Mercedes-Benz B 180 CDI 2006 Review

Australian launch

What we like
>> Quiet and refined engine
>> Superb ride comfort
>> Interior space and versatility

Not so much
>> Lack of steering feel
>> A lot of money for a little car
>> Long list of costly options

There is a marketing line in the automotive industry that says the more the people spend on a car, the more they are prepared to pay.  Being asked for an additional $2500 for the metallic paint on a $100K Mercedes R-class might be okay but at the entry level, any extra costs might have the potential customer thinking twice.

With that in mind, Mercedes has chosen to price its new diesel variant of the small B-class the same as its entry-level B200 petrol version -- $44,900 for the manual.

This is a move that goes against the trend for diesels which usually carry a premium over their petrol counterparts. And for a buyer looking at the small versatile Benz, it means there is a real choice without any cost penalty.

In fact, if you line the two up against each other, you might wonder why anyone would opt for the petrol variant.

In its petrol guise, the B200 uses a 100kW/185Nm 2.0-litre four cylinder engine driving through a five-speed manual gearbox while the diesel B180 CDI offering is powered by a 80kW/250Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel four driving through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Both are offered with an optional automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) for $2500 and on the recent media launch of the diesel B-class that was the transmission CarPoint drove.

The common wisdom for buying a diesel engined passenger car is fuel economy and the B180 delivered as expected. Official ADR 81/01 test figures are quoted as 6.2lt/100km and over our 100km-odd drive route that was a mix of winding country roads and a short freeway section we returned exactly 6.2lt/100km. Some media colleagues that were driving for economy managed to achieve a fuel consumption of just 5.0lt/100km – this translates to over 1000km from a tank of fuel.

This compares to the official figure of 7.4lt/100km for the B200 CVT, which we reckon would be harder to achieve given that CarPoint wasn't driving with a feathery right foot.

Aussies are learning, however, that diesels offer more than just fuel economy and the gusty engine in the B-class delivers strong low to midrange response with its maximum torque available from just 1600rpm.

Firing up the engine, it is quiet and refined with little audible evidence of its diesel architecture from inside the cabin. Acceleration off the line is smart without being overly urgent and, perhaps due to the CVT, you don’t actually notice the strong forces at work. Having said that, the B180 is reasonably quick to the speed limit in urban conditions and, once travelling at highway speeds, offers plenty of urge for overtaking.

The CVT has seven electronically-controlled "shift points" that you can select manually if you need to hold higher revs for more power. We found it was equally effective using throttle pressure alone.

The CDI’s is on the firm side but still compliant enough to soak up the worst road ruts – better than the smaller A-Class. The seats are solid and comfortable and offer plenty of support resulting in a comfortable ride quality overall.

At the same time, despite the car's higher stance, there is little in the way of rock and roll when you push a bit harder through corners and the B-class feels stable and secure. It's not a sportscar by a long shot but there is a reassuring predictability in its handling. The only thing that lets it down is the steering, which being of the electromechanical variety offers little in the way of feel or feedback.

Given the diesel is a match for the entry-level petrol B-class on price and equipment it’s a no-brainer. More and more useable torque make the diesel more driver-friendly and, let’s face it, no-one is likely to complain about the longer gaps between fuel stops.