Spy shots of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB suggest it will undergo a nip and tuck.
Mercedes-Benz is undergoing testing of the revised GLB SUV and as you can see from these spy shots, Benz is keeping exterior tweaks to be kept to a minimum. This may be our first sighting of the car but it looks like a debut could happen this year.
Introduced in 2019, the Mercedes GLB is a bit of an anomaly in the German firm’s line-up, it offers seven-seats where the more expensive GLC is five-seat only. There’s also an all-electric EQB version, giving the GLB a broader appeal than the GLC.
The front of the facelifted GLB shows a new, simpler headlight design with just one daytime running strip in each cluster. The grille’s shape remains the same, but we can expect new detailing within. This is the non-AMG model, so for the sporty variants we expect a new front end with larger air intakes and a bespoke grille design.
The sides remain unchanged from the outgoing model, but at the rear we can clearly see a new rear light design with horizontal bars replacing the square lights. The camouflage extends across the bootlid, but we imagine tweaks will be confined to the rear lights.
In some Mercedes models, such as the new S-Class and EQS, we’ve seen a variation of interior design between the combustion-engined car and its electric counterpart. The GLB and electric EQB, received the same interior layout and we expect this to continue with this mid-life update.
Since the GLB was launched, Mercedes has brought out new versions of its similarly-sized GLC and C-Class. Inside, these cars use a new 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrument panel – technology that could be carried over to the GLB, with the latest MBUX infotainment. The GLB will remain as practical as before, with seating for seven.
Alastair Crooks