The all-new Mercedes-Benz GLB, boasting powerful practicality, was recently unveiled at a global event. It was announced that the single-charge driving range is up to 631 km under WLTP.
The all-new GLB's core competitive strengths include generous space for up to seven passengers, a driving range of more than 600 km under WLTP, driver assistance systems that support comfortable driving, an impressive design completed with the strong proportions of an SUV and an iconic front grille, and the intuitive digital experience provided by MB.OS.
The vehicle will be launched globally in spring 2026 as the GLB 250+ with EQ technology and the GLB 350 4MATIC with EQ technology, and the lineup is expected to expand beyond those two trims to include additional electric versions and hybrid models.
The new GLB is offered as a five-seater or a seven-seater with two additional seats in the third row. The second row features a sliding bench that can be adjusted fore and aft, making it more convenient to carry a variety of cargo. In addition, compared with the previous generation, headroom in the first and second rows as well as second-row legroom have been increased.
The rear trunk capacity is up to 540 liters for the five-seater and 480 liters for the seven-seater, and folding the rear seats expands capacity to 1,715 liters and 1,605 liters respectively. The front trunk ("frunk") also provides a spacious 127 liters (104 liters according to ISO 3832), enough to hold three soccer balls. The vehicle can be fitted with a total of four child seats in the second and third rows, and an additional one can be added to the front passenger seat.
The GLB 4MATIC model quickly engages the front-axle electric motor when traction is needed. It also features a terrain mode that adjusts the characteristics of the drivetrain, steering and brakes to assist the driver on fields and gravel roads. The "transparent bonnet" feature virtually shows the area beneath the vehicle to help maneuver more easily on rough terrain. Towing capacity is up to 2 tons, among the highest for pure electric vehicles in this segment. As a result, the electric GLB can tow a full-size caravan.
The new GLB vehicle includes a wide range of driver assistance systems. In Europe, the DISTRONIC distance control function is standard, and the vehicle is equipped with eight cameras, five radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors and a water-cooled high-performance computer. Mercedes-Benz integrates all assistance systems under the name MB.DRIVE, and many digital functions are either provided from the start or can be ordered separately via the Mercedes-Benz store.
The GLB 250+ has a single-charge driving range of up to 631 km (WLTP). It also supports fast charging. The 800-volt system and new battery can recharge driving range of up to 260 km (WLTP) within 10 minutes. At 800-volt charging stations, DC fast charging is available at up to 320 kW, and the GLB can also use 400-volt charging infrastructure. A DC converter is offered as an option. AC charging capability is up to 22 kW.
The adaptive damping suspension, standard with 20-inch wheels, provides both a comfortable and a sporty driving experience. The driver can use the dynamic select switch to choose the vehicle's damping characteristics between a comfortable comfort mode or a firmer sport mode.
A vertically upright front body, steep windshield and short overhangs form the side silhouette. Wheel arch cladding and front and rear underride protection designs emphasize the off-road character, and the wide body width and muscular shoulder line give the GLB a strong presence. Ninety-four individual animated LED stars in a chrome-look finish are the highlight of the front grille design. The grille's three-pointed star may be illuminated fully or partially depending on national legal regulations.
The large panoramic roof provides an exceptional sense of openness. In particular, the optional sky control panoramic roof can switch the glass surface to transparent or opaque within milliseconds. At night, 158 stars illuminate to create a unique visual experience.
The new interior design focuses attention on iconic high-tech elements. The MBUX hyperscreen gives the impression of floating in midair. Beneath the large glass surface are a 26 cm (10.25-inch) driver display, a 35.6 cm (14-inch) central display and a 35.6 cm (14-inch) passenger display. The new steering wheel is ergonomically designed for intuitive operation, and at customers' requests, the limiter and DISTRONIC dedicated rocker switches and a volume control roller have been reintroduced.
The new GLB applies Mercedes-Benz's in-house developed operating system, MB.OS. Thanks to AI-based systems, the vehicle can be equipped with a supercomputer connected to the Mercedes-Benz intelligent cloud. This enables OTA updates for key functions including driver assistance systems. In addition, the fourth-generation MBUX is the first in-vehicle infotainment system to integrate both Microsoft and Google AI. The basic Mercedes interface is maintained to provide a familiar user experience.
The new MBUX virtual assistant radically transforms the relationship between vehicle and driver through generative AI, enabling complex multi-turn conversations and short-term memory. It leverages the collective knowledge of the internet based on ChatGPT4o and Microsoft Bing search. Also, thanks to Google Gemini, it is adept at navigation-related queries and uses information from the Google Maps platform to provide detailed, personalized answers to user questions.
The MBUX hyperscreen operates with the latest high-performance chips and real-time graphics from the Unity game engine. The new control and display concept is designed around individual customer preferences. The enhanced MBUX zero layer displays the most important information, suggestions and most recently used apps on the central display. In the app screen, apps can be moved like on a smartphone or grouped into folders with names, and when an app is open, swipe gestures allow navigation between screens and back to the zero layer.
Navigation in the new GLB was developed in collaboration with Google and is one of the first cases to integrate Google Cloud's new vehicle AI agent for in-vehicle conversational services with Google Maps. Mercedes-Benz's electric intelligence navigation plans the fastest and most convenient route, including stops for charging. In addition, MBUX surround navigation seamlessly integrates driver assistance screens, 3D representations of the surrounding environment and real-time route guidance into the driver display to provide a new visual experience.
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