IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN? (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_mercedesvito_2021

By Jonathan Crouch

If there can be such a thing as a workhorse with a pedigree, Mercedes' mid-sized Vito van is surely it. Jonathan Crouch drives one.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 54

The Mercedes Vito van is a quality mid-sized LCV contender offered with either a 2.0-litre diesel engine or a full-electric variant. Either way, the rear-driven powertrain is class-competitive in terms of load capacity and payload stats. And there's supple ride and quitean expensive feel that sets this model apart in its increasingly tough segment.

Backgroundword count: 228

One of the things you learn early on in business is that the cheapest options aren't always the best ones. And that the way you deliver your goods says plenty about them. Both things explain the appeal of the Mercedes-Benz of medium range vans, this model, the Vito, which slots in just below the larger Sprinter model in the German brand's LCV range. Well over a million examples have been sold since its original launch in 1996. A MK2 model followed in 2003 and this current MK3 design was originally launched in 2014. In 2019 though, this third generation 'W447'-series model got a far-reaching package of improvements that made it smarter, better to drive and crucially, less costly to run. An all-electric eVito model arrived at the same time - and was updated in 2022. All this Vito model line evolution is much needed for this Mercedes to be able to offer a credible alternative to tough rivals as diverse as the Renault Trafic and Nissan Primastar design; the Peugeot Expert, Vauxhall Vivaro, Fiat Scudo, Toyota Proace and Citroen Dispatch collaboration; the Volkswagen Transporter; and of course the ubiquitous Ford Transit Custom. All these alternatives claim to match this Vito's all-round excellence for less money, but Mercedes reckons that it won't take operators very long behind the wheel to appreciate the difference that the Three-Pointed Star can make.

Driving Experienceword count: 281

So, what kind of business do you have? If its deliveries are primarily long distance ones, then Mercedes wants to sell you the diesel version of this Vito, which features rear-wheel drive and the brand's usual 'OM 654'-series 2.0-litre twin turbo diesel engine. The base '114' version delivers this unit with 134hp and 330Nm of torque and offers the choice of 6-speed manual or 9G-TRONIC 9-speed auto transmission. The alternative '116' diesel model gets 160hp and 380Nm of torque and comes only with that auto gearbox. There's also a '119' version of this engine with 187hp. The alternative to diesel power in your Vito is to go all-electric with the eVito variant. You'd expect an all-electric Vito to be uber-refined, which of course it is. And it's quite nippy, thanks to a 116hp electric motor with up to 360Nm of torque. But you might also expect it to go further on a single charge than it actually does. The 66kWh battery manages up to 162 miles - though that's a big improvement on the limited 92 mile range achieved by the little 41kWh battery fitted to the original version of this model. The current quoted range remains rather limited compared to this model's Mercedes EQV People carrier cousin; but it's now competitive compared to direct EV mid-sized van segment rivals. To give you some class perspective, comparable 50 kWh all-electric versions of the Vauxhall Vivaro, the Citroen Dispatch and the Peugeot Expert manage around 143 miles on a single charge. Whichever Vito variant you choose, one attribute you'll notice on your test drive is this Vito's superb refinement and seat support: quite simply, it's the most comfortable van we've ever driven.

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