Mercedes Sprinter Van Review

Buying a Mercedes Sprinter van

For businesses looking for a large van, the Mercedes Sprinter is a popular option, alongside the trusty Ford Transit. The previous Mercedes Sprinter van models were famed for their durability and space, with Mercedes now adding improved technology and fleet connectivity, the latest Sprinter looks set to be the best yet. To help you find out more about the latest Sprinter, we consider everything from the trim levels to the reliability within this Mercedes Sprinter review.

Costs and MPG

The price range for the Sprinter does vary significantly depending on the chosen trim, with prices ranging from roughly £25,000 up to £50,000 for the executive Tourer models. The ongoing running costs of the Sprinter have improved thanks to the front-wheel drive options which offer new levels of fuel efficiency. The Mercedes eSprinter is expected to be on sale in 2019, which will offer the same electric motor and battery as the eVito, with a driving range of roughly 90 miles.

Exterior

The most notable change to the exterior of the latest model is the new slender headlights, an almost vertical windscreen, and the blistered wheel arches for a great road presence. The van is still available in its wide variety of sizes, with four wheelbase options, two roof heights, and six body styles.

The carefully designed wheelbase is aimed at a variety of customers including those looking for a traditional panel van, chassis cab, tractor head, or even camper van conversion. In fact, the model is available in 1,700 different variants, so there should be a van available to suit every driver.

Interior

As soon as you take a seat behind the wheel of the latest Sprinter, you will notice the wealth of electronic equipment. The new Sprinter is fitted with electric power steering, distronic adaptive cruise control, and lane assists for an improved driving experience. The high-spec vans are fitted with the new MBUX infotainment system, which offers voice control, brilliant graphics, and search functionality.

Perhaps the most notable improvement is the new Mercedes PRO fleet management software, which features up to eight fleet management packages to allow easy access to a wealth of driver data and complete fleet management. For businesses that regularly change drivers, the Sprinter is an excellent option, thanks to the easy-to-use control and array of semi-autonomous driver assistance technology.

Mercedes has used careful design to make the van more comfortable than its predecessors, with each row of seats fitted with pop-out cup holders, USB sockets, and optional air conditioning controls. The Sprinter Tourer, meanwhile, is the ideal option for vans that need to carry people and will comfortably seat nine adults including the driver.

The rear load area features a plywood lining and a flat, plastic-trimmed floor as standard across each model. For commercial drivers looking to carry large loads, the box wheel arches in the latest model have been strengthened so can now carry an equivalent amount of weight as the load floor. The rear-drive Sprinters are the best in terms of maximum load volume, with the largest panel van offering 17 cubic metres of space and a maximum payload weight of 3,175kg. The largest Sprinter is even able to carry seven European standard-sized pallets and has a sliding side door which is wide enough to easily accommodate a pallet.

Specs and performance

The third-generation Sprinter is a brilliant evolution of previous models, with the majority of changes taking place under the skin. The engine range includes the trusted 2.1-litre unit with three power outputs and a 3.0-litre V6 diesel, which makes it the only large van available on the market with a V6 engine.

The designers have carefully considered every aspect to improve handling, so this is the first model to offer front-wheel drive which lowers the load area for improved access. The 3.5-tonne version with front-wheel drive is designed to carry an additional 50kg when compared to rear-drive options, which makes it a brilliant option for many businesses. The Sprinter AWD is still available with its four-wheel-drive system for improved off-road handling.

As standard, the van is fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, with rear-wheel drive models offering a 7Gtronic auto option. The new front-wheel-drive versions feature a nine-speed torque converter auto system, which is guaranteed to improve efficiency and performance.

Reliability and safety

Mercedes has fitted the Sprinter with its modern safety technology, including driver fatigue detector, rain-sensing wet wipers, and cutting edge active safety systems to reduce the chance of accidents. For added peace of mind, the Sprinter is fully covered by a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, which is ideal for businesses with a large annual mileage. Although, as the class leader, it is unlikely there will be any major issues with the latest model. The van is more complex than previous versions, but Mercedes has carried out more than six million miles of testing before putting the van on sale.

To ensure the van stays in great condition, the service intervals art set at 24,000 miles or every two years on the front-wheel-drive options. For owners looking for cost savings, the rear-wheel drive versions can go up to 37,000 miles between services. The Mercedes Pro Connect system is designed to alert drivers of maintenance issues and upcoming services well in advance, thereby allowing for work to be carried out at the most convenient times.


Knowing all this now you are ready to go on a hunt for your next van. Check our available stock for many different types of pre-owned commercial vehicles.
Panel vans, minibuses, pick-ups, and tipper vans from the biggest makes are all available at great prices.

If you'd like to test drive one of the used vans for sale, have a look at our website to see what we have for you, and call us at our Essex dealership on 01279 216163. Ask us about our vans on finance and van contract hire offers too.