased the body’s rigidity with bolted aluminum plates, underbody bracing, and a strut tower brace. There is minimal body roll in corners, yet the ride was never too punishing. 

The steering is also impressive. It is firm, precise, and responsive. The 4Matic all-wheel drive system works in conjunction with the AMG Dynamics agility control to optimize the car’s responses based on road conditions and the drive mode selected. It is able to send up to 50 percent of the engine torque to the rear axle, which enhances the car’s ability to handle slippery conditions. 

For a performance SUV, the GLB 35 delivers impressive fuel economy. With compact piezo injectors that deliver fuel to the engine with precise timing, the GLB 35 returns a fuel economy rating of only 11.5L/100km after one week of spirited test drive.

Cargo Space & Storage

Another reason why the GLB is on the top of my list is its practicality. There is 700L of cargo space behind the second row seats. Folding the 40/20/40 rear seats down, the cargo capacity is increased to 1680L. The trunk floor can be dropped to increase cargo capacity, at the expense of a deeper trunk well. Under the trunk floor is a tire inflation kit. On the sides of the trunk are mesh pockets and elastic straps to hold smaller items. Unfortunately you can’t fold the rear seats from the trunk. The pull strings that allow the rear seats to be folded can only be accessed through the rear cabin. 

In cabin storage options are plentiful. The front side door pockets are wide and deep. The rear ones are a little smaller, but still above average. The glove compartment is decently sized, so is the center console storage bin. The front cup holders have integrated folding tabs to hold smaller diameter cups. You will also find additional cup holders in the rear folding armrest. 

Verdict

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 ticks all the right boxes for a practical car enthusiast like myself. I love the rugged boxy design, the functional interior, and the way it drives. The only prohibitor is its price. By the time you add all the options to your heart 's content the final sticker price might be quite a shock. On the other hand, there aren't many performance SUVs that feature the same practicality and fuel economy, certainly not one with 3rd row seating. 

Test Vehicle

2022 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4Matic SUV

MSRP

Base: $59,300CAD

As tested: $70,590CAD

Color

Polar White