Mercedes Introduces the new GLB

35 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

Not to nitpick here but if any friend asks me to sit back there, I’m going to tell them “no” and that’s being nice about it. It’s absolutely a marketing gimmick IMO when it comes to vehicles this small. 

 

About your “food flat” remark, you missed the point of my statement. If you load it full of people, third row and all, then you have no room for stuff. I see this type of nonsense all the time. People want the look but don’t think about real usability and function. That’s all I’m going to say about it because these type of vehicles are not for folks like me anyway. 

Sorry, I thought it was clear but it obviously was not.

Your kids' friend or two. 

No, I did not miss the mark. I still don't think anybody buying this is buying it for a family with 3+ kids where they will need the seats AND the maximum hatch space all at the same time to maximize capacity. 

I think the Honda CRV offers a third row option in some markets and it has done ok with it.. If they are willing to wait a few months for the build might as well offer it.. It is not for frequent use but a few times a month when you give the neighbour's kid a ride to soccer practice... Being in an urban environment, we have some friends with a kid with no car and a third row would come in handy once in a while.

Be interesting to know if that 3rd row actually eats up any of the small storage space. 🤔

As an example lets say a 2 row 5 person version has 20 cubic feet and the configuration with 3 row has 16 cubic feet. big loss.

42 minutes ago, dfelt said:

I totally agree with the 3rd row seat being a marketing gimmick and a reason why I drive an Escalade ESV Room to haul people and stuff TOGETHER!  

Hahaha well in all fairness.. that starts at  twice the price the GLB is supposed to start around.. (estimated to start between the GLA and GLC which start at 35,000 and 40,000 and the ESV starts at 78k)

7 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Be interesting to know if that 3rd row actually eats up any of the small storage space. 🤔

As an example lets say a 2 row 5 person version has 20 cubic feet and the configuration with 3 row has 16 cubic feet. big loss.

I would say it does, have to fit the seats somewhere.  The Rogue two row has 39 cubic feet of storage capacity, three row has 32... (32 is still more than many other two row compact CUV's like the Equinox, CX5 etc).

People don't buy how many seats they need, they buy how many seats they MIGHT need.  A lot of people with 1 kid will buy a 3 row SUV for the off chance their 1 kid decides to bring friends along, or the twice a year the in-laws visit and they want to put 6-7 people in a car.

76% of driving is done alone, and yet 76% of cars aren't 2-seaters.  Millenials with zero kids will buy GLB's for the "just in case" they have kids and need 7 seats one day.   

And the GLB may have a small 3rd row, but it's 3rd row is larger than the 3rd row in the Corsair, XT4, XT5, RDX, NX, X3, X2 and Q5, because none of them have one. 

30 minutes ago, frogger said:

I would say it does, have to fit the seats somewhere.  The Rogue two row has 39 cubic feet of storage capacity, three row has 32... (32 is still more than many other two row compact CUV's like the Equinox, CX5 etc).

 

 

59 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Hahaha well in all fairness.. that starts at  twice the price the GLB is supposed to start around.. (estimated to start between the GLA and GLC which start at 35,000 and 40,000 and the ESV starts at 78k)

Very true, but just saying, if you are gonna haul people and stuff, then get the right tool for the right job.  

2 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Very true, but just saying, if you are gonna haul people and stuff, then get the right tool for the right job.  

They make a GLS for that.

33 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Very true, but just saying, if you are gonna haul people and stuff, then get the right tool for the right job.  

Aaaaand that is why I(and others) have stated that this isn't for a family that takes up the 3rd row on a regular basis. 

FWIW, the non-ESV Escalade really doesn't have a whole lot of space behind the 3rd row seat either. A family of 5 likely couldn't fit all of them and their luggage for a week long road trip either.. and that's considerably larger than a GLB(or GLC or GLE, and even the GLS). 

2 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Aaaaand that is why I(and others) have stated that this isn't for a family that takes up the 3rd row on a regular basis. 

FWIW, the non-ESV Escalade really doesn't have a whole lot of space behind the 3rd row seat either. A family of 5 likely couldn't fit all of them and their luggage for a week long road trip either.. and that's considerably larger than a GLB(or GLC or GLE, and even the GLS). 

Yup and that is why I got the ESV over the regular.  

Just now, dfelt said:

Yup and that is why I got the ESV over the regular.  

Also, just having an Escalade will get each human a considerable amount more room than a GLB.. pretty obvious but I feel like I should state I do acknowledge that.

Maybe one day I will be comfortable driving something that large but as of now I would absolutely hate having something that massive. I understand their purpose and why people do like them but I would hate it so much, at this point in my life.

1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

People don't buy how many seats they need, they buy how many seats they MIGHT need.  A lot of people with 1 kid will buy a 3 row SUV for the off chance their 1 kid decides to bring friends along, or the twice a year the in-laws visit and they want to put 6-7 people in a car.

Exactly the reason we got MDX for my wife and why we probably will get another one this year.  We have two kids and 95% of the time drive with third row down, but occasionally need the third row when we drive short distance with parents or our kids friends.

For camping or other trips I also have a roof basket for all the extra crap.

If we had 3 or more kids though, I would get either a minivan or large size SUV, like Expedition.

1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

Also, just having an Escalade will get each human a considerable amount more room than a GLB.. pretty obvious but I feel like I should state I do acknowledge that.

Maybe one day I will be comfortable driving something that large but as of now I would absolutely hate having something that massive. I understand their purpose and why people do like them but I would hate it so much, at this point in my life.

I can totally respect and understand the feeling about the full size SUVs, yet once my wife was scared of them, but after driving one, she realized they turned and drove as easy as any mid size car. Now sitting up high and having all that space, she cannot see driving anything else.

Have you ever taken one for a test drive? If not, you should it is a fun experience.

4 hours ago, ccap41 said:

Sorry, I thought it was clear but it obviously was not.

Your kids' friend or two. 

No, I did not miss the mark. I still don't think anybody buying this is buying it for a family with 3+ kids where they will need the seats AND the maximum hatch space all at the same time to maximize capacity. 

So when parents haul around a bunch of kids that requires the use of the third row of seats, cargo space is not important? That’s what I’m getting at. These smaller CUVs provide this “carry all the kids” gimmick (because no reasonable adult will sit back there) while sacrificing all the cargo space that comes with it. It is just dumb and most dealers count on folks not bearing that kind of thing in mind. If you even think you’re going to need to haul five or six kids around (while not wanting to drive a behemoth Suburban), there are these things called minivans that will carry all of those kids and your stuff oh but they’ve become “passé” so lord knows Janie soccer mom can’t be seen in an Odyssey or a Pacifica. Got to have that look Even is function be damned. 

On 6/11/2019 at 12:45 PM, balthazar said:

WTH is mercedes doing down in this segment?

making bank

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

I can totally respect and understand the feeling about the full size SUVs, yet once my wife was scared of them, but after driving one, she realized they turned and drove as easy as any mid size car. Now sitting up high and having all that space, she cannot see driving anything else.

Have you ever taken one for a test drive? If not, you should it is a fun experience.

Agreed. The Tahoe is so easy to drive for a vehicle it’s size. I imagine the new Expedition is even better given the recent accolades. 

3 hours ago, ccap41 said:

 

That pic sums up my point very nicely. Okay, so you got all the kids in there but where does the stuff go (because that kind of kid hauling usually involves stuff hauling). 

I know I am just stating a personal preference and if someone wants the useless third row, it’s a free country. It’s just a half baked concept to me, that’s all. 

I would also agree. Lexus has been promoting the RX350L with third-row seating.  They should simply make a new model designed for three rows and storage, like the new Cadillac XT6.

12 minutes ago, riviera74 said:

I would also agree. Lexus has been promoting the RX350L with third-row seating.  They should simply make a new model designed for three rows and storage, like the new Cadillac XT6.

Well, they already have the GX w/ 3 rows..but it's a BOF oldie and the RX350L is 5 inches longer...wonder how they compare in interior space.   The GX and LX have the same short 112.2 inch wheelbase.  I'm surprised they haven't done a Lexus version of the Seq, but it's old also. 

15 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

So when parents haul around a bunch of kids that requires the use of the third row of seats, cargo space is not important? That’s what I’m getting at. These smaller CUVs provide this “carry all the kids” gimmick (because no reasonable adult will sit back there) while sacrificing all the cargo space that comes with it. It is just dumb and most dealers count on folks not bearing that kind of thing in mind. If you even think you’re going to need to haul five or six kids around (while not wanting to drive a behemoth Suburban), there are these things called minivans that will carry all of those kids and your stuff oh but they’ve become “passé” so lord knows Janie soccer mom can’t be seen in an Odyssey or a Pacifica. Got to have that look Even is function be damned. 

Luckily, the third row folds flat so it's only another option for the user. 

Nobody wants to drive a minivan, don't kid yourself. 

31 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Luckily, the third row folds flat so it's only another option for the user. 

Nobody wants to drive a minivan, don't kid yourself. 

Explains why minivan sales have been tanking for a decade.

Part of the reason mercedes’ minivan failed.