We took the best-selling 7-seater Mercedes-Benz GLB on a 7-hour day trip to JB

Going to Johor Bahru for a day trip is always fun.

But going to JB for seven hours in a seven-seater Mercedes-Benz GLB?

And based purely on recommendations crowdsourced from Mothership’s followers on Instagram?

Pure unadulterated joy.

Here’s how it went.

Causeway land crossing

Going into JB by car on a weekday can sometimes be a gamble: You can either cross the Causeway quickly in 25 minutes, or it can take an hour or more – pretty similar to a weekend congestion.

As luck would have it, the land crossing via the Causeway on a Wednesday at 11am was to take about one hour.

But it didn’t feel like an hour.

It felt more like 30 minutes.

The reason was because we were cocooned in the roomy and comfortable interior of a sports utility vehicle – that had enough space for seven occupants.

Driving the Mercedes-Benz GLB in a slow-moving jam with vehicles trying to cut you off felt almost unreal – like playing a video game while sitting on the couch.

The electrically adjustable front seats have a memory function that makes it practical for long-haul driving with multiple drivers.

Coupled with the leather upholstery and ergonomic back support, the light and effortless steering all came together to make getting stuck feel comfortable.

I could have dozed off.

The passengers certainly did.

And it helped that the climate control in the car was intuitive under the baking hot sun that day.

Air conditioning too cold at the front? Not chilly enough for the rear passengers?

Can’t decide if it is too warm or too cool?

A flick of the switch on the console and the temperature was right where everyone wanted it, even in the third row.

As any seasoned traveller can attest, how comfortable you are on the road will have an impact on how tired you feel at the end of the day.

And with any car that I drive, I’d constantly monitor the fuel gauge to get a sense of how much fuel I consume while navigating urban, built-up areas, as well as crushing it on the expressway.

I am proud to announce that as a light-footed driver, the Mercedes-Benz GLB kept up its end of the bargain.

It was surprisingly low on fuel consumption as it barely used a an-eighth of fuel from the tank in the hour spent in the jam, even as I was fiddling with all the knobs and jabbing at the console.

Money saved on petrol, means more to spend on food.

Soil Cafe

For lunch, we made our way to Soil Cafe, which is 25km up north from the Causeway and a recommendation by a number of Mothership followers when we crowdsourced for the choicest JB attractions we had to visit.

By this time, it was past 1pm and we had to move fast.

Travelling on Malaysia roads is always a feat, especially for drivers not familiar with the area, while relying on a map.

The biggest challenge is usually figuring out when to turn left or right, or simply filtering out of a major road to a minor one – without completely missing the exit in the first place.

In these instances, there is the tendency to drive at the speed mandated without impeding the flow of traffic, while trying to not miss a turn, but end up not slowing down in advance enough.

The Active Brake Assist feature becomes a lifesaver.

The system is so intuitive that the Active Brake Assist kicks in just as I was about to hit the brakes on multiple occasions on my own.

Not too soon to be cumbersome, and not too late to break a sweat.

The payoff of making it?

Soil Cafe in Eco Spring was pretty and spacious, and almost otherworldly.

The 25km journey took 40 minutes but it was a breeze and totally worth it.

Potholes? Not a bother.

Unpaved roads? Didn’t even feel it.

Mount Austin Nanyang Street

After a hearty meal and coffee, we made our way to a relatively new attraction: Mount Austin Nanyang Street.

A short drive from Eco Spring, this area is becoming increasingly popular due to its mural artworks, countless food and beverage offerings, and casual hangout spots for couples and large groups.

Forest City

No day trip to JB can be complete without going to the much discussed Forest City development in the southwestern part of Johor – and driving at 110kmh, the legal speed limit on some Malaysia highways.

So far, the trip has been marked by casual driving, with plenty of stopping and starting.

The feeling of being given access to a high performance car while having to take it slow left me salivating for the next stage of this test drive.

The 45km journey from Soil Cafe to Forest City located near the coast could be completed in 50 minutes or less – if I pushed the car a little.

But that was not necessary because there was not much of a push required.

The car ate whatever pressure I applied on the throttle and it soared.

The GLB's 1.3-litre turbocharged in-line four engine was fully capable of 110kmh, while the RPM barely registered above the 2,000rpm range.

The 48V BSG mild-hybrid technology helps with quiet engine starting and more seamless acceleration, plus contributing to greater efficiency.

The seven-speed transmission was just beckoning to be engaged when all you can see up ahead is an endless road.

Manual paddle shifting with your fingers to regain more control over the car’s acceleration?

It was fun and felt F1-ish.

Visiting Forest City and taking in the tranquil settings gave me pause.

All I could think about was how a seven-seater that could produce 130 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque is listed as a Category A COE car?

Even as I continued the journey after visiting Forest City, I could not stop thinking about it as the passengers in the car went back to sleep again because the interior was so quiet and the suspensions worked as advertised.

The sturdy heft of the chassis felt like it was gliding effortlessly.

Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory

Not one to go off the beaten track too often, we had to go to the home of freshly baked banana cake, which is simply referred to as “Hiap Joo”, when we first crossed into JB.

The queue speaks for itself.

In fact, as shown, with the last row of seats down, we could have filled it with 100 boxes or more.

But we practised restraint in the face of 500 litres of space in the boot with the third row seats down.

In total, the Mercedes-Benz GLB boasts an impressive variable space of up to 1,800 litres.

The versatile 2nd row seats with 140mm fore/aft adjustment helped with maximising passenger legroom at the back.

This amount of space appeared almost counterintuitive as the GLB’s road presence showed no issue fitting into tight, highly urbanised and pedestrianised roads.

For those who have driven along Jalan Wong Ah Fook and the surrounding areas near Hiap Joo, you would have been acquainted with Malaysian traffic.

Even though the roads were narrow and parking was tight and not necessarily available, the Mercedes-Benz GLB manoeuvred the spaces with ease.

Parking bonnet-first was not a problem, which I initially assumed would arise owing to the heft of the SUV’s body.

What really helped was the car’s sensors that alert the driver to oncoming traffic from the sides, and the Active Brake Assist that automatically slows the car down when obstacles in front are detected.

It felt like driving with heightened abilities.

Back to Singapore via Second Link

The trip back to Singapore was as much of a breeze as driving the Mercedes-Benz GLB.

Clearing immigration was quick as there was not much traffic at around 4pm on a weekday.

Pro-tip: Visiting Johor via Tuas is surprisingly quick on weekdays.

Test drive a Mercedes-Benz today

Young families, pet owners, and those with a perennial need for space,will find the Mercedes-Benz GLB the go-to car.

For those who intend to keep their vehicles for the long haul, the GLB comes with the Cycle & Carriage’s 10-year Engine Warranty and Lubrication Service to ensure the ride goes the extra mile.

If you would like to experience it, visit the Mercedes-Benz Center or book a test drive online now.

This sponsored content was brought to you by Mercedes-Benz Singapore.

Top photos by Mothership