Review and photos by
Jil McIntosh, Autos.ca

Back in the earlier days of motoring, luxury automakers often faced a dilemma. Well-heeled customers could be hard to come by, especially when the economy soured. One solution was to offer a smaller, less-powerful and less-expensive model that would appeal to a fresh round of buyers – but the plan often backfired. Wealthy buyers didn’t want to see their vehicle’s logo on one driven by a mere mortal, and often left the brand for one that remained more exclusive.

2011 Mercedes-Benz B200 Turbo Avantgarde Edition

It’s a situation Mercedes-Benz might have faced in 2005, when it introduced its 2006 B200 compact hatchback, its least-expensive model save for Smart. But rather than watering down the brand, the B-Class has carved out its spot in the company’s Canadian line-up. It’s also “all ours” over here, as it isn’t sold in the U.S. The smaller A-Class remains European-only.

Buying a B-Class isn’t really a practical decision. It’s expensive for a hatchback, starting at $29,900 for the naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre B200, and $32,400 for my tester, the B200 turbo, which also uses the 2.0-litre but with forced air. (more…)