The A-Class isn’t the only compact Mercedes-Benz to receive a subtle facelift.
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz B-Class There are many aesthetic tweaks as well as the latest generation MBUX infotainment system.
It will arrive in Australia in the third quarter of 2023.
Exterior changes are subtle. There are redesigned LED headlights and taillights, along with a new grille with a Mercedes-Benz star motif.
There are four new ‘flat’ wheel designs available in sizes up to 19 inches.
Inside, there’s a choice of a 7.0-inch or 10.25-inch digital instrument display, along with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Local B-Class will most likely continue to offer dual 10.25-inch screens.
There’s Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, along with a fingerprint sensor for driver identification and authorization.
The B-Class also has an additional USB-C socket, along with more USB charging sources.
The new generation of MBUX has a more sophisticated voice assistant that can interpret and support vehicle functions. For example, Mercedes-Benz says the assistant can tell you how to connect your smartphone and where to find a first aid kit.
As with Update A-Classthere is a new audio tour guide that will be available, at least at first, exclusively in Germany.
By saying “Hey Mercedes, start the Tourguide”, it will respond to about 3,400 brown tourist information signs along Germany’s motorways.
Elsewhere in the cabin, there’s a redesigned center console, a new steering wheel wrapped in standard nappa leather and optional heating, and new interior decorations with a star motif.
The comfortable seats have fabric cushions made from 100% recycled materials, while the Artico / Microcut seats of the AMG Line package have 65% recycled material on the seat surface and 85% of the material underneath.
Mercedes-Benz says there’s a smoother program for lane-keeping assist, while the optional Tractor Control Assist automatically adjusts the steering angle to make backing easier.
For 2023, the entire petrol lineup has been electrified with a 48V mild hybrid system and belt-start generator (RSG).
Mercedes-Benz says the RSG “reduces noise and vibration during launch compared to a normal start”, and allows the B-Class to shut down the engine during “steady flight” to save fuel.
The B-Class’ new 48V system can also support the engine by an additional 10kW “at start-up”.
In markets like Europe, the B-Class is also offered with a range of diesel engine options, plus a plug-in hybrid, but the B-Class is currently only offered in Australia with the B180 guise – which is hard to come by. may change.
B180 uses a production turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine 100kW power and 230Nm torque – an increase of 30Nm on the current car – and mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The B250e plug-in hybrid receives the same upgrades to its A250e counterpart, with AC charging increased from 7.4kW to 11kW and an electric motor with an additional 5kW output.
The B-Class has essentially no direct competition in Australia, with BMW no longer importing 2 Series Active Tourer.
It has a more upright body and therefore a more realistic interior than the related stuff A class but much less common, with Mercedes-Benz having sold 234 units through the end of September compared with 2,297 hatches and A-Class sedans.
