It’s not often that I have the opportunity to explore the capabilities of my review car on track before my real world test but with the aforementioned Mercedes-Benz GLB 35 AMG 4MATIC, this was certainly the case. Having spent time with the car on the race track at Mercedes’ Driving Event earlier in 2024, my memories are of it being overshadowed by sharper, quicker vehicles like the GLA 45S AMG and GLC 63S AMG. This left me wondering why Mercedes had bothered with the GLB 35 AMG in the first place!
Having received the GLB 35 AMG as my review vehicle over the Christmas holidays, I sought to answer my earlier question. Confident that I had explored the car’s performance on the track, I figured a family road trip would give the GLB a chance to redeem itself and perhaps enlighten me with its purpose within the Mercedes-AMG range.
Let’s address the elephant in the room first, this is not a proper AMG vehicle despite what the badge says. Its engine does not follow the ‘one man, one engine’ philosophy and is not signed off by an AMG engineer. Additionally, if my eyes are not deceiving me, the car’s VIN plate says it was made in Mexico which is not a German province last time I checked. Two factors that will undoubtedly hurt its resale prospects in future.
That aside, let’s go back to the car. In today’s SUV filled world, the GLB is a unicorn in the way that it is unashamedly boxy which I like. It doesn’t hide the fact that it’s a seven seater compact SUV, instead it owns that in the best possible way, using its design to its advantage as you will see shortly. Dave tells me it’s a true seven-seater too as he’s had a six foot plus goal keeper in the third row with no complaints!
On my Cambridge/Waikato road trip, I spotted a handful of GLBs, their distinctive design makes them a rather easy vehicle to pick out on the road. The 35 AMG badge however, adds a few tricks to improve both the handling abilities of the car as well as its literal stance on the road. At the front, AMG’s signature Panamericana grille and Affalterbach crest set this car apart from the traffic. A wider body and turbo badges on the side further tease some of its performance credentials. Walk around the back and the twin chrome exhaust outlets, rear diffuser (“AMG rear apron”), lip spoiler and badging make known to all that this is not an ordinary GLB.
Performance might be top of mind to the engineers when developing a Mercedes-AMG vehicle but to most consumers, status is the priority. Undeniably, the AMG badge gives the GLB plenty of kudos in that department. Even in 2024/2025, the Tri-Star badge catches the eye of many while the AMG tag makes the difference between a glance and a gawk. While I may have questioned this GLB’s AMG credentials before, I cannot deny that those three letters gifted me plenty of ‘street cred’ while on the road, it’s difficult to put a price on that feeling.
Cosmos Black paint is a standard option as part of the $119,499.95 price tag but I can’t help but feel that the GLB 35’s lines would be favoured by a lighter colour and there’s a few to choose from in that department. ‘High-tech Silver’ and ‘Polar White’ are natural choices but my fondness of colours means I would specify my car in the superb ‘Spectral Blue’ or ‘Patagonia Red’ although they are optional extras! Upgraded wheels etc are available too as is customary with AMG vehicles but there’s plenty to be had as standard.
For reference, the ‘AMG Line’, ‘AMG Night Package’, ‘Premium Plus Package’, ‘KEYLESS-GO Package’, ‘MBUX Navigation Premium’, ‘Mirror Package’, ‘Parking Package’, ‘AMG Leather Package’, ‘Drive Assistance Package’, ‘GUARD 360 Vehicle protection Plus’ are all included in the price, need I say more?
The extensive list of luxury and performance accessories continue into the interior. Being first greeted by illuminated AMG sills, a thunk of the door will see the two screens display a red AMG graphic while a heartbeat like sound plays through the Burmester audio system. As I said before, it feels special and that’s an important part of the AMG badge, credibility aside. Quality is as you would expect from a Mercedes, the cabin lacks any rattles or squeaks, even when driving over rougher road surfaces, I found the atmosphere to be rather quiet most times.
Twin MBUX powered screens ensure that there’s not just plenty of data on display for the occupants but also personalization. The ambient LED lighting is well done with a generous palette to choose from. A dual sunroof helps flood the cabin with light, although I did find the roller blind to be a bit insufficient at times when attempting to block out New Zealand’s infamously harsh summer sun. While I’m sharing my gripes, the touch capacitive steering buttons can be a bit fiddly when trying to skip songs but all is forgotten when you turn the rotary dial from ‘C’ (Comfort) to ‘S’ (Sport) ‘S+’ (Sport Plus), even better!
In Sport Plus, the GLB 35 AMG delivers what you would expect from a car graced by the famous badge. The engine has plenty of punch both down low and up top, I found it rather effortless to overtake even in sixth gear if the incline allowed. Stick the car into cruise control on the 110kph signposted Expressway and the GLB will drop into 8th gear, its EQ-Boost mild-hybrid system ensuring that fuel is used efficiently. Overall, I averaged 9.1L/100km during my 850km usage of the car but can see how the figures will improve greatly if highway driving is favoured, it averages in the fives when you do!
Unbelievably, I find myself talking about efficiency figures in an AMG car but funnily enough, ‘Comfort’ mode offers more than enough performance for everyday driving. Unleashing the racier modes opens up the 225kW of power (306hp) and sharpens up shifts from the 8G-DCT gearbox, the ‘AMG RIDE CONTROL’ suspension also stiffens up, all of this allows for a brisk 0-100 time of 5.5s. Even more impressive though is the way the GLB 35 AMG handles, it was genuinely fun through the twisty back roads, encouraging me to push the car without my passengers bringing their last meals up! In ‘Sport Plus’, the dual clutch gearbox’s pops were pronounced, so was the engine note, who cares if it’s piped in, it sounded good and brought a smile to all occupants’ faces.
It was in the above where I found the correct perspective from which to view the GLB 35 AMG. It isn’t a track machine although its brakes may suggest otherwise, the GLB 35 is far more at home on a twisty back road and funnily enough, equally so on a long motorway drive.
The Verdict
It may not be a proper AMG but that is its strength as much as it is its weakness. The GLB 35 AMG excels in real world scenarios with a powerful drivetrain, confident handling and a comfortable ride as well as being plentifully practical. However, it lacks the sheer punch and responsiveness that comes with the 45 AMG badge and will certainly struggle on a track day but for everyday usability, this is the AMG you want.
In fact, its balance of usability, comfort and performance has earned it the highest accolade in my books. The GLB 35 AMG joins a very exclusive list of cars that I have reviewed and would actually buy!
2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB 35 AMG 4MATIC: 5/5
Thanks for reading! For more Mercedes news and reviews, visit Tarmac Life.
Words and pictures by Matthew D’Souza. Car courtesy of Mercedes-Benz New Zealand, thanks Jenni!
