2027 Mercedes-Benz GLB First Look: What Happens When a Small Sedan Becomes a Seven-Seat SUV?
Mercedes’ second-smallest SUV is back for another round, and while it might look similar, it’s a completely new model that has almost everything in common with the new CLA sedan. The 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLB will be offered as both an EV and a hybrid when it goes on sale in the U.S. in late 2026.
New Platform, New Car
The new GLB is the second product on the new Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA), following the new CLA. As a result, they’re basically the same car in two bodies. Like the CLA, the GLB will be offered with the aforementioned powertrains, as well as in front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive depending on the powertrain.
Again like the CLA, the GLB EV (formerly known as the EQB) will go on sale first as the rear-drive GLB250+ with EQ Technology and all-wheel-drive GLB350 4Matic with EQ Technology. The base rear-drive model will pack 268 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque and drive a two-speed automatic transmission geared for snappy performance off the line and efficiency when cruising. The all-wheel-drive model adds a 107-hp front motor and derates the rear motor to 242 hp for combined totals of 349 hp and 380 lb-ft. The front motor only activates as needed for performance and traction.
The base car will hit 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, Mercedes says, while the dual-motor all-wheel-drive model should do it in 5.4.
Mercedes-Benz estimates the GLB EV will go between 323 and 392 miles on a full charge of its 85-kWh battery, but that’s based on the more generous WLTP test cycle, so we expect official U.S. range to be a bit lower. The 800-volt battery will charge at up to 320 kW on an 800-volt charger, adding 162 miles of range in 10 minutes. Unlike the CLA, the GLB will have a DC converter built-in, allowing it to charge on older 400-volt chargers without issue. (CLA buyers will have to use a special adapter.) The charging port is the Tesla-designed NACS type, allowing the GLB to charge at Tesla Superchargers, while an adapter will allow it to plug in at CCS-type chargers.
Hybrid Comes Later
The GLB will also follow a similar rollout schedule to the CLA’s, with the Hybrid model following months after the EV hits dealers. Mercedes hasn’t released any details on this model yet, but we can make some pretty solid educated guesses.
We’re reasonably certain it’ll be the same drivetrain as the CLA, which uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four running the more efficient Miller combustion cycle coupled with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic with a 30-hp electric motor integrated into the transmission. This setup makes 208 hp and 280 lb-ft and gets the smaller sedan to 60 mph in a manufacturer-estimated 7.1 seconds. An extra clutch in the gearbox allows the engine to be disconnected for coasting or all-EV driving.
Gears can be changed manually by pushing the column shifter toward the dash for an upshift and pulling it back toward the steering wheel for a downshift.
Mercedes tells us the GLB Hybrid will be offered in both front-wheel drive and 4Matic all-wheel drive. We assume that, as in the all-wheel-drive CLA Hybrid, the all-wheel-drive GLB Hybrid will disconnect the rear axle when it’s not needed for traction or performance. Up to 40 percent of the power can be sent to the rear wheels.
All Road Ready-ish
All-wheel-drive models will come with a special Terrain driving mode to maximize traction on loose surfaces. If equipped with the optional 360-degree camera, there’s also a “transparent hood” feature that employs the center screen to show the ground under the front of the car.
Adaptive dampers are optional but require you to get the 20-inch wheels. Otherwise, 18- and 19-inch wheels are available, as well.
Similar on the Inside, Too
The GLB and CLA aren’t just the same car mechanically. They’re also very similar on the inside. You’ll recognize the big, upright dashboard from the CLA with a standard 10.25-inch instrument cluster screen and 14.0-inch center infotainment screen. The Super Screen is available in this car, too, adding a 14.0-inch passenger screen, which will automatically turn off if the driver looks at it for more than 1.3 seconds while the car is moving.
Occupants can now talk to the MBUX Virtual Assistant conversationally thanks to its AI programming, which even provides it with short-term memory. This means you can casually ask it to find you a charger or a restaurant with specific menu items rather than going through a command tree. The navigation system uses built-in Google Maps and does EV route and charge planning in the cloud.
There’s quite a bit more passenger space in the boxy GLB than the swoopy CLA, of course. In fact, there’s even more than before thanks to a 2.4-inch-longer wheelbase, improving legroom in the first and second rows. There’s also more headroom now thanks to a standard panoramic sunroof. And if you pop for the optional Sky Control version of the sunroof, you can switch it from clear to opaque in less than a second at the push of a button. At night, 158 three-pointed stars embedded in the glass light up.
As before, the GLB will offer a third row for those who want seven seats rather than five. The second-row seats now slide farther forward to make it easier to reach the way back. An average-height adult can technically fit in the third row if they slouch and don’t move their legs, but it’s best left to children.
Cargo space in the EV is 19.1 cubic feet with five seats and 17 cubic feet with the third row installed but folded. Capacity with the third seats up isn’t listed, but a large duffel bag is likely all that will fit. The EV also comes with a 4.5-cubic-foot frunk, which is larger than the one in a Tesla Model Y. Hybrid cargo space should be similar (minus the frunk), but specs haven’t been released yet.
Pricing to Come
Still a full year away, Mercedes-Benz hasn’t released U.S. pricing, so we’ll have to make another educated guess. The company has been keeping its pricing relatively consistent, so we expect only a small increase when the new model arrives. That would put the GLB EV (formerly the EQB) around $55,000 to start and the GLB Hybrid at approximately $48,000.
