Things are about to get flowery
The first day of spring has finally arrived in the Cape, and what better way to shake off the slumber of winter than a road trip through it’s resplendent countryside? I fired up the sleek ‘box on 18″ inch wheels’ that is the latest Mercedes GLB, its chiseled lines lending it a mildly aggressive stance – it is a family car after all. Yours in five or seven seater configurations. I set off from Cape Town towards Rawsonville, the Slanghoek mountains rising up like giants in the distance.
As we carved through the winding roads, the GLB’s 140kW/400Nm turbodiesel engine purred like a contented beast, its power and torque hungrily devouring the twists and turns. The ride was sublime, the cabin a cocoon of comfort and refinement, the seats cradling me like a gentle lover. Sorry, I was just really grateful for the great weather – winter had been cruel to us in Cape Town, the GLB was my exit strategy, a plush living space in which I felt like a king, surveying the landscape from my throne, the steering wheel a precision instrument in my hands. And what a landscape it was – the canola fields ablaze with vibrant yellow, like a canvas of gold stretching out to the horizon. We stopped in Wellington for a shot of caffeine, the GLB drawing admiring glances from the locals as we sipped our coffee, its handsome lines and athletic stance making it a head-turner.
Mercedes-Benz has done a great job in endowing their compact SUV with large-SUV presence too, alluding to a big car feel aboard. Naturally, the interior is a tactile pleasure, premium in material and tone, with a large emphasis on modcons and tech, advanced safety and a wealth of smartphone integration. A large MBUX touchscreen dominates the dashboard, itself lit with groovy mood lighting.
The drive home was just as exhilarating, the GLB hugging the road affectionately, its engine note a throaty growl as we devoured the miles. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in a warm orange glow, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for this machine, this wonderful beast that had carried me through the day with such ease and comfort. The Mercedes GLB – it’s not just a car, it’s a bloody meditation pod. And I truly enjoyed our time together.
