Mercedes' New GLB Is Basically a Screen on Wheels
Mercedes-Benz just gave us our first look at the next-generation GLB's interior, and surprise: it's mostly screens. Big screens. Little screens. Screens that probably have screens inside them. The new compact SUV debuts December 8th, but Mercedes couldn't help teasing the cabin early, presumably because they're really proud of how many square feet of LCD they managed to cram into a small crossover.
The star of the show is the optional MBUX Superscreen, which is Mercedes-speak for "we put the dashboard from a spaceship into your grocery-getter." This setup spans the entire width of the dashboard with three displays bordered by circular air vents that look like they were borrowed from a 1960s sci-fi movie. There's a digital gauge cluster, a massive center touchscreen, and a passenger-side display for your co-pilot to control the navigation while pretending to be helpful.
Before you start complaining that your parents managed just fine with three knobs and an AM radio, Mercedes has actually listened to some customer feedback. The new steering wheel brings back physical controls for cruise control and volume, which is progress. Turns out people don't want to stab at a touchscreen while merging onto the freeway. There are also a few physical buttons below the center screen for HVAC controls, though "a few" is doing some heavy lifting there.
The GLB will come standard with five seats but offers an optional third row that bumps capacity to seven. Yes, seven people in a compact SUV. Mercedes claims there's "noticeably" more headroom and legroom, which is corporate speak for "we made it slightly less terrible than before." The third row in the outgoing GLB was suitable for small children and people you don't particularly like. Whether this new one is actually usable remains to be seen.
Speaking of features that sound cool until you see the price, the GLB comes standard with a panoramic glass roof. But wait, there's more. For extra cash, you can get an illuminated Mercedes star pattern on the roof and the ability to switch the glass from clear to opaque at the press of a button. It's like Mercedes saw Rolls-Royce's Starlight Headliner and thought, "We can do that, but make it look like a nightclub."
Mercedes has been conducting cold-weather testing in Germany, where they can simulate temperatures from -40°F to 104°F and blast the cars with snow cannons while fans create winds up to 124 mph. The company claims the new GLB heats up twice as fast as the outgoing EQB while using half the energy, thanks to a fancy heat pump that pulls warmth from the drivetrain, battery, and ambient air. If it works as advertised, that's actually impressive and could help with range anxiety during winter.
The interior design follows the same approach as the new GLC EV, which means it's familiar territory for anyone who's been in a recent Mercedes. There's a "floating" center console with wireless charging and cupholders, concave door panels with integrated storage, and enough ambient lighting to guide planes to landing. Everything looks premium and modern, which is exactly what you'd expect from a brand that charges a premium for looking modern.
The GLB EV will likely share powertrains with the CLA, offering both single- and dual-motor configurations along with a mild-hybrid gas option. Mercedes hasn't released specs yet, but if it's anything like the CLA, we're looking at decent performance and competitive range. The company is positioning this as the electric replacement for the EQB, which was fine but forgettable.
The elephant in the room is pricing. The current EQB starts in the low-$50,000 range, and adding all these screens and starry roofs isn't going to make the new GLB any cheaper. When it arrives in spring 2026 as a 2027 model year vehicle, it'll compete against a growing field of compact electric SUVs that are getting better and cheaper by the month.
One legitimate question is whether Mercedes is launching the EV version in the U.S. immediately. With EV sales growth slowing and uncertainty around tariffs, the company might hedge its bets and prioritize the gas version for certain markets. That would be disappointing but not surprising.
The December 8th reveal should answer most remaining questions about range, power, pricing, and whether the starry roof is actually cool or just expensive and weird. Until then, we can appreciate that Mercedes is at least trying to make EVs desirable with technology and features, even if their approach involves more screens than a Best Buy showroom. The screens are flashy, but they're not enough by themselves. Let's see if the rest of the package delivers when the full reveal drops next month.
