Mercedes B 200 d AMG Line Executive (2022 - )

It’s difficult to sum up the Mercedes B-Class. That’s because it sits slightly higher than many hatchbacks but is lower than an SUV. It is somewhere in the middle, but boasts stunningly attractive styling with a dynamic appearance.

Customers are offered a wide selection of petrol and diesel powertrains with the B 180, B 200, B 180 d, B 200 d and B 220 d. There is also a B 250e which adds plug-in hybrid technology to the mix and has an all-electric range of up to 42 miles. 

And there is a good choice of generously-equipped trim levels too called Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus.

A new eight-speed DCT automatic gearbox is available on the B 200 d and B 220 d while other models come with a seven speed DCT transmission.

All models feature a beautifully styled interior with a wealth of high-end technology – much of which also features in the flagship S-Class model. And the car was awarded a maximum five stars when tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating with a score of 96 per cent for adult occupants and 90 per cent for children.

The Mercedes B-Class certainly attracts attention and, despite being a practically-sized five-door hatchback, it maintains its dynamic appeal.

The AMG name means you can expect lots of sporty AMG design cues and bodystyling. These include model-specific 18-inch AMG wheels, an AMG front apron with front splitter, AMG side sills and an AMG rear apron with visible tailpipe trims.

The radiator grille features the Mercedes emblem in chrome finish and there are LED high performance headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights and Adaptive Highbeam Assist. Privacy glass, chrome window surrounds, plus body-coloured door handles and mirrors complete the look.

Moving inside, the cabin oozes class and elegance with the finest fixtures and fittings throughout. The carbon-effect trim on the dash looks really upmarket and the dark-coloured, man-made leather microfibre-upholstered seats feature neat red contrast stitching. This can also be found on the doors, steering wheel and central cubby box.

The trio of centrally-positioned air vents look like jet engine turbines and there are further vents at each end of the dashboard. Sports pedals, 64-colour ambient lighting, heated seats and AMG carpets add to the interior finish.

On-board technology impresses with a 10.25-inch touchscreen merging seamlessly with a 10.25-inch driver information display behind a single pane of glass. Creature comforts include the innovative MBUX multimedia system which is controlled via voice control or touch input. There is sat nav, full smartphone connectivity with wireless charging, live traffic updates (free for the first three years), Bluetooth, a DAB radio and lots more besides.

All controls, dials and readouts are simple to operate on the fly with a separate control panel for all the air con functions.

The Mercedes B 200 d AMG Line Executive model, as tested, was powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine matched to the new eight-speed DCT automatic gearbox. With 150hp and 320Nm of torque, the hatchback could complete the 0-62mph sprint in a respectable 8.5 seconds and maxed out at 136mph.
Despite being sharp out the blocks, it seems that the main priority is comfort rather than blistering pace making the B-Class beautifully balanced as it fizzes through the country lanes with confident grip and no sign of body sway.
But, don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly no slouch and has bundles of power on tap for short bursts of pace to overtake. The acceleration through the gearbox is smooth enough, although it seemed to jump a gear once or twice. 
The driver can choose to change gear manually via steering wheel paddles and there are drive modes called Comfort, Eco, Sport and Individual to alter the reactions accordingly.
The B-Class is a confident cruiser and effortlessly eats up the dual carriageway miles sitting at 70mph. And, with good all-round driver visibility thanks to the raised seating, along with light steering, the car is easy to manoeuvre around town too.
Occupants are well protected from noise, although the engine gets a little more vocal at higher speeds, but the highly effective suspension set-up smooths out all but the roughest road surfaces along the way.
 

The Mercedes B-Class is a five-door hatchback that stretches 4,419mm in length, is 2,020mm wide and 1,545mm high with a kerbweight of 1,580kg.
There is ample manual seat and steering wheel adjustment and the driver benefits from a slightly elevated position offering great all-round visibility.
There is plenty of space up front for two tall adults to sit comfortably and there is room for a couple more in the back. Add a third and it gets a little cosy, but it would be ideal for three children.
The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and can accommodate 445 litres of kit, a limit that increases to 1,530 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. There is a reversible mat in the boot with one side being easy-clean, so carrying muddy boots won’t be an issue.
Inside the cabin, there is a number of practical storage options, such as a glovebox, central cubby bin with two USB-C ports, seat back nets, door pockets with space to store a bottle, some trays and two front cup holders that can be covered with a sliding lid when not in use. 
With wide opening doors, gaining access or fitting a child seat would be an easy task and the car comes with Isofix fixtures on the outer rear seats.
 

The new Mercedes B-Class costs from £35,100 for the B 200 Sport Executive model powered by the 1.3-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine and rises to £43,760 for the B 200d AMG Line Premium Plus version with the 2.0-litre 150hp diesel engine.
Our test car, the B 200 d AMG Line Executive, cost £38,510, but the addition of Mountain Grey metallic paint added a further £625 to the price-tag. 
With all eyes on a cleaner future and fewer manufacturers offering diesel powertrains these days, it is nice that Mercedes still gives its strong customer fanbase that choice. And with combined fuel efficiency of 51.4-55.4mpg it’s easy to see why there is still such strong demand for diesel.
The official carbon emissions figure of 137g/km would result in a first year road tax bill of £255 dropping to the standard charge of £180 after 12 months. These are the new figures that come into force in April, 2023.
But be careful what options you select because if the car exceeds the £40k cut-off point, it falls into the government’s premium car category resulting in an annual supplement payment of £390 for five years from the second year of registration.
For any business drivers considering the B 200 d AMG Line Executive model as a company car, it has a Benefit in Kind tax rating of 32 per cent and the car sits in insurance group 23. 
 

The Mercedes B-Class is like a slightly beefed up version of the stunning A-Class, but it still maintains all the dynamic styling and great driving characteristics. It simply offers that little bit more space for occupants and luggage alike. With a great choice of powertrains and trims, this five-door hatch is often overlooked, but really shouldn’t be.