MERCEDES BENZB-Class (W246) 2014 - 2018

　　In 2014, at the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the refreshed version of the B-Class’ second generation, bringing the car up to the newest European emission standards.

　　With a shrinking MPV market in Europe, the German automaker tried to get more customers who didn’t want just a mundane minivan to transport their families. The B-Class, just like BMW’s 2 Series Active Tourer, was designed with premium customers in mind, but those who didn’t need a luxurious full-size sedan. The B-Class W246 was an upscale school-run and grocery-getter vehicle. Despite that, the three-pointed-star brand designed it with plenty of luxurious features that were not usually offered in the European compact-sized MPV segment. The car’s C-segment vehicle was highly attractive to those living in crowded cities where parking spots were scarce, and that’s one of the reasons why it found many customers in Europe and Japan. The car appeal helped the automaker sell over 380,000 units between 202 and 2014, and the facelifted model came to keep sales figures up.

　　On the exterior, the most noticeable upgrade was at the front, where the W246 received redesigned headlights with an option for LEDs. There was also a new bumper with a wider opening on the lower side to enhance the cooling area, flanked by a pair of scoops that hosted the LED daytime running lights. The automaker also offered an AMG package that included a different front bumper with an A-shaped lower, piano-black grille. Furthermore, the electric version of the B-Class sported distinctive blue door mirror caps and accents on the main grille’s horizontal slats. At the back, there were two distinct upgrades: the bumper adorned by a chromed strip and the LED taillights. The rest of the vehicle looked largely the same as before, with its tall greenhouse made to accommodate five people inside comfortably.

　　The cabin was designed by Mercedes-Benz standards and got some details that resembled those from the Mercedes-AMG models, such as the round metallic vents on the dashboard. Fronting the driver was an instrument cluster filled with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer that flanked a TFT display for the onboard computer. The front occupants sat on bolstered seats, but the automaker also offered an AMG package that added power-adjustable heated ones with high-bolstered areas. In the back, there was enough room for three adults with plenty of headroom and sufficient legroom for all three passengers.

　　Under the hood, Mercedes-Benz installed exclusively Euro 6-compliant emission standards, either gasoline or turbodiesel. Power went to the front wheels or in all corners via either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox. Moreover, along with this upgraded version, the automaker added a comprehensive safety package, including automatic emergency braking and radar-based adaptive cruise control.

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