
Stability and traction control come standard, as do front airbags.Ī bewildering array of options allows owners to precisely tailor their vans and includes a driver-side rear sliding door, parking sensors, a rearview camera, upgraded front seats, and rear heating and air-conditioning. Standard features on most Sprinters include 16-inch wheels, a wood cargo floor, 270-degree-opening rear doors, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a two-speaker radio. The Cargo is also available as a 3500 model, offering increased payload capacity. The larger MiniBus model adds a fifth row for a total of 15 passengers.Īll models are offered in 2500 styles with two wheelbase lengths (144 and 170 inches). The Passenger van features four rows and can carry 12 passengers. Cargo vans offer two front seats only, while the Crew is essentially a Cargo van with a second-row bench seat. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a full-size van, available in Cargo, Crew or Passenger configurations. Despite its name, the Sprinter is better suited to urban and suburban environments rather than the highway.

Horsepower and acceleration, however, are best discussed in relative terms. Its standard turbodiesel V6 also offers better fuel economy than domestic V8s.

Yet despite its long and wobbly stance, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter actually feels pretty maneuverable around town thanks to a modern chassis design that feels a lot less trucklike than cargo and passenger vans from Detroit. In people mover form, the Sprinter can carry up to 15 passengers in five rows in its longest guise. And in its largest configuration, the Sprinter offers massive storage capacity of 547 cubic feet. Its load floor is among the lowest for a full-size van, and with the taller of two available roofs, someone 6-foot-3 can walk around upright inside. And compared to full-size American competitors, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter actually offers a number of unique design attributes.įor one thing, it's tall. But that's only among folks unaware that Mercedes trucks and vans are sought-after workhorses on European highways, moving goods and hauling freight while its passenger cars ferry the business class. The van's four-wheel disc brake arrangement pull the vehicle up well with excellent power and modulation at the pedal, while in-cab noise is suppressed nicely, save for a little road noise and the distant growl of the V6.On the surface, a commercial-use Mercedes-Benz van seems like a reckless extravagance. The power steering requires only a light touch and the reversing camera and optional parking package with 360-degree camera make maneuvering the big machine a breeze. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter's ride was actually very refined even with the minimal weight, the van displaying very modest body roll through corners and a high degree of composure over average surfaces.Īs for maneuverability, the steering box ratio is actually pretty short at just three turns lock to lock, but as a rear-drive model the turning circle is impressively tight for a van pushing an overall length of near seven metres.
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The auto won't readily downshift on descents, however, the transmission calibrated to favour economy over engine braking, but here too manual mode can assist if need be.
