The Mercedes-Benz GLB crossover SUV was launched in 2020 as a new model slotted between the subcompact GLA and the compact GLC. Like the smaller GLA, the GLB-Class ditched the German automaker’s traditional longitudinal engine mounting and rear-wheel-drive (RWD) design in favor of a transverse engine arrangement driving the front wheels, with optional all-wheel drive (AWD). This type of chassis design allowed Mercedes-Benz to maximize interior space, which in turn meant the GLB could be fitted with a small third row of seats.
In GLB 250 form, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine offered up 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque and could be ordered with FWD or with the automaker’s 4Matic AWD system. Starting in 2021, Mercedes-Benz offered the GLB in high-performance AMG GLB 35 guise with standard AWD and a peppier turbocharged engine rated at 302 hp and 295 lb-ft. Either way, an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission handled shifting duties.
With the sporty GLA and the practical GLB both available with more than one powertrain, Mercedes-Benz used a multi-prong attack to give potential buyers several solid choices in a segment full of strong competition. Thanks to a comparatively long wheelbase leading to a sizable interior, the GLB was unique in a segment that included the Audi Q3, the BMW X1 and X2, the Cadillac XT4, the Jaguar E-Pace, the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, the Lexus UX and NX, the Lincoln Corsair, and the Volvo XC40.
A light update for the 2024 model year helped the GLB stay relevant in its segment, and an all-new version is on the way in 2027.
Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class years are the best?
There’s currently only one generation of GLB-Class models (a new model is on the way), but the 2024 refresh brought updated styling and larger standard digital screens inside. Therefore, 2024 and newer models are more desirable.
Which Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class years are the worst?
Newer is generally better, but J.D. Power reliability surveys indicate that the GLB-Class SUV has been of average reliability overall. The 2023 model year is rated higher than the 2021 model year, but both fall into the average category. CarComplaints.com only has data for the 2020 and 2021 models, and there aren’t many recorded issues. In this instance, buyers in the market for a used GLB-Class SUV should set their budget and prioritize mileage, service history, and overall condition over and above any specific model year.
Is a used Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class a good deal?
Yes, buyers looking for a roomy compact luxury SUV will likely find a used GLB-Class offers what they need at prices that compare well with its competitors, including the BMW X1. The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is built on similar bones as the GLB but offers an AMG-badged 45 model that’s even more powerful than the GLB 35. Performance-minded buyers should consider both the AMG-badged GLA and GLB.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Multiple powertrain options
- Impressive technology
- Spacious
Cons:
- Cramped third row
- Irritating transmission
- Desirable features aren’t standard
Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class Generations
Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class First Generation (2020–Present)
By the time Mercedes-Benz put its GLB-Class SUV in showrooms in 2020, the small, premium crossover market was already saturated. The German automaker first entered the segment in 2015 with the first-generation GLA, a low-slung and sporty model aimed at style-conscious buyers. The GLB was built atop a similar chassis, but with a very different mission. With boxier styling, greater ground clearance, and a roomier interior, the 2020 GLB 250 was much more practical than the GLA and large enough that Mercedes-Benz could offer it with an optional third row of seats.
While it can be equipped with a third row, seemingly opening up seating for seven, those in the very back aren’t going to find a ton of space or comfort. With less than 30 inches of legroom (which can go away almost entirely with the adjustable second-row seats slid back) and under 35 inches of headroom, the third row is sized for children or very occasional use. The GLB’s upright body, however, makes for roomy first- and second-row accommodations.
Cargo capacity varied by configuration. In two-row form, the GLB offered a solid 27 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place. That expanded to 62 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. GLBs equipped with the third row (which folds flat when not in use) offer a bit less space at 24 cubic feet behind the second row or 56.7 with the back seat folded. Helping make use of that space, the second row can be slid back and forth, and offers a range of seatback recline.
As was pointed out in our review of the 2021 GLB, “The GLA is 173.9 inches long with a 106.3-inch wheelbase; the GLB is 182.4 inches long with a 111.4-inch wheelbase; and the GLC is 183.8 inches long with a 113.1-inch wheelbase”. A little more than an inch of length separated the GLB from the GLC, but with a base price under $38,000, the GLB was thousands of dollars less than its GLC sibling. What’s more, the GLB did not feel like a bargain product, particularly inside, because the interior was crafted with high-quality materials and equipped with the latest technology Mercedes-Benz had to offer.
Standard GLB equipment included a pair of digital screens measuring 7 inches across, one serving as a digital gauge cluster and the other as the car’s touchscreen infotainment system. A touchpad on the center console provided another way to interact with the car’s infotainment software. Buyers could optionally choose larger 10.25-inch screens, but either way, infotainment duties were handled by the modern MBUX infotainment software. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were both supported.
Mercedes-Benz equipped the 2020 GLB with keyless start, dual-zone climate control, a power liftgate, and power driver and passenger seats. Basic cruise control was standard along with automatic emergency braking, crosswind assist, and a driver-attention monitor. Optional equipment included a panoramic sunroof and a Premium Package that added the larger dual digital screens, blind-spot monitors, and keyless entry. A Driver Assistance Package added desirable active safety equipment such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, emergency stop assist, lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic braking, blind spot warning and assist, and a speed-limit assist system that was aided by the car’s navigation system.
The Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 appeared for the 2021 model year at just over $50,000 and came with more standard equipment than the GLB 250. In addition to the upgraded 302-hp engine, the AMG-badged GLB got the 10.25-inch touchscreens as standard and was also equipped with standard AWD. Options for the AMG model included the third-row seat, making this the first compact three-row SUV to wear the AMG badge, a Night Package, and sport suspension.
After minor updates for the 2022 and 2023 model years, Mercedes-Benz refreshed the GLB-Class in 2024. Both the GLB 250 and AMG GLB 35 got a 48-volt hybrid assist system for their 2.0-liter turbocharged engines. Fuel economy for the GLB 250 went up by one mile per gallon to 28 mpg combined, though the AMG model’s combined rating stayed the same at 23. The 2024 GLB models got updated styling with a new front fascia, revised headlights, and redesigned taillights. Inside, the larger 10.25-inch screens became standard across the range.
Again, only minor updates were made to the GLB-Class lineup in 2025 and 2026. By 2026, the base price of a Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 had crested $45,000 and the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 had risen to around $62,000. At the time of writing, an all-new GLB was on the way for the 2027 model year and will be offered in both gasoline-fueled and electric forms.
According to CarGurus pricing data, average prices for used Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class SUV models range from around $21,000 for 2020 models to more than $45,000 for 2026 models. The GLB has proven reliable, though high repair costs are to be expected from cars wearing the three-pointed star.
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