Mercedes B-Class: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Mercedes B-Class data points to different winners for different priorities. For maximum performance, the third-generation B 250 2.0 DCT combines 224 hp, 350 Nm and 0–100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. For the lowest measured combined fuel consumption, the third-generation B 250e 1.3 DCT records 1.4 l/100 km before restyling and 1.2 l/100 km after it.
The Mercedes B-Class data points to different winners for different priorities. For maximum performance, the third-generation B 250 2.0 DCT combines 224 hp, 350 Nm and 0–100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. For the lowest measured combined fuel consumption, the third-generation B 250e 1.3 DCT records 1.4 l/100 km before restyling and 1.2 l/100 km after it. Among diesels, the pre-restyling third-generation B 180d 1.5 DCT records 4.0 l/100 km combined, while the restyled B 200d 2.0 DCT records 5.6 l/100 km and reaches 234 km/h. Buyers seeking a simpler manual drivetrain can look to the first- and second-generation cars, because the restyled third-generation range listed here uses only Robotic gearboxes.
Mercedes B-Class generations and versions
The catalogue contains 6 B-Class production phases but 3 underlying generations, with each facelift grouped into its corresponding generation. Every listed car is a Hatchback 5-door.
The first generation ran from March 2005 to April 2011 and contained 12 versions. Its restyling ran from March 2008 to July 2012 and contained 14 versions. Depending on version, this generation offered Gasoline, Diesel or LPG engines, Manual or Variable gearboxes, and FWD. The restyled cars have 160 mm of ground clearance in the supplied data, compared with 125 mm for the original versions.
The second generation ran from July 2011 to January 2015 and contained 17 versions. Its restyling ran from November 2014 to January 2019 and contained 23 versions. The listed range includes Gasoline, Diesel and LPG choices, Manual and Robotic gearboxes, and both FWD and AWD. Ground clearance is 125 mm throughout the supplied second-generation entries.
The third generation began in October 2018 and contains 15 versions. Its restyling began in October 2022 and contains 8 versions. The range covers Gasoline, Diesel and Plug-in power, with FWD or AWD. Ground clearance is generally 104 mm, although the pre-restyling B 200 1.3 DCT is listed at 125 mm.
Mercedes B-Class engine specs comparison
Repeated names are separated by power, drivetrain or production phase so that each specification remains identifiable.
| Version | Generation | hp | Nm | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders/layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 MT (95 hp) | First | 95 | 140 | 1498 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.7 CVT (116 hp) | First | 116 | 155 | 1699 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Variable, gears not measured | FWD |
| 2.0 MT (193 hp) | First | 193 | 280 | 2034 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.0 MT (140 hp) | First | 140 | 300 | 1991 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.0 CVT (140 hp) | First | 140 | 300 | 1991 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Variable, gears not measured | FWD |
| 2.0 CVT (193 hp) | First | 193 | 280 | 2034 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | Variable, gears not measured | FWD |
| 1.5 CVT (95 hp) | First, restyling | 95 | 140 | 1498 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Variable, gears not measured | FWD |
| 1.7 MT (116 hp) | First, restyling | 116 | 155 | 1699 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.0 MT (193 hp) | First, restyling | 193 | 280 | 2034 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.0 CVT (109 hp) | First, restyling | 109 | 250 | 1991 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Variable, gears not measured | FWD |
| 2.0 MT (140 hp) | First, restyling | 140 | 300 | 1991 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.0 MT (116 hp) | First, restyling | 116 | 165 | 2034 cc | LPG | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.0 CVT (116 hp) | First, restyling | 116 | 165 | 2034 cc | LPG | 4, Inline | No | Variable, gears not measured | FWD |
| 1.5 MT (109 hp) | Second | 109 | 260 | 1461 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.5 DCT (109 hp) | Second | 109 | 260 | 1461 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| 1.5 DCT (90 hp) | Second | 90 | 220 | 1461 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| 1.8 MT (109 hp) | Second | 109 | 250 | 1796 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.8 MT (136 hp) | Second | 136 | 300 | 1796 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.1 DCT (170 hp) | Second | 170 | 350 | 2143 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| 1.6 MT (122 hp) | Second | 122 | 200 | 1595 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.6 MT (156 hp) | Second | 156 | 250 | 1595 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.0 DCT (184 hp) | Second | 184 | 270 | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | AWD |
| 2.0 DCT (156 hp) | Second | 156 | 270 | 1991 cc | LPG | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| 2.0 MT (156 hp) | Second | 156 | 270 | 1991 cc | LPG | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.5 MT (109 hp, 260 Nm) | Second, restyling | 109 | 260 | 1461 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.5 DCT (109 hp, 260 Nm) | Second, restyling | 109 | 260 | 1461 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| 1.5 DCT (90 hp) | Second, restyling | 90 | 240 | 1461 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| 1.5 MT (90 hp) | Second, restyling | 90 | 240 | 1461 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 2.1 DCT (136 hp) | Second, restyling | 136 | 300 | 2143 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | AWD |
| 2.1 DCT (177 hp, FWD) | Second, restyling | 177 | 350 | 2143 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| 2.1 DCT (177 hp, AWD) | Second, restyling | 177 | 350 | 2143 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | AWD |
| 1.6 MT (122 hp) | Second, restyling | 122 | 200 | 1595 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.6 MT (102 hp) | Second, restyling | 102 | 180 | 1595 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.6 DCT (102 hp) | Second, restyling | 102 | 180 | 1595 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| 1.6 MT (156 hp) | Second, restyling | 156 | 250 | 1595 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| B 160 1.3 MT | Third | 109 | 180 | 1332 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| B 180 1.3 MT | Third | 136 | 200 | 1332 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| B 200 1.3 DCT (150 hp) | Third | 150 | 250 | 1332 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| B 200 1.3 MT (163 hp) | Third | 163 | 250 | 1332 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| B 220 2.0 DCT (190 hp) | Third | 190 | 300 | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | AWD |
| B 250 2.0 DCT (224 hp, FWD) | Third | 224 | 350 | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| B 220 2.0 DCT (224 hp, AWD) | Third | 224 | 350 | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | AWD |
| B 250 2.0 DCT (224 hp, AWD) | Third | 224 | 350 | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | AWD |
| B 180d 1.5 DCT | Third | 116 | 260 | 1461 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| B 220d 2.0 DCT (FWD) | Third | 190 | 400 | 1950 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 8-speed Robotic | FWD |
| B 220d 2.0 DCT (AWD) | Third | 190 | 400 | 1950 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 8-speed Robotic | AWD |
| B 250e 1.3 DCT | Third | 218 | 450 | 1332 cc | Plug-in | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| B 180 1.3 DCT | Third, restyling | 136 | 230 | 1332 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| B 200 1.3 DCT | Third, restyling | 163 | 270 | 1332 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| B 220 2.0 DCT | Third, restyling | 190 | 300 | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 8-speed Robotic | AWD |
| B 250 2.0 DCT | Third, restyling | 224 | 350 | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 8-speed Robotic | AWD |
| B 250e 1.3 DCT | Third, restyling | 218 | 300 | 1332 cc | Plug-in | 4, Inline | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | FWD |
| B 180d 2.0 DCT | Third, restyling | 116 | 280 | 1950 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 8-speed Robotic | FWD |
| B 200d 2.0 DCT | Third, restyling | 150 | 320 | 1950 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 8-speed Robotic | FWD |
| B 220d 2.0 DCT | Third, restyling | 190 | 400 | 1950 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 8-speed Robotic | FWD |
Performance and economy: mpg-related figures
For outright pace, the pre-restyling third-generation B 250 2.0 DCT in either FWD or AWD form reaches 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and 250 km/h. The restyled B 250 2.0 DCT is 0.1 second slower at 6.5 seconds and also reaches 250 km/h. The Plug-in B 250e 1.3 DCT produces 218 hp: the pre-restyling version takes 6.8 seconds and reaches 235 km/h, while the restyled version takes 7.6 seconds and reaches 223 km/h.
The pre-restyling B 250e 1.3 DCT records 1.4 l/100 km combined and 36 g/km of CO₂; the restyled version records 1.2 l/100 km and 27 g/km. City and highway consumption are not measured for either version.
Among the third-generation diesels, B 180d 1.5 DCT combines 4.0 l/100 km with a 10.7-second acceleration time and 200 km/h top speed. B 220d 2.0 DCT with FWD records 4.4 l/100 km, reaches 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and tops out at 234 km/h. Its AWD counterpart records 5.3 l/100 km, accelerates in 7.0 seconds and reaches 231 km/h: AWD therefore costs 0.9 l/100 km combined while improving acceleration by 0.2 second.
In the restyled third generation, B 180d 2.0 DCT records 5.7 l/100 km, B 200d 2.0 DCT records 5.6 l/100 km, and B 220d 2.0 DCT records 5.7 l/100 km. Their respective acceleration figures are 10.0, 7.3 and 7.4 seconds, with top speeds of 200, 234 and 234 km/h. City and highway figures are not measured for all three.
The second-generation restyled 1.5 MT with 109 hp has the lowest listed non-Plug-in combined consumption at 3.6 l/100 km, with 4.1 l/100 km in the city and 3.3 l/100 km on the highway. It takes 11.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h and has a 190 km/h maximum. The more powerful 2.1 DCT with 177 hp and FWD records 4.1 l/100 km, reaches 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds and tops out at 224 km/h.
First-generation fuel consumption ranges widely. The original 2.0 MT Diesel with 109 hp records 5.6 l/100 km combined, while the original 2.0 CVT Gasoline with 193 hp records 8.1 l/100 km. For the original and restyled LPG versions, measured combined consumption is either 7.3 or 7.6 l/100 km where supplied; consumption for the second-generation LPG 2.0 MT and 2.0 DCT is not measured.
Dimensions, weight, clearance and tank capacity
The first-generation entries have 54-litre tanks. Original cars have 125 mm of clearance, while every listed restyled version has 160 mm. Kerb weight spans 1230–1435 kg in the restyled data and 1300–1435 kg in the original data. Gross weight spans 1800–1950 kg in the restyled range and 1800–1880 kg in the original range. Wheel sizes are not measured for every first-generation version.
The second generation uses a 50-litre tank and 125 mm of clearance. Original kerb weights span 1395–1535 kg, while gross weights span 1960–2055 kg. Restyled kerb weights span 1395–1575 kg, and gross weights span 1900–2095 kg. Wheel sizes are not measured for every second-generation version.
The third generation uses a 43-litre tank. Most entries have 104 mm of ground clearance, although the pre-restyling B 200 1.3 DCT is listed at 125 mm. Pre-restyling kerb weight spans 1310–1725 kg and gross weight spans 1935–2225 kg. Restyled kerb weight spans 1405–1725 kg and gross weight spans 1955–2225 kg. Wheel sizes are not measured for every third-generation version.
Weight helps distinguish otherwise similar choices. The pre-restyling B 250 2.0 DCT with FWD weighs 1420 kg, or about 6.3 kg per hp. The 1480 kg AWD B 250 2.0 DCT carries 60 kg more, while the restyled 1550 kg B 250 2.0 DCT carries 130 kg more than the pre-restyling FWD version. The 1725 kg B 250e 1.3 DCT is 305 kg heavier than the 1420 kg FWD B 250 2.0 DCT.
Mercedes B-Class reliability and problems
The supplied catalogue contains no reliability ratings, failure records, service intervals, repair costs or fuse-box diagrams. Reliability and specific problems are therefore not measured. The data can support a drivetrain comparison—such as Manual versus Robotic or Variable, FWD versus AWD, and naturally aspirated versus Turbo—but it cannot establish that one arrangement is more reliable than another.
Likewise, the data includes no Mercedes B-Class electric-drive or pure-EV version. It lists a Plug-in B 250e 1.3 DCT, but no claim about an electric-only B-Class, electric range or battery capacity can be made from these records.
Which Mercedes B-Class version should you buy?
Choose the pre-restyling third-generation B 250 2.0 DCT with FWD if acceleration and a favourable power-to-weight figure matter most. Its 224 hp, 350 Nm, 1420 kg kerb weight, 6.4-second acceleration time and 250 km/h top speed are paired with 6.4 l/100 km combined consumption. The AWD version matches the 6.4-second time and 250 km/h maximum but weighs 60 kg more and consumes 7.0 l/100 km, an increase of 0.6 l/100 km.
Choose B 220d 2.0 DCT with FWD from the pre-restyling third generation for a strong balance of speed and measured economy. It supplies 190 hp and 400 Nm, reaches 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and records 4.4 l/100 km combined. Compared with B 180d 1.5 DCT, it adds 74 hp and 140 Nm, cuts 3.5 seconds from the acceleration time, and uses 0.4 l/100 km more.
Choose the restyled third-generation B 200 1.3 DCT if a middle-position Gasoline model is preferred. Its 163 hp equals 122.4 hp per litre, compared with 102.1 hp per litre for B 180 1.3 DCT. It reaches 100 km/h 1.0 second sooner, while both record 6.6 l/100 km combined and 151 g/km of CO₂.
Choose the pre-restyling B 250e 1.3 DCT when the lowest listed combined-consumption figure matters alongside performance. It has 218 hp, 450 Nm and a 6.8-second acceleration time. The restyled B 250e 1.3 DCT lowers combined consumption from 1.4 to 1.2 l/100 km and CO₂ from 36 to 27 g/km, but its listed torque falls by 150 Nm and its acceleration time increases by 0.8 second.
Choose the restyled second-generation 1.5 MT with 109 hp if the priority is low measured Diesel consumption with a Manual gearbox. At 3.6 l/100 km combined it uses 0.4 l/100 km less than the third-generation B 180d 1.5 DCT, although it is 0.9 second slower to 100 km/h and 10 km/h slower at maximum speed.
Finally, choose a first-generation restyled version when 160 mm of clearance is more valuable than newer performance figures. That is 35 mm more than the original first-generation figure and 56 mm more than the usual third-generation figure. Within that range, 2.0 MT with 193 hp is the performance choice at 7.6 seconds to 100 km/h, while 2.0 MT Diesel with 140 hp offers 5.6 l/100 km combined and 300 Nm.