Ever wondered if the understated Mercedes B-Class can hold its own among its more glamorous siblings? Journey with Marv and Claudia as they uncover the surprising capabilities of this often-overlooked model in the latest episode of the Mega Car Review Podcast. From its beginnings in 2005 with a practical yet boxy look, the B-Class has transformed into a sharp, almost sporty vehicle in its latest generation. We'll dissect the range of models, from the economical B180 and B200 to the fuel-efficient B200 diesel and the innovative B250E plug-in hybrid, revealing a blend of practicality and modern tech that's easy on your wallet.
Dive into the economics of owning a B-Class, where affordability meets value in the used car market. Discover how these vehicles often outperform competitors like the Audi A3 in terms of price and understand the cost-saving benefits in insurance and road taxes. With insights from MarketCheckUK, we provide comprehensive pricing trends across the UK, US, and Canada, ensuring you have all the information needed to make a savvy purchase. Whether you're a seasoned car enthusiast or just on the hunt for a reliable ride, this episode promises insights that might just change your perspective on Mercedes' less-talked-about gem.
Episode Transcript
Welcome to the Mega Car Review Podcast from
Confounderit, your go-to showfor everything cars, Whether
you're a gearhead or justshopping for your next set of
wheels.
Every week, your hosts, Marvand Claudia, dive into the
latest automotive trends, givehands-on reviews and share the
insights you need to make thesmart decisions in the world of
cars From the hottest models tomarket secrets.
(00:30):
Marv and Claudia have youcovered.
Get ready for expert opinions,lively debates and all the
details you won't hear anywhereelse.
Now let's join Marv and Claudiafor another episode of the Mega
Car Review Podcast for anotherepisode of the Mega Car Review
Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Okay, so you know how , sometimes, like, you find a
car and you're like, huh, that'sactually kind of cool.
Yeah, totally Well, that's whatwe're doing today Deep dive
into the Mercedes B-Class.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Not the flashiest Mercedes right.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
No, not at all, definitely not, like you know,
an AMG or anything.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
But I think people might be surprised by what this
car can actually do.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
That's what I'm hoping.
I've got to be honest, I didn'tknow much about this car before
you sent me all this research.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, there's a lot to unpack here, yeah, so let's
get into it.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
The whole history of the B-Class, different models,
all that good stuff.
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Sounds good.
So the B-Class.
It's actually been around for awhile, since 2005, I think oh
wow, okay.
Yeah, it's had a bit of a weirdjourney.
I guess you could say the firstgeneration.
It wasn't exactly like thesleek little hatchback you see
today.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
No, I was looking at some pictures and it looks kind
of like a minivan.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Yeah, a little bit.
It was all about practicalityand fuel efficiency back then,
which, hey, those are still goodthings, but it wasn't winning
any beauty contests.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
But people probably loved how much space it had.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Exactly, and then, as they came out with new
generations, they startedrefining the design.
The second gen got rid of thatboxy look, and the latest one I
mean the one that came out in2019, that thing is actually
kind of sharp looking.
It's almost sporty.
Yeah, they even lowered theroof line to give it a more like
dynamic feel.
And, speaking of sporty, theyactually have some models that
(02:10):
are you know.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Wait, sporty B-classes Like.
Tell me more about thesedifferent models.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Yeah.
So you've got your base modelslike the B180, B200.
Those are great for just likedaily driving, getting good gas
mileage.
But then you have the B200,which has a diesel engine.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Oh, so that one gets like crazy good MPG oh for sure,
especially on long trips.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
It's amazing.
And then they also have, like,the B250E, which is a plug-in
hybrid.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
So you can get that electric only range for around
town.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Exactly, it's a really nice option if you want.
You know, the flexibility ofboth gas and electric.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Okay, so, speaking of different options, you sent me
this data from MarketCheckUK ohyeah, they're great.
Yeah, and they cover like theUS and Canada too, which is
awesome for all of our listeners.
But I was looking at the pricesof used B-classes and they seem
they're reasonable.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Like way less than some of their competitors.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
That's one of the things that makes them so
appealing Like a 2016 b-classcan go for like 10 grand less
than a comparable audi a3 wow,it's a big difference it is
obviously the price depends on,like the year and condition and
all that, but if you're lookingfor value, older b-classes can
be a steal okay.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So let's say you're thinking okay, maybe a b-class
is for me.
What?
What about, like the cost ofowning one?
You know insurance, all that.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Yeah, so in the UK they have these things called
insurance groups.
Okay, it's basically a way ofcategorizing cars based on, like
, how much they cost to insure,and luckily most B-classes fall
into pretty low insurance groups.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So cheaper, insurance then.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Yeah, exactly, and the same goes for road tax,
which is another thing toconsider.
Some of the models, especiallythe diesels and the hybrid, are
super tax efficient.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
So choosing the right model could save you money in
the long run.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Absolutely.
And on top of that you have tofactor in fuel efficiency and,
like we talked about earlier,the diesels and the hybrid are
sipping fuel like it's nobody'sbusiness.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Which is great, because gas prices are.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
They're not getting any lower, that's for sure.
No, they're not.
So yeah, I mean overall theB-Class can actually be pretty
affordable to run.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Okay, but real quick though.
Mercedes parts.
They're not exactly known forbeing Cheap, yeah.
So what about servicing costson these things?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
It's true that Mercedes parts can be a little
more expensive than some otherbrands, but the good news is
that the B-Class is known forbeing pretty reliable, so as
long as you stay on top ofregular maintenance, you
shouldn't run into too manyissues.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, that's so important, like that
pre-purchase inspection.
I skipped that once and oh man.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Oh no.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
I got this used car and thought I got a great deal.
Turns out the engine wascompletely shot Like smoke
everywhere.
Oh my gosh, yeah, it was towedaway and it was just a huge mess
.
Learn from my mistakes.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Wow, yeah, pre-purchase inspection is a
must.
And while we're on the topic ofthings to watch out for, there
are a few model-specific thingsto be aware of with the B-Class.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Okay, like what?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
So some of the earlier models had problems with
their automatic transmissionsNot all of them, but it was a
known issue.
And then some owners havereported problems with the
electric parking brake on thenewer models.
But, honestly, a good mechanicwill be able to spot any of
these potential problems duringan inspection.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Gotcha Okay.
So let's say I'm really diggingthis B-Class idea.
But what about, like thecompetition?
What other cars are in the sameballpark?
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Well, if you're looking at like premium compact
MPVs, the BMW 2 Series ActiveTourer is like the B-Class's
main rival.
Okay, then for something morelike mainstream, you've got the
Volkswagen Golf.
That's always a popular choice,and then, if you want something
that feels a little moreupscale, the Audi A3 Sportback
is a good one to check out.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Okay, so let's compare them.
Like the BMW.
How does that stack up againstthe B-class?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
So they both have similar amounts of space and
they're both practical, but theBMW is definitely a bit more
sporty to drive.
The B class, though.
It tends to have more standardfeatures and it's got a more
comfortable ride.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I feel like some people would really prefer that
comfy ride.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah, totally.
It depends on what you'relooking for, like.
If you want something fun todrive, go with the BMW.
If you prioritize comfort andfeatures, the B-Class might be a
better choice.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
What about the Golf?
That seems to be like thedefault car for a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Yeah, the Golf is a great all-arounder, super
practical, tons of cargo spaceand it comes with a bunch of
different engine options.
But compared to the B-Class,I'd say the B-Class has a nicer
interior.
It feels more luxurious.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
That makes sense.
It is a Mercedes after all.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Exactly Get that.
It feels more luxurious.
That makes sense.
It is a Mercedes, after all.
Exactly get that Mercedes feel.
And then there's the Audi A3,which is yeah, the Audi's like
the stylish one right, oh yeah,super sleek, sporty, looks great
inside and out, but it can bekind of pricey, especially once
you start adding all the extraoptions, Whereas the B-Class you
get a lot for your money evenwith the base model.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Okay, so it seems like the B-Class really can
compete with all these othercars.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Totally, and it's a car that I think a lot of people
might overlook, which is ashame because it has so much to
offer Practicality, fuelefficiency and, you know, it can
even be a little bit fun todrive.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, and like you think about the future of the
B-Class.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Oh yeah, with electric cars becoming more and
more popular.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Like, imagine a fully electric B-Class.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Oh, yeah, even more space even better efficiency.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
That's kind of exciting.
Honestly, I'm thinking I mightneed to test drive one now.
This deep dive has completelychanged my perspective on the
B-Class.
Who knew?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
That's what we're here for.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I'm always surprised by what we discover doing these
deep dives.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
It's fun to learn about the unexpected stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Absolutely, and I bet some of our listeners are going
to be adding the B-Class totheir list after this.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I hope so.
It's a great car.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, it really seems like it All right.
Well, thanks for coming on theshow.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Thanks for having me.
This was great.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
And to everyone listening, thanks for tuning in
to another deep dive.
We'll catch you next time.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
See ya, you.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.