Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB 2022 Review

In Malaysia's luxury compact SUV market, there are not many options that balance performance with family practicality—young family users want the premium feel brought by brand value, hope to occasionally experience driving pleasure, and also need to meet daily necessities for cargo and passenger space. The 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB 35 4MATIC precisely addresses the pain points of this niche market: it carries the performance DNA of AMG while retaining the iconic 7-seat layout of the GLB series, and its price of under 400,000 Ringgit is much more friendly than the more performance-oriented models of the same brand. In this test drive, we will focus on whether it can balance the passion of a "hot hatch" with the practicality of a "family car."

Looking first at the exterior, the design of the GLB 35 is both sporty, as expected from AMG, and maintains the ruggedness of an SUV. The front features AMG's signature vertically-slatted grille, paired with large front bumper air intakes, giving it high recognition; the side profile of the car is square-shaped, with 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels and 255/40 R20 wide tires, emphasizing its performance positioning. At the rear, the spoiler, quad exhaust outlets, and "AMG" badge quietly inform passersby that this is no ordinary GLB. The lighting system is fully equipped with LED configurations, including automatic headlights and daytime running lights, with uniform lighting effects and sufficiently wide nighttime illumination, practical and in line with the identity of a luxury car.

Stepping inside, the familiar Mercedes interior style greets you, with widespread use of soft-touch plastics and leather wrapping in materials, creating a fine texture wherever your hands touch. The center console features two 10.25-inch connected screens, with the left fully digital instrument cluster capable of showing engine parameters, four-wheel-drive status, and other performance information, while the right touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with decent operational smoothness. The steering wheel is AMG's exclusive flat-bottom design with paddle shifters, providing a solid grip; the HUD head-up display projects speed and navigation information onto the windshield, eliminating the need to look down at the dashboard while driving. The seats are power-adjustable in the front with memory functions, offering much better support and wrapping than the standard GLB, while the rear adopts a 40:20:40 split-sliding design. Although the third row doesn’t offer much space, it’s perfectly fine for accommodating two children in an emergency. In terms of storage space, the trunk has a standard capacity of 130L, which can be expanded significantly by folding down the third row—more than enough for daily grocery shopping or carrying luggage. There are also multiple cup holders and storage compartments inside the cabin, with great attention paid to details.

For performance, the 2.0T turbocharged engine delivers 306 PS and reaches maximum torque at 3000 rpm. It is paired with an 8-speed DCT transmission and 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. In normal mode, the power delivery is very smooth, with no jerks during starts, making it suitable for daily commuting. Switching to sport mode, the throttle response becomes noticeably quicker, and pressing down hard gives a strong sense of pushback. The official 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 5.2 seconds, and in actual tests, as long as you’re willing to floor the gas, overtaking feels very confident. The gearbox has a clear shifting logic, with quicker shifts in sport mode, and the paddle shifters provide a very direct feedback experience.

The handling performance is the highlight of the GLB 35. The steering wheel is precise with minimal play, and during cornering, you can clearly feel the road feedback. The suspension uses a MacPherson front suspension, which is tuned to be a bit stiffer than the standard GLB, but it does a good job of filtering bumps; on bumpy roads, the body will not experience unnecessary shakes. The four-wheel-drive system can actively distribute torque between the front and rear wheels when cornering to maintain body stability. Even at slightly higher speeds, there is no noticeable body roll. As for fuel consumption, the average fuel consumption for daily commuting is about 8.5L/100km, and it can drop below 7L on highways. Considering its performance, this fuel efficiency is quite reasonable.

In terms of driving comfort, noise control is very well done, with wind noise and tire noise being insignificant at high speeds. The seat supports well, so you won’t feel tired after long drives. The air conditioning system is dual-zone automatic, with independent vents for the rear row and air conditioning for the third row, ensuring that a family sitting in the car during the summer won’t feel hot. Safety features are very comprehensive, with seven airbags, lane-change assist, lane departure warning, and active braking all included as standard. The 360-degree panoramic camera and automatic parking function are very friendly for novice drivers.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2022 AMG GLB 35 4MATIC are very clear: it combines AMG's performance genes with the practicality of 7 seats. Its configurations are richer than similarly priced models like the BMW X1 M35i and Audi SQ2, especially features like the third-row seats and panoramic camera, which are more user-friendly for families. It is suitable for users who want both the fun of performance driving and the need for family trips—for example, young parents around 30 years old who can occasionally have some driving fun during their daily commutes and take the family out on weekends with enough space for everyone and their luggage.

Overall, the GLB 35 4MATIC is a "versatile" luxury compact SUV. It does not sacrifice practicality for performance, nor does it compromise the AMG spirit for family use. If you are looking for a luxury car that balances excitement and daily life, it is worth including on your consideration list.