Three years after it initially launched in the summer of 2005, the car has received its first facelift.

The front end of the new model has been redesigned but it is the changes under the bonnet that are most significant. Mercedes-Benz claims it has improved fuel efficiency by 7 per cent in the updated B-Class while at the same time reducing tailpipe emissions. Improved technology can be found in the B 150 and B 170 models, which come fitted with a new Eco stop/start system that switches off the engine when the car is stationary in traffic. Additional developments include active parking assist that helps drivers to both locate a suitable parking spot and manoeuvre into it. The new B-Class arrives in the UK in Nuly this year - pricing and specification are yet to be confirmed.