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2006 Mercedes-Benz B200 Road Test

Happy to Say, "Not Available in the U.S.A." 

Plastic wheel covers over steel wheels; cloth seats (non-heated, non-power); no sunroof; 134-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with 136 lb-ft of torque; 5-speed manual transmission; front-wheel drive; 0 to 60 mph in 10.2 seconds; an AM/FM radio with a single in-dash CD player; no tilt or telescopic steering column; manual tint rearview mirror; non-lit vanity mirrors; any guess which car Im talking about? A Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda or Toyota compact? No, while such features, or lack thereof, would seem to fit if it were a base-trim compact model sold by any of these brands, all of the above would deliver more power and be much quicker off the line. Each entry-level brand compact model would also cost about half as much as Mercedes B200, which starts at a staggering $30,950.
Plastic wheel covers over steel wheels on a Mercedes-Benz? How far the mighty have fallen. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) />Before you lose your shorts, this is Canadian money were talking about here - the U.S. equivalet would roughly be $27K. The B200, fortunately, is not offered in the U.S., but that didnt stop us from finding out what were missing. Answer in short? Not much.

Of course, none of the above-mentioned Japanese and Korean cars feature that revered three-pointed star front and rear, easily worth $5 Gs alone, and none come standard with eight air bags (although the Honda and

Since when does a Mercedes make less horsepower than a compact Kia? (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Kia have six), electronic cruise control, a tire puncture warning system, automatically heated dual power mirrors, halogen fog lamps, cloth covered A-pillars and Mercedes SmartKey system.

Some other items that come standard on the B-Class, which may or may not be offered on similarly sized compact cars from Korean or Japanese entry-level brands, include power windows with one-touch express-up and down, air conditioning, neutral-tinted glass, 16-inch wheels with 205/55R16 front and rear tires, a folding rear center armrest with enclosed

The B200 is proof that its expensive to build economy hatchbacks in Germany. All of its Japanese and Korean competitors offer much more for much less. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

storage and dual cupholders, and a front center armrest with dual enclosed and illuminated storage compartments.
Thats a lot of stuff, and if offered with any one of the entry-level brands mentioned would probably up the price close to $20,000 CAD ($17,300 USD). I suppose if you compared it to a compact model that is sized about the same as the B200, at least in width, height and wheelbase, say the new Mazda5, which is probably unfair because the Japanese equivalent offers an extra row and with it

For the $1,200 Premium Package these plain-jane door handles get chrome trim. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

another seat, more cargo capacity, an additional 23 horsepower and 12 lb-ft of torque, tilt and telescopic steering and other goodies, but, other than these items and again the difference in length, its probably the closest in purpose to M-Bs people hauler, so it will have to serve as a comparison. That Mazda, by the way, starts at $19,995 CAD ($17,435 USD) in base trim but costs $22,795 ($18,950 USD) when outfitted to match similar features as on the B200. Even loaded with an automatic transmission, automatic climate control and metallic paint - the latter a $195 CAD ($170 USD) option (no-cost option in U.S.-spec car)

My tester featured a manually adjustable four-way tilt and telescoping steering column, a $235 option that should really be standard on a $31,000 hatchback. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

with the Mazda5 and, ahem, $890 CAD ($770 USD) option with the B-Class - the Mazda5 only costs $25,000 CAD ($24,405 USD but fully-loaded U.S.-spec Mazda5s also include a navigation system, DVD entertainment system, and much more) which makes the price of stepping up to a three-pointed star closer to $6,000 CAD ($5,200 USD) than $5,000 CAD ($4,350 USD). But to some people it will be worth it.

Of course, if we were truly comparing apples to apples wed have to add a few options to the Mercedes to bring it up to the Mazdas equipment level, such as that metallic paint I mentioned a minute ago... oh, and

I think where the Mercedes shines is with its center stack, which is every bit as fine as that in a C-Class. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

aluminum wheels, for instance. To do the latter youd have to opt for the $1,200 CAD ($1,050 USD) Premium Package, which unfortunately would only add 16-inch alloy wheels to the B200 instead of 17s which come in the top-line Mazda5 (you can get 17-inch rims as a $1,315 CAD ($1,150 USD) option when you buck up for the much more expensive B200 Turbo), but you would get additional chrome trim on the radiator grille, bumpers, fog lamp surrounds, door handles and shoulder line, which would probably look out of place on the Mazda5 anyway.

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