Seven's Company

Mercedes-Benz’ newest SUV is being evaluated for an India launch in 2020 and the big news is that it is a seven-seater

- Afzal Rawuther

CONTINUING ITS SUV PRODUCT offensive, Mercedes-Benz has revealed the GLB and the brand is seriously evaluating an Indian launch! Based on the GLA’s MFA2 platform, the ‘compact SUV’, as Mercedes-Benz likes to call it, is the only SUV in the price range from a luxury brand to offer a seven-seat option.

The SUV fits into the current Mercedes-Benz line-up, with design inspirations borrowed from members of the family itself. It looks similar to the new GLS, especially from the front, with its muscular, athletic stance. The GLB is only ten centimetres longer than the new B-Class and is thus compact for a luxury SUV, at 4634mm long, 1834mm wide and 1658mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2829mm. The tall front end, squared-off wheel arches and bulky proportions accentuate the brawny appeal of the SUV.

The biggest talking point is that it can be configured to have a third row which provides two additional seats making it a seven-seater. That could be a huge draw for Indian customers.