Which Mercedes-Benz B-Class is better: diesel or petrol?

When considering a luxury mini-MPV, one is bereft of options. The MPV boom has come and gone. These days, people prefer medium and large SUVs to fulfil the role of the spacious family carrier. Mercedes-Benz, filler of every niche, believes the small-to-medium multi-purpose vehicle still deserves a place in its stable.

 

Mercedes-Benz might be onto something, because the bodyshell of the B-Class allows for generous interior space, without looking bloated. This is something Volkswagen couldn’t pull off with the Golf SV, which was discontinued some time ago.

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class presents the opportunity to carry five plus luggage in luxury and style. In its latest rendition, Mercedes has made the B-Class a simpler option to buy in South Africa, as it only comes in two flavours: the B200 and B200d. Yes, just one petrol and one diesel variant. 

With only the fuel source distinguishing these two cars, we take a closer look at the respective B200 and B200d engines to determine which is better.

Related: Mercedes-Benz B-Class “virtual” test drive. Top 6 things you need to know

 

 The Mercedes-Benz B200d

The four-cylinder, 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel engine of the B200d produces 110 kW and 320 Nm. Partnered with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), the B200d gives spirited performance coupled with diesel efficiency. With a claimed average consumption figure of 4.5 l/100km and a sprint time of 8.3 seconds from 0 to 100km/h, the au pair will be able to make the school run (while running late) without stress – neither on the Merc nor its occupants. 

With a starting price of R567 000, it’s a comprehensive package when considering luxury, comfort, practicality and safety. 

 

The Mercedes-Benz B200

The latest in engine technology ushers the B200’s 1.3-litre turbo in, with a lovely surprise. Producing 120 kW and 250 Nm, while only consuming a claimed 5.6 l/100km, and accelerating from 0-100km/h in 8.2 seconds when needed, it almost seems like a miracle. The B200 – with its with seven-speed DCT – outperforms the diesel variant in nearly every category, except fuel consumption. 

Pricing starts at R535 000, which saves R32 000 on the diesel version. Offering the same luxury, comfort, practicality and safety as the B200d, Merc has not made it easy to choose between the two.

 

The verdict

Choosing between petrol and diesel engines has long been associated with a list of pros and cons. However, petrol engines have made remarkable progress in fuel-efficiency, while turbo-diesel engines have become reliable and thus cheaper to maintain. Mercedes-Benz also uses innovations like BlueTec with AdBlue to limit harmful emissions. On the surface, the B200d engine seems cleaner, emitting just 117 g/km of CO², compared to the B200’s 131 g/km. But this doesn’t take the harmful particles from burnt diesel into account, even if the engine in question is highly advanced. 

For most buyers, choosing between the B200 and B200d will be a matter of perception. Advantages that diesel cars have held over their petrol counterparts, mainly in-gear acceleration and lower fuel consumption, are less pronounced than they used to be. This is because turbo-chargers have become commonplace in petrol cars and forced induction (from a turbo or supercharger) develops ample torque, even at low revs. 

Even though diesel fuel might be a little cheaper and give more miles, the R32 000 saving in buying the B200 will largely make up for the fuel-price difference. At R15 for a litre, you can buy 2 133 litres of petrol with R32 000. At consumption of 7.5 l/100km, a car can travel 28 440 km. This means it makes financial sense to buy the B200, unless you plan on driving interstellar distances every year.

To put it simply, we would go for the B200. 

 

Recommended next:

10 Reasons why the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class is better than the old one