A number of small but effective changes, outside and in, add a little more ‘class’ to the B.
What is it like to drive?
Unfortunately none of the test cars on this drive were in the exact configuration we will get in India, so we picked the engine that came closest - the B 200 CDI. It uses the same seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and 2.2-litre motor as our current Indian B 180 CDI, but the engine is in the same tune as you get in the GLA 200 CDI compact SUV - which means 135bhp and 30.5kgm of torque.
The not so good bit is that this engine isn’t very refined. There’s a clatter at start-up, an ever present hum at idle and low revs, and a rather intrusive drawl at higher revs, all the more noticeable if you’re going slowly. The motor has decent punch, but it’s not one to be hurried, so drive in a more relaxed manner and the power delivery will be a lot smoother. It’s a similar story with the gearbox - it’s not the quickest with shifts, particularly downshifts, in manual mode with the paddles, but leave it in auto and don't rush it, and it gets the job done just fine.
The ride is not something we could truly evaluate to Indian standards, and that’s not because the roads in Mallorca are billiards-table smooth; there were a number of rough patches. It’s more because the Indian B-class will have a differently tuned suspension setup that’s raised higher than the European car, and because our test car was running on 18-inch wheels and 40-profile tyres. So, like the current B-class, you can expect the new one to have a slightly firm, but compliant ride when it comes to India.