Mercedes-Benz GLB

For decades, Mercedes-Benz had just one vehicle of raised stature and two driven axles in its line-up – the inimitable Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen – but it now has no fewer than eight. The GLB put under the road test microscope this week is the latest and it fills the space between the GLA and GLC, so it’s not the smallest SUV Mercedes makes, merely the smallest but one.

Of course, there is nothing ‘small’ about the compact SUV segment in which this new car will compete. Cars of this ilk are now absurdly popular and crucial to the bottom lines of their makers. The GLB will therefore count the Audi Q3, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Jaguar E-Pace, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40 among its premium-brand rivals. Shoppers in this portion of the market are enviably well catered for, so exactly what does this Mercedes do to stand out?

The short answer is ‘not much’, although you could level the same accusation at every car in the class, except perhaps the Discovery Sport, which possesses genuinely good off-road ability. The GLB will instead exercise a softer power, aiming to tempt buyers with the combination of its relatively imposing exterior and an interior awash with technology. Buyers will also benefit from the standard-fit seven-seat layout, and indeed roominess is the number one reason why you might choose the GLB instead of the GLA.