When you spend days navigating tight lanes, sweeping valley roads, and undulating climbs through Germany’s mystical Harz region, you begin to understand what a car is truly made of. This isn’t just about polished figures or glossy marketing videos. It’s about how a vehicle connects with the road, with you, and with the surroundings. That’s exactly why we took the 2021 Mercedes GLB 220d 4MATIC into the green lungs of central Germany, to test its mettle where curves are tight, elevation changes are frequent, and comfort matters as much as control.
Before we dive into the Harz experience, let’s place the GLB in context. Mercedes calls it a compact SUV, but with its 4.63-meter length and optional seven-seat layout, it’s not shy about its ambitions. Sitting between the GLA and GLC in the lineup, the GLB borrows heavily from the MFA2 platform shared with the A-Class and CLA. Yet, it’s more upright, more spacious, and, in this 220d 4MATIC guise, more capable than most would expect.
Exterior and First Impressions
The GLB doesn’t pretend. It’s upright, boxy, and immediately practical-looking. Ours came in Progressive trim with 19-inch aerodynamic wheels that looked like turbine blades, a subtle nod to the vehicle’s dual personality: family-hauler and mountain-tamer.
Approaching the GLB in the early morning haze at the base of the Harz, it felt substantial. The LED headlamps with their distinctive L-shape signature lit up like eyes adjusting to dawn. Chrome accents on the grille and a strong horizontal shoulder line gave it presence, but it’s the proportions that really impressed, it feels tall, wide, and ready.
Interior: Familiar, Functional, and Feature-Packed
Step inside and it’s classic Mercedes, but tailored to practicality. Dual 10.25-inch displays sweep across the dash in a single pane. The MBUX system is responsive, intuitive, and can be navigated via touch, voice, or the slightly outdated center touchpad.
Our tester came with Artico synthetic leather and Fléron fabric seats, honestly, they felt more comfortable and sustainable than real leather. The electric seat controls in the doors still require muscle memory, but once set, they supported beautifully across long stretches.
Driving through the winding road between Wernigerode and Braunlage, we appreciated the GLB’s interior silence. Even at 100 km/h, the diesel engine was a whisper, barely making itself known.
Rear legroom is abundant thanks to the long wheelbase, and the second row slides fore and aft. Our five-seat configuration offered 560 liters of boot space, expandable to 1,755 liters, ideal for camera gear, backpacks, and the random wooden carvings we picked up from roadside vendors.
Engine and Real-World Performance
Under the hood lies Mercedes’ 2.0-liter OM 654 four-cylinder diesel, churning out 190 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic, this engine is refined, efficient, and muscular.
Acceleration from 0–100 km/h takes just 7.6 seconds, and while this isn’t hot-hatch territory, overtaking trucks on single-lane mountain roads felt confident. In Sport mode, the throttle sharpens and the 4MATIC all-wheel drive shifts power with urgency: 70% to the front and 30% rear.
Through the tight switchbacks near Torfhaus, the GLB remained impressively flat. The steering, although slightly muted, provided enough feedback to inspire confidence. The diesel torque came in low, allowing us to climb steep gradients without gear-hunting. On descents, the hill descent control in Off-Road mode felt like a hidden superpower, keeping the pace slow and stable.
Noise, harshness, and vibration levels (NHV) were top-class. There’s no diesel clatter. Mercedes’ sound-deadening has reached a point where the diesel could be mistaken for a petrol mill. Fuel economy hovered around 7.1 L/100 km over the entire route, impressive given the terrain.
Ride Comfort and Suspension
On undulating backroads, the GLB’s standard suspension was soft enough to absorb imperfections but controlled enough to prevent float. The Progressive model’s 19-inch wheels looked great, but sharper bumps did sneak in. We’d recommend downsizing to 18s if comfort is your top priority.
Adaptive damping is available, but our test car didn’t have it. Still, it handled cobbled streets in Goslar without fuss and soaked up highway miles with the serenity you expect from something with a star on its nose.
Technology and Driver Assistance
The GLB 220d 4MATIC isn’t short on tech. Ours had the optional Driver Assistance Package, which includes Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, lane-keeping, blind spot assist, evasive steering, and route-based speed adjustment. On the autobahn, DISTRONIC adapted smoothly to upcoming curves and speed zones.
That said, the lane-keeping can be overzealous. On a country road, brushing a solid line triggered an abrupt brake-based correction that felt a bit intrusive. But these systems, while abundant, are only as good as the driver’s willingness to understand them. They’re helpers, not replacements.
The MBUX interface impressed us most. Whether asking for directions to the nearest gas station or changing the climate control, the “Hey Mercedes” assistant delivered quick, natural responses.
Driving Feel in the Harz
This is where the GLB surprised us. Despite its size and family-first ethos, it was genuinely fun to drive through the Harz’s ribbon-like roads. From Bad Harzburg to Clausthal-Zellerfeld, we pushed it through curves, climbed inclines, and cruised along forest roads that twisted like spaghetti.
Visibility is excellent. The upright seating position gives you a commanding view, while the short overhangs make it easy to place. The 4MATIC system wasn’t just useful on gravel paths, it also gave peace of mind during sudden summer downpours that turned tarmac slick.
Technical Specifications: Mercedes GLB 220d 4MATIC (2021)
To make sure everything is correct, we use technical details straight from Mercedes official websites.
| Specification | Details |
| Engine | 2.0L inline-4 turbo diesel (OM 654) |
| Power | 190 hp @ 3,800 rpm |
| Torque | 400 Nm @ 1,600–2,600 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Drivetrain | 4MATIC all-wheel drive |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.6 seconds |
| Top speed | 217 km/h |
| Fuel economy (combined) | 5.4–6.0 L/100 km (claimed) |
| Real-world fuel economy | 7.0–7.2 L/100 km (tested) |
| CO2 emissions | 141–158 g/km |
| Curb weight | ~1,780 kg |
| Boot capacity (5-seat) | 560–1,755 liters |
| Length | 4,634 mm |
| Width | 1,834 mm |
| Height | 1,658 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,829 mm |
| Wheels | 19-inch (optional) |
| Suspension | Standard (adaptive optional) |
Conclusion
The Mercedes GLB 220d 4MATIC is a bit of an oddball in the best way. It’s a diesel-powered compact SUV that thinks it’s a long-distance cruiser. It’s got space like an MPV, a footprint nearly the size of a GLC, and performance that balances frugality with genuine pull.
On our multi-day trip through the Harz, it never put a foot wrong. Whether crawling through medieval towns or sweeping through alpine passes, it remained composed, capable, and comfortable.
It may not turn heads like an AMG, but it wins hearts with its logic, comfort, and quiet competence. And in an era of overstyled, underperforming SUVs, that’s refreshing.
Is the GLB 220d 4MATIC good for long-distance travel?
Absolutely. The combination of diesel torque, spacious interior, and refined ride makes it ideal for long journeys, especially with family or gear.
How does the Mercedes GLB 220d 4MATIC compare to the GLC?
The GLB is slightly shorter but more spacious due to its upright design. It’s also more affordable and practical, especially with the optional third row.
Is the diesel engine noisy in Mercedes GLB 220d 4MATIC?
Surprisingly, no. Mercedes has refined this engine to the point where it’s quieter than many petrol engines, especially on the highway.
