THE RUNNING VAN
Our Rating: 7.3 / 10
So you thought panel vans were simple, functional vehicles? Take a look at the tech-laden Mercedes Sprinter and think again. Steve Walker reports…
It could be the athletic name, it could be the three-pointed star on the grille, it could be the vehicle’s native habitat of motorway overtaking lanes but, whatever the reason, the Mercedes Sprinter tends to be thought of as one of the quickest panel vans around. It’s a reputation that is not unfounded and one that’s served Mercedes well, differentiating their product in a competitive market sector, but the latest Sprinter is different.
Fear not, there’s still a range of muscular engines that yield a satisfying turn of pace – enough to embarrass the average repmobile on a long motorway incline. The nation’s maniac express delivery drivers can call off the search for alternative transportation. It’s just that today’s Sprinter has a different emphasis. Speed now shares top billing with safety, technology and refinement. The Sprinter has grown-up.
The problem Mercedes have faced with the Sprinter is its status as a premium brand product in a market sector where cost, or rather cutting costs, is king. Pointing to their van’s superior residual values will only get Mercedes sales personnel so far when buyers from the smallest sole trader to the largest fleets are being tempted with cheaper and significantly-discounted rivals. One response could have been to drop the product down market to meet the challenge head on but that wouldn’t have been very ‘Mercedes-Benz’ of them, would it? Far more fitting is the approach the marque decided to take, endowing the Sprinter with a level of sophistication never before seen in a humble panel van.
Most businesses will wax lyrical in public about their far-reaching, multifaceted, no-stone-unturned approaches to safety but in many instances, they’re just covering their own behinds, guarding against any future day in court. Mercedes have found many customers reluctant to pay extra for optional safety features and so, they took the laudable step of giving the Sprinter a comprehensive safety specification as standard. Three point seatbelts with pretensioners and force-limiters are installed for all seats, a bulkhead is included on all panel van models, there are extensive impact protection measures and every Sprinter gets the advanced Adaptive ESP stability control system.
Adaptive ESP has huge potential for helping the Sprinter’s driver retain control in challenging road conditions and, ultimately, averting accidents. The system is comprised of ABS with brakeforce distribution and brake assist as well as conventional ESP stability control which can apply braking to any or the four wheels individually or cut power from the engine in order to maintain stability. Over and above this, the ‘Adaptive’ part of Adaptive ESP can estimate the vehicle’s mass and centre of gravity, adjusting its responses accordingly. It delivers more precisely controlled braking and better traction when there are different levels of grip on each side of the vehicle. It also reacts more precisely to understeer and oversteer situations by sensing the size and position of the load onboard. It’s all clever stuff and testing the system on low friction surfaces really opens your eyes to the potential benefits. It would take a seriously committed driver to lose control of the Sprinter with adaptive ESP in attendance.
The Mercedes Sprinter is a big step forward in terms of technology in light commercial vehicles. Buyers with the cash and the inclination could specify a model that makes rivals look like the Mary Rose to the Sprinter’s Starship Enterprise. The options list harbours such delights as the AAS hill holder system that prevents you rolling backwards on hill starts, Parktronic manoeuvring assistance with its colour screen reversing camera and proximity sensors, bi-xenon headlamps that turn with the steering letting you see round corners at night and ‘Keyless Entry and Slide’ which can unlock the van then open the electronic sliding side doors automatically as you approach with an armful of boxes.
Most buyers, of course, will have at least one eye on their balance sheet and will opt for a fairly standard Sprinter but they shouldn’t feel short-changed. There are over 1,000 different derivatives to select from with gross vehicle weights from 3 to 5 tonnes. If
Mercedes to Expand S-Class Range
A new Mercedes S-Class is expected to emerge next year, but the range would not just consist of one large luxury car, the new line-up will most likely feature four models, which include a four-seater cabriolet for the first time. "The S-Class is the best luxury car in the world, and we have many surprises in terms of technology for the new model. It will deliver something very different to its rivals - and it will have a much broader range" said Dr Uwe Ernstberger, ...
Mercedes-Benz G-Class prepares for UK comeback
After a decade of silence, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is gearing up to roar once again into British roads this autumn. This iconic model celebrated its 30th birthday in 2009 and still preserves its full-bodied classic design mated with superior off-road features and top-notch Mercedes-Benz technology. Distinctive design and distinctive timeless look put the G-Class above the crowd, and it has built a strong motori...