SECOND HAND SENSE: THE MERCEDES B-Class seems to run four-wheel-drives a fairly close second as a desired vehicle on suburban school runs these days. The B-Class does, after all, offer a certain cachet that your average Seat Alhambra or Opel Zafira doesn't - even if it is not as versatile as the latter, writes Donal Byrne
Developed from the very clever A-Class, the B offers a bigger option with generous boot space. It doesn't have much of a profile, but it does have a more comfortable and luxurious feel.
The car comes with a choice of engines and the 1.5-litre petrol is probably the most popular option. It is not a fast car - it takes more than 13 seconds to get from 0 to 100km/h - but then the B-Class is not really for sporty driving. The idea seems to be to provide sedate and practical motoring with a touch of luxury.
However, your average Ford Focus C-Max provides a better overall choice, without the price premium of a Mercedes badge.The other preferred engine choice is the 1.7-litre diesel, which would be better for higher mileage, but as the B-Class is targeted at a suburban market the initial extra cost won't be justifiable for many.
For what it is designed to do, the B-Class is a pleasant choice. Depending on the level of equipment, you can actually get the feel of a luxury car. It is also probably more technically advanced than some of its competitors, especially in safety terms.
It has multiple airbags, a steer control sensor which helps you steer properly in a skid, ABS, stability programme and various other safety features, which Mercedes loaded on to its smaller cars after the disastrous introduction of the A-Class.
The car does not have a recall record for major problems but neither does it have a EuroNCAP crash test profile. However, the smaller A-Class has five stars out of five.A 2006 model with the 1.5-litre engine and with 16,000km on the clock is on offer for €17,300. A 2007 model with the same engine and 20,000km up is on offer for €27,950. Prices carry the Mercedes premium and one wonders how well they are justified by a car with a limited 1.5-litre engine?
STAR RATING: 5/10