The second-generation 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLB has celebrated its world premiere and the brand new mid-size luxury SUV offers more interior space, a redesigned design, a fancy superscreen user interface and impressive fuel consumption and range figures for the petrol and electric variants.
The German automaker also promises improvements in driving dynamics and refinement, as the new-generation GLB is based on the more modern Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA), as opposed to the outdated MFA2 platform that underpins the original GLB.
Visually, the new GLB adopts the existing model’s upright stance, but the design language is entirely new and rounder, with three-pointed star motifs integrated into the headlights, taillights and grille.
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While the side profile and rear of the second-generation GLB – with its full-width taillight bar – appear better resolved than the vehicle it will replace, the newcomer’s open-mouthed face looks a bit misshapen – at least to our eyes.
The GLC’s sister model will have a lot to offer in our market, with the GLB currently one of Mercedes-Benz Australia’s least popular non-electric SUVs, finding 1099 buyers up to November this year.
In the same period, the smaller GLA recorded 3,064 sales, while the similarly sized GLC found 3,920 new homes in wagon form alone. If you include the coupe (1406), the GLC has attracted 5,326 new buyers so far this year, making it the German brand’s most popular SUV.
The new GLB will go on sale here in the fourth quarter of 2026, but Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman Jerry Stamoulis says it is too early to comment on local pricing or specifications.
The current GLB has a starting price of $72,900 before on-road costs, while its electrified EQB counterpart starts at just over $90,000. Given the higher spec and new features, expect the second-generation model to bring a slight increase in these price points.
The new generation also brings a change in nomenclature, as both petrol and electric models will carry the GLB badge, with the latter receiving the addition of “with EQ technology”.
Although still below the popular GLC, the new GLB has become significantly larger: it is 4732 mm long (+48 mm) and 1861 mm wide (+27 mm), while its wheelbase has grown to 2889 mm (+60 mm). However, at 1687 mm (-14 mm), it is slightly lower than its predecessor.
The GLB’s overtly boxy profile reflects the vehicle’s practical focus. It will again be available in five- or seven-seat configurations, with the second row of seats sliding forward to free up additional luggage space.
The highlight of the redesigned cabin is Mercedes-Benz’s latest MBUX Superscreen, which extends across the entire dashboard. Higher-spec variants come with a 10.25-inch driver display, a 14-inch central touchscreen and a further 14-inch passenger display, creating a seamless glass wall.
The MBUX system integrates Google Maps directly into the navigation and adds an AI-powered virtual assistant that can learn the driver’s preferences. Wireless phone charging, multiple USB-C ports and optional ambient lighting round out the tech upgrades.
For the most part, the new GLB’s cabin is a pleasant place to be, as we found out at a special preview event.
However, some cost savings can be seen in the hard plastic trim on the door panels and floating center console. This might put off some buyers, as even many of the emerging Chinese brands have significantly raised the bar in terms of interior quality and presentation.
At least Mercedes-Benz has taken customer feedback into account and replaced the touch-sensitive steering controls of previous models with physical rocker switches for volume and adaptive cruise control.
Even taller adults should find legroom and headroom to their liking in the second row seats (definitely more than enough for my 5’7″ height). The EV versions of the GLB offer 540/480 liters (five-seater/seven-seater) of storage space, which can be expanded to 1715/1605 liters by folding down the rear seats. In addition, the EV variants have a 127-liter trunk under the hood.
Although sales of the current GLB in Australia are heavily skewed towards petrol vehicles rather than the EQB (approximately 90:10), the second-generation model has been developed with an electric-first philosophy – obviously with the European and Chinese markets in mind, where the vehicle is a top seller.
Two battery-powered models will be offered from launch (at least in Europe): the single-engine GLB250+ and the twin-engine GLB350+ 4Matic. Both are equipped with an 85 kWh battery and Mercedes claims a range of 542-631 km for the former and 521-614 km for the latter.
Thanks to an 800-volt electrical architecture, fast DC charging is possible at up to 320 kW (which is said to offer a range of 260 km in 10 minutes). The AC charging capacity is 22 kW.
Power and torque are rated at 200kW/335Nm for the GLB250+ and 260kW/515Nm for the GLB350+ 4Matic respectively, and the result is lively performance. The claimed 0-100km/h time is 7.4 seconds for the entry-level variant and 5.5 seconds for the top model.
Under normal circumstances, only the rear electric motor provides motivation in the 4Matic, while the 80 kW front motor only kicks in when an increase in performance or additional traction is required.
Gasoline-electric hybrid variants combine a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system and an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, providing improved efficiency and smoother response, according to the manufacturer. As with the EV variants, petrol GLB buyers can choose between 2WD and 4Matic powertrains.
The new GLB is equipped with a range of driver assistance systems, including Distronic adaptive cruise control as standard in Europe. The hardware in Euro vehicles includes eight cameras, five radar sensors, twelve ultrasonic sensors and a water-cooled high-performance computer with sufficient power reserves for future functions and regular over-the-air software updates.
MORE: Discover the Mercedes-Benz GLB showroom
