04:52AM - 07.05.'14
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News Source: autoblog.com
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Mercedes-Benz has made reviewing the B-Class Electric Drive pretty darn easy. They included the grade the car deserves right in the name: A nice, solid B. For an electric car in today's climate, that's actually pretty high praise. No, this car does not represent the crowning achievement of alternative-fuel engineering that we've been waiting for since Robert Davidson started tinkering with electric motors back in the mid-1800s. But it does further the case that electric cars don't have to be frumpy, stripped-down plastic cases on wheels. Tesla and BMW have helped to make tremendous strides in the public perception of EVs, employing striking design and athletic driving dynamics to make them cool, sexy and sporty. Mercedes-Benz, with the B-Class, has now added the weight of its three-pointed star to this emerging trend. We recently took the B-Class Electric Drive for a spin around Silicon Valley – an appropriate location, as the German automaker collaborated with and took inspiration from numerous tech giants whose sprawling campuses adorn the landscape. While we weren't left with mouths agape after our time behind the wheel, we feel confident in saying that while the B-Class Electric Drive isn't for everyone, those looking to add a luxurious and versatile EV to their existing stable will be quite impressed with what it has to offer, despite a few noticeable flaws. According to Mercedes-Benz, the B-Class Electric Drive is for people that are both looking for a second or third car for short commutes and errands, and employ a "California mindset." What's that, you ask? Apparently, it means you're eco-conscious, active, like to drive (or, more accurately, sit in traffic) and, logically, can afford more than one Benz. This, as you can imagine, is a somewhat small group of potential buyers. The B-Class Electric Drive is almost identical to the conventionally powered B-Class, which you can find all over the roads in Europe. The car also shares 85 percent of its architecture with the CLA-Class and forthcoming GLA-Class. The big differentiation with this car is obviously the powertrain. Developed exclusively for this vehicle by Tesla Motors, the B-Class Electric Drive employs a California-built, 28-kWh lithium-ion battery that sends juice to a 177-horsepower electric motor. More on this in a bit. Aesthetically, it doesn't get much more Euro than this. The B-Class Electric Drive mimics almost everything from the gas-powered variant's design, including the overall egg shape, big rear hatch, high roof and understated (by M-B standards, at least) grille. The only noticeable difference is that the Electric Drive sits about an inch higher off the ground, courtesy of slightly taller sidewall on the tires and taller springs. To those unfamiliar with Mercedes' offerings outside North America, the car could certainly invoke a double-take, as it looks absolutely nothing like the automaker's current line of sleek, planted sedans and coupes. It's more akin to a Honda Fit than a C-Class. That's not to say that the car is unattractive, of course. We rather like its bubbly look, especially because it places an emphasis on function, using the car's shape to minimize drag and also treat its occupants to loads of interior space. It's a bit bland, yes, but not ugly. Mercedes got creative with some of the paint jobs on the B-Class Electric Drive. Our tester, for instance, was coated in a sharp electric blue, similar to Volvo's Polestar hue, with contrasting white accents on the headlights and grille. Other color combos are available, as well, such as a white body with blue grille and mirrors, and a silver body with chrome accents. We're not big fans of the wheels, which look like the plasticky rollers found on an old Power Wheels toy, but we were told that these aren't going to be the only options. The car we drove was still pre-production, and more attractive wheels are supposedly on the way. Inside, the airy cabin is plush, roomy, clean and super quiet, with very little noise from wind, the road or the whine of the motor. The seats are comfortable and most of the materials feel premium and soft, though hard plastics are present on the center console. We love the bold circular chrome air vents that Mercedes has been putting in its vehicles, especially the three in a row found directly below the infotainment screen. The wood strip on the dash doesn't really go with the overall aesthetic of the interior. Though it is real wood, it appears synthetic at first glance and it clashes with the more metallic, modern character of the rest of the cabin. Wood often gives an interior a more luxurious, stately feel, but it seems out of place here. Most everything is ergonomically located and easy to find, with the exception of the infotainment's scroll wheel, which is placed too far back on the armrest for those that have longer arms. It forces some drivers to awkwardly emulate a T-Rex while trying to browse through the radio stations. The B-Class comes with an insane amount of headroom, and legroom and shoulder room are quite good, too. The floor is raised slightly in the rear seats – about 1.14 inches – in order to accommodate for the battery underneath, but even your tallest friends should be comfortable if they were a bit too slow on the shotgun call. Since the battery makes its home underneath the vehicle, the trunk doesn't suffer its intrusions the way it does with other EVs. Cargo space is rated at 23.5 cubic feet, allowing for the transport of big-ticket items such as golf bags and large suitcases with ease. |
