Mercedes V-Class
The Mercedes V-Class is a twist on the concept of van. Born in the nineties as Vito / Viano, according to its professional or recreational orientation, it was completely renovated in the first decade of the new millennium and in 2014, it reinvented itself with a new nomenclature.
Now the average van of the star brand has more of a minivan than a van, and it is that the versions intended for family use have improved to levels unthinkable for a vehicle of this type, inheriting elements of the best products of the brand.
A camouflaged minivan
On the outside, the brand has had the audacity to seamlessly integrate the current design language, with softer, more organic lines alongside a more prominent front end. Still, you can’t hide the fact that the Mercedes V-Class is based on a station wagon, making it a fairly “boxy” luxury minivan. Highlights the use of 100% LED headlights and the possibility of choosing the AMG exterior package, which adds aggressiveness.
The glass area is wide, with a slight detail in the rear glass, which hugs towards the center of the vehicle and is finished off by a very well integrated chrome trim. The pilots, also in LED technology, are smaller in this generation.
The interior inherits the best of two worlds: the professional and the luxury. As a van-derived minivan, it boasts a spacious design with plenty of storage space and segment-leading modularity. For space there is no problem. In addition, in the more equipped versions the dashboard is covered in wood, and it is equipped with a touchpad to operate the multimedia system. The use of quality materials such as the leather of the seats or a padded dashboard, denote the attention to detail of the Germans.
At the wheel
At the wheel, a vehicle of this caliber has to be noticed, so its center of gravity and its soft suspension setting (designed for greater ride comfort), cause a marked sway of the body in curves. The brakes perform their function without problems, but on a descent from a mountain pass, a driver with the right foot fatigued, could get to have fatigue problems due to the high weight of the car.
With a very high driving position and generous glass area, the field of vision is truly wide. It also has a battery of very useful driving aids in certain cases, such as the blind spot detector. As for the soundproofing, in all the V-Class it is improved with respect to a work Vito, approaching normal levels of any car.
Versions
The Mercedes V-Class is available in three trim levels and various lengths. These levels are the basic, Avantgarde and Exclusive, the base price of the latter being practically double the cheapest, despite the equality of engine-transmission. Regarding the lengths, the most compact one does not reach 5 meters ( 4.90m ), while the length goes on to measure 5.14 meters and the extra-long one reaches 5.37 meters.
Available only with diesel engines, the German van allows any mechanical option to be chosen regardless of the trim option selected. The same happens with the transmission and traction, being able to combine the 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic with front or 4Matic all-wheel drive, according to our needs.
As an extra, the V-Class is available in a motorhome configuration (Marco Polo), with an interior enabled for hassle-free camping, equipped with a bed and a kitchen. Like the regular passenger version, the Marco Polo is available in three finishes: normal, Horizon and Activity.
The following indicative table is made based on the most affordable finish.
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Mercedes V Class data
- 5 doors
- 6 seats
- Trunk: Not specified
- 4Matic front or all-wheel drive
- 4-cylinder engines between 136hp and 190hp
- Consumption and emissions: from 6.0 liters and 158 g / km of CO2
- 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission
- Price: From € 35,178
