How is the quality and layout?

We were impressed by its interior from the moment we jumped behind the wheel. For one, it doesn’t feel like you’re sitting on top of the seat looking down on everything as it does with more traditional MPVs. That in part is down to sharing its dashboard with the A-Class hatchback, and as such it looks suitably upmarket and modern.

There are nice squashy plastics on the top of the dash and smart bits of piano black or aluminium-look trim; however, move your eye-line downwards and there are rather more inexpensive bits of cheap plastic, especially on the door bins. We found that even the climate control buttons felt cheap when we touched them, but the vents are attractive with a turbine design. A BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, feels better screwed together.

At least you get physical controls for the heating, drive modes, stereo volume and a button to bring up the parking-assistance systems. Pretty much everything else is controlled by the touchscreen we’ll come onto below, and touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel. These prove far fiddlier than conventional buttons and scroll wheels, and are easier to press by accident when you’re turning the steering wheel.

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Infotainment and tech

The twin 10.25-inch digital screens are easy to read with sharp graphics, but they are susceptible to glare. The driver’s display can show traditional dials with trip data, music choice, satnav maps and other info in the middle, or a selection of other styles. These are arguably harder to read, while scrolling through the system’s menu is made harder by the touch-sensitive control on the steering wheel you have to use.

There are also touch-sensitive icons for the cruise control, stereo and for the main infotainment screen, making for a busy wheel that’s tricky to operate by touch alone. The main touchscreen is responsive with logical menus and most icons are large enough to press with ease. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included as standard, as is satnav.

The heating control buttons are set low on the dashboard, and the digits for the temperature are on the infotainment screen, meaning you can’t quickly look at what the temperature is set to. Not ideal. Plus the fan setting button is a bit of a stretch for the driver. Thankfully Mercedes’ MBUX voice control system is very good and capable of many functions. Just don’t say ‘Mercedes’ in the car, that’s usually enough to set it off.

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Comfort

• Front seats firm but supportive
• Heated on all models, electrically adjustable on top-spec
• Manual seat controls fiddly

Comfort should be one of the B-Class’s best areas, and to a degree Mercedes has succeeded. The seats in the front offer a good amount of adjustment and visibility is good, however some may find them too firm, and examples with manual controls can be fiddly to adjust to the perfect driving position.

However, extendable seat bases mean there’s more support for your legs, and if you spend extra on the electric seats there’s an extra degree of adjustability.