Ranked #107 car in the UK · SUV · 3,756 units sold last year

Mercedes-Benz GLB

The Mercedes GLB (2020 on) is the boxy, practical compact SUV - notable for offering seven seats in a small footprint, a rarity in the premium class. UK cars are petrol, diesel and a GLB250e plug-in hybrid. Its upright shape maximises space and headroom, making it the sensible, family-friendly choice among Mercedes' smaller SUVs - more van-of-the-people practical than its swoopier GLA and GLC siblings.

Mercedes-Benz GLB
Photo: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Body
SUV
Years
2018–2026
Fuel
Petrol / Diesel / Plug-in Hybrid
Economy
42 mpg

combined

Insurance
Group 30

The short version

57/100

Forecourt score

Value 43 · Reliability 88 · Insurance 22

The Mercedes-Benz GLB holds its value about averagely and is dearer to run than most. Its MOT-based reliability is excellent, 86 out of 100, ahead of 88% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 43% of models.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20). Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Fuel

Petrol · 1332cc

Power

163 ps

Drivetrain

FWD

Cam drive

Chain

Quoted MPG

41 mpg

The volume GLB. 1.3L turbo, 163 PS, 7-speed DCT, FWD. 9.1s 0-62. 41+ mpg achievable. 7-seat standard. AMG Line — 18-inch wheels, leather. Rare premium compact 7-seater.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

2023
20182026
28,155 mi
0Expected: 28,155180k
good
PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

How we got this number — click for the breakdown, or to challenge it.

£24,100

Range £19,750£28,900

medium confidence

When new (2023)£41,000Age-based value£25,830Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region-£24Market calibration-£156Forecourt price£25,650Private sale£22,550Part-exchange£19,850
Buythis 3-year-old

Past the steep drop — most of the depreciation is behind it.

At 28,155 miles it’s about the ~28,556 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

£

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration Mercedes-Benz GLB loses value over time.

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 28,155 miles you entered above — worth about £24,100 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 9,385 miles a year.

5-year total

£23,045

Per year

£4,609

All-in per mile

£0.49

Fuel per mile

16.6p

If a company carAround £561/mo Benefit-in-Kind tax at the 40% rate (£281/mo at 20%) — 37% band

Depreciation£4,916
Fuel / energy£7,784
Servicing£2,570
Road tax£975
Insurance£6,800

If you're a company-car driver

At 37% BIK, a 40% taxpayer would pay about £561/month in company-car tax (£281/month at 20%) — on top of the running costs above. Full BIK table below for context.

Best age to buy — around 4 years

A 4-year-old example loses roughly £2,500 a year — under half the £8,000 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 43%
Reliabilitybetter than 88%
Fuel economybetter than 43%
Cheap to insurebetter than 22%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

GLB 200 / 220d (volume)

Rare premium compact 7-seater. Cross-shop BMW X1 (no 7-seat option), Audi Q3 (no 7-seat), Kia Sorento (cheaper, more space). The GLB earns its place via 7-seat configuration in compact premium SUV size.

New price
£45,000
Annual fuel / energy
£1,700
3-yr depreciation
49%

Watch for

  • ·MBUX freezes on early units (improved)
  • ·7-seat third row tight for adults
  • ·Limited UK demand — Kia EV9 / Sorento eat into this market

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 22/06/2026) · Petrol 153.3p/L, Diesel 172.5p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 30 of 50 (upper-mid — pricier to insure) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

3 years
0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+
Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£1,360/ year

Roughly £113 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.
Age bandLower riskTypicalHigher risk
Age 17-25£3,101£3,876£5,039
Age 26-32£1,618£1,904£2,323
Age 33-39Selected£1,197£1,360£1,605
Age 40-49£1,016£1,129£1,309
Age 50+£906£1,006£1,188

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

9,385 mi/yr
2,000UK avg for this model: 9,38530,000

Routine service

£290

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£280

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£195

Standard rate, post year-one

Fuel

£1,550

42 mpg, £1.49/L

Insurance

£1,360

Age 33-39, group 30

Clean-air zones

ULEZ compliant
  • All petrol variants meet Euro 4 standards and are ULEZ compliant.
  • All diesel variants meet Euro 6 standards and are ULEZ compliant.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£3,675 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£120

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£360

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£780

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£1,350

per year · high risk

Tyres

215/65 R17 · 235/55 R18 · 235/50 R19

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.

Budget

£400

set of 4, fitted · £85 per tyre

Mid-range

£580

set of 4, fitted · £130 per tyre

Premium

£840

set of 4, fitted · £195 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

OptionNew costAdded used valueReturn

Tow bar (factory-fit)

Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.

£650£45069%

Parking sensors & reversing camera

Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.

£500£30060%

Heated seats / cold-weather pack

£450£20044%

Adaptive / matrix LED headlights

£900£40044%

Metallic or premium paint

Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.

£600£20033%

Panoramic / opening roof

£1,100£35032%

Advanced driver-assistance pack

£1,500£45030%

Larger alloy wheels

£700£20029%

Premium sound system

£800£20025%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 28,155 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 6.9% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 44,207 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at 60k-100k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 3.7% of MOT tests 60k-100k miles — from 44,207 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at 60k-100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 1.7% of MOT tests 60k-100k miles — from 44,207 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Seat belts & restraintsUpcoming

Typical at 60k-100k milesCost £80-£250low severityParts high

Recorded in 0.8% of MOT tests 60k-100k miles — from 44,207 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

ElectricalUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £60-£400low severityParts high

Recorded in 1.5% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 44,207 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at 60k-100k milesCost £150-£450low severityParts high

Recorded in 1.0% of MOT tests 60k-100k miles — from 44,207 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

Safety rating

Euro NCAP's independent crash-test rating for the Mercedes-Benz GLB, from its 2019 assessment.

5/5
TEST YEAR2019
Rating expired (test protocol superseded)

The passenger compartment of the GLB remained stable in the frontal offset test.

Independent crash-test data from Euro NCAP. Star ratings reflect the test protocol of the year shown — newer protocols are stricter, so a 5-star from 2024 represents a higher bar than a 5-star from 2014.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 45,307 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

A 3-year-old GLB passes its MOT 91.3% of the time; by 6 years that has slipped to 87.5%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

Not enough older examples yet to gauge longevity.

Survival by registration year

25%50%75%100%20202026

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

What’s on the road

The fuel-type split of every GLB currently MOT’d in the UK. From 27,363 vehicles.

  • Petrol 42.5%
  • Diesel 29.5%
  • Hybrid 26.3%
  • Electric 1.5%

Common MOT failures by mileage

The defect categories this GLB fails on most often, and how the failure rate climbs as the miles add up — from the same DVSA test records.

Category0-30k30-60k60-100k100k+
Tyres & wheels3%5%6%7%
Brakes1%2%4%2%
Driver's view1%2%
Seat belts & restraints1%1%
Electrical1%
Suspension1%1%

Share of MOT tests in each mileage band with at least one defect in that category. The peak band for each is highlighted.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a GLB at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

  • 0 yr2,852
  • 1 yr20,941
  • 2 yr26,502
  • 3 yr28,556
  • 4 yr36,555
  • 5 yr44,779
  • 6 yr53,027

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records (ages with at least 10 tests shown).

Reliability

86/ 100

Excellent

Composite of MOT pass rate, defect prevalence and cohort survival from 44,207 tests — high confidence.

MOT outlook · age 5 years

89%first-time pass rate

85th percentileBetter than most comparable cars

Based on 4,616 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data

Where this car sits in the catalogue

0%50%90%

Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models

Things owners say

  • 01The third row is genuinely useful for children - a key reason to choose the GLB over a GLA.
  • 02The 200d diesel suits high miles; the 250e PHEV lowers BIK if charged regularly.
  • 03The upright body gives excellent headroom and a square boot - practicality is its strongest card.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Mercedes-Benz GLB, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Higher

Desirable SUVs like this are relay-theft targets — keyless entry can be exploited from the driveway in under a minute.

Parts theft

Higher

Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.

Worth doing

  • Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
  • A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.
  • A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a Mercedes-Benz GLB into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

CityAreaDaily chargeLikely outcome
LondonAll of Greater London (within the M25)£12.50
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
BirminghamInside the A4540 Middleway£8.00
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
BristolCity centre and part of the Portway£9.00
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
GlasgowCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
EdinburghCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
AberdeenCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
DundeeCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.

Zones that don't charge private cars

  • BathCity centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
  • BradfordOuter ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
  • SheffieldInside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
  • Newcastle & GatesheadCity centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
  • PortsmouthPart of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

Company car tax

What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this Mercedes-Benz GLB as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 170 g/km, using £45,500 as the P11D value.

Tax yearBIK %Tax @ 20%Tax @ 40%Monthly @ 20%Monthly @ 40%
2025-2637%£3,367£6,734£281£561
2026-2737%£3,367£6,734£281£561
2027-2838%£3,458£6,916£288£576
2028-2939%£3,549£7,098£296£592
2029-3039%£3,549£7,098£296£592

P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported Mercedes-Benz is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~125

Large network

Premium mainstream

Network size relative to the UK's largest (Mercedes-Benz is 2.8% of all franchised outlets)

Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

Length

4,600 mm

Width

1,880 mm

Height

1,650 mm

Kerb weight

1,750 kg

Boot

500–1,600 L

Fuel tank

60 L

How many are still out there

Of every Mercedes-Benz GLB ever registered in the UK, this is what's actively on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, or gone for good.

Total ever registered

23,288

Currently taxed & on road

22,654

97% of all registered

SORN (off road)

634

3% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

0

UK fleet trend — 2020 to 2025

+17% vs 2024
3,33922,654

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 1 Jul 2026

Common questions

Mercedes-Benz GLB, answered

Is the Mercedes-Benz GLB ULEZ compliant?
Most petrol Mercedes-Benz GLBs from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
What insurance group is the Mercedes-Benz GLB in?
The Mercedes-Benz GLB sits in insurance group 30 of 50. Your actual premium still depends on age, postcode, annual mileage and no-claims history.
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLB reliable?
Our reliability score for the Mercedes-Benz GLB is 86 out of 100 (excellent), derived from DVSA MOT records, with a first-time MOT pass rate of about 89% at the reference age.
What economy does the Mercedes-Benz GLB get?
Expect roughly around 42 mpg combined for a typical Mercedes-Benz GLB, based on official figures and our running-cost model. Real-world figures vary with driving style, load and conditions.
What are the common problems on the Mercedes-Benz GLB?
On the Mercedes-Benz GLB, the issues that come up most by mileage include Tyres & wheels, Brakes and Driver's view. The section above breaks down each one with its typical mileage, repair cost and severity.
How many Mercedes-Benz GLBs are on UK roads?
About 22,654 Mercedes-Benz GLBs are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Same underpinnings

Built on the Mercedes MFA2 platform

Mercedes' front-wheel-drive platform underpinning compact cars and CUVs. Different badges, often substantially different residuals, but broadly the same mechanicals and repair cost profile.

Mercedes Modular Front Architecture 2 · Mercedes-Benz

Common questions

Mercedes-Benz GLB, answered from the data

Is the Mercedes-Benz GLB reliable?
The Mercedes-Benz GLB scores 86/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 85% of the cars we track. That is computed from 45,307 real DVSA MOT test results.
How much does a used Mercedes-Benz GLB cost?
A 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB with around 28,155 miles is worth roughly £24,100 today (typical range £21,100–£27,150). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the Mercedes-Benz GLB depreciate?
A new Mercedes-Benz GLB typically loses about 37% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the Mercedes-Benz GLB?
The Mercedes-Benz GLB sits in insurance group 30 of 50 — the middle of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used Mercedes-Benz GLB?
The most common age-related issues we track for the Mercedes-Benz GLB are: tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right); brakes (typically around 60k-100k miles, £150-£500 to put right); driver's view (typically around 60k-100k miles, £60-£300 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the Mercedes-Benz GLB cost to run?
Expect around 42 mpg combined, £195 a year in road tax, about £290 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.

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