Used Mercedes B-Class cars for sale or finance at 10.9% APR

There's only one version of the Mercedes B-Class – a five-door MPV with a hatchback bootlid. You can think of it as an A-Class that's just a little larger in every dimension.

The B-Class has exactly the same footprint on the road as the A-Class hatchback, measuring in at just over 4.4 metres long and 2.0 metres wide including its door mirrors – an impressive feat considering the extra cabin space. The body does gain 122mm over the A-Class, which gives it the additional headroom six-footers will appreciate. Its direct rival, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, is a few millimetres shorter and a fraction wider but you'd need a tape measure to be able to tell.

Inside, the B-Class feels like a big five-seat car, with plenty of room for passengers in the four outer seats. The fifth centre-rear passenger will be brushing elbows with those either side, but they'll be much more comfortable than they would be in the A-Class.

For most buyers, either of the petrol options will be more than enough for day-to-day driving, with responsive acceleration and decent fuel economy. All engines include an automatic gearbox as standard, which we think suits the car's relaxed character.

Diesel buyers are also well served by the B-Class's lineup, although we think the slightly more powerful B200d and B220d cars are better all-rounders than the entry-level B180d.

The plug-in hybrid B250e has excellent performance and economy figures, but we'd only suggest budgeting for the extra purchase price if you have a regular commute and the ability to charge at home or at work.

As a premium brand, Mercedes is known for charging a little more for parts and servicing compared with mass-market cars. That means you should expect to budget more for annual maintenance costs. It's worth doing so, however, because a Mercedes service history will help preserve the value of your car.

Like rival premium German brands, Mercedes has a mixed record for reliability. Build quality seems strong and many of the parts and engines are used in other models across the lineup but, with so many on-board features, there are more potential things to go wrong than some simpler, more affordable models.

That said, a recent What Car? reliability survey placed the B-Class at the top of the MPV segment for durability, above rivals like the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer.

For added peace of mind, consider adding an extended warranty to your purchase to protect you from unexpected repair bills.

Yes, the Mercedes B-Class makes an excellent family car. Those seated up front will appreciate the plush materials and the high-tech feeling you get from the screen setup. At the same time, passengers in the back benefit from substantially more head and legroom than the A-Class hatchback. It's also easier to load kids into their car seats thanks to the wider rear door opening, and the boot is large and square, making it easy to chuck pushchairs or holiday bags in.

While the B180 and B200 are the least efficient models, they can still return an impressive 45mpg if driven with a light right foot. Diesel versions can average between 53 and 55mpg – again, depending on how gently you drive.

The mpg winner here is the B250e plug-in hybrid. This version can average more than 250mpg if you make careful use of both the engine and on-board battery pack, or travel around 37 miles on electric power alone. This is noticeably more expensive to buy than the non-hybrid versions, however, so it's worth doing the maths to see if your fuel savings will outweigh the extra purchase price.