Mercedes-Benz Concept GLB Gallery

The Mercedes Concept GLB may look like a big, beefy SUV, but the reality is something unexpectedly different. In fact, the concept car is based on the automaker's compact car platform, just like the GLA. That has been expanded to accommodate a third row of seats.

Outside, it taps into some seriously SUV-esque styling cues to give at least the appearance of off-road talent. White paint gets high-gloss black and orange detailing. Under the skin, meanwhile, there's 4MATIC all-wheel drive, with the option of a 50:50 torque split front to rear for when things get rougher.

Inside there's a surprising degree of restraint for a concept, though perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. The Mercedes GLA started out as a similarly thinly-veiled concept car back in 2013, and though Mercedes isn't talking production for the Concept GLB at this stage, it hardly stretches the imagination to think of how successful a road-going version of this chunky little crossover might be.