BUTCHERS’ BENZES

Hey, can we talk? You, the car enthusiast who devours MotorTrend for the high-end stuff. And you, too, the retail-ready shopper who comes to us for practical buying advice. You both have lots of questions about the new Mercedes-Benz GLB crossover. But what you really want to know is, simply: Is it any good?

Let me respond just as simply: Yes, it is.

The enthusiast wants to know if it’s Mercedes, one worthy of a three-pointed star among stalwarts like the GLS, GLE, and our 2017 SUV of the Year, the GLC. Does it drive like a Mercedes despite its front-drive underpinnings? Meanwhile, smart shoppers want to know if it feels like a Mercedes inside, if it’s a good value, and whether there’s space for all their needs.