Mercedes-Benz Vito L3 Diesel RWD 116Cdi Premium Crew Van 9G-Tronic

Ten Second Review

The Mercedes Vito Crew Van combines utility with passenger versatility - and can throw in a bit of unexpected luxury at the same time. It's an unusual combination.

Background

Think of a crew van - in the unlikely event that you ever do - and it's improbable that your mental picture would be anything like as nice as the Mercedes Vito Crew Van model we look at here. Particularly the leather-lined 'Premium Night Edition' version tested in this particular case. But not all crew vans are used for transporting men in hard hats between building sites. This particular Vito can combine chauffeur and delivery duties all in one. Which might make it a great fit for quite a few businesses. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

As usual with a Vito, the powerplant is a 2.0-litre diesel unit mated to 9G-TRONIC auto transmission. The ordinary 116 version gets this powertrain in 160hp form with 380Nm of torque. The plusher 'Premium Night Edition' variant we tried gets this engine in uprated 187hp guise, with 187hp and 400Nm of torque. And over bumps and around corners? The ride might be a slightly firmer than you're used to but it's an undeniably supple and well-controlled one you'll quickly adapt to and appreciate. Overall, we'd struggle to name a crew van rival that rode better or was more refined. There's also the fact that, a little unusually in this class, this van is rear rather than front driven, meaning more rewarding handling than you might be expecting and a tighter turning circle.

Design and Build

The face of this Vito has a chunky, robust look that takes its cues from the current Mercedes passenger car line up. There are two body lengths available (L2 and L3) but just a single roof height. A chrome radiator grille and 17-inch alloy wheels are standard on all Crew Vans, along with colour-coded bumpers, front fog lights and metallic paint. The top 'Premium Night Edition' version we tried (only offered in L2 form) gets roof rails and rear privacy glass too. A tailgate is standard on the Crew Van and easy access is achieved to the removable rear seats via side sliding doors, fitted to both sides of the vehicle as standard, with a wide entry. Passenger space in the rear is generous. The Vito's wide door opening and well placed step mean that getting in to the cabin is a simple enough manoeuvre and once seated aloft, you'll find a cab with two front chairs that's close to Mercedes-Benz passenger car standards thanks to high quality fixtures and fittings. These include leatherette upholstery, driver's chair lumbar support, front seat heating and ambient lighting in the 'Premium Night Edition' variant we tried; it really doesn't feel much like a van at all. It also helps that the smart steering wheel isn't set at such a bus-like angle as you'll find in some competitors, with further car-like cues found in the way that most of the controls are located on a neatly presented centre console, with gears operated from a stalk off the steering wheel.

Market and Model

In its volume 'Premium' form, the Vito Crew Van comes in two lengths (L2 and L3), priced from just under £40,000 excluding the VAT. If you're happy with the shorter L2 version and can find around £4,500 more, then you can get yourself the plusher 'Premium Night Edition' version we tried, which increases power from the 2.0-litre diesel engine from 160 to 187hp - but that'll take your spend over £44,000 - or nearly £53,000 including the VAT. You have to have 9G-TRONIC auto transmission. 'Premium' spec gets you 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, power-folding mirrors, metallic paint, PATKTRONIC all-round sensors, TEMPMATIC air conditioning, a reversing camera, cruise control and velour floor mats. The 'Premium Night Edition' version we tried adds roof rails, 17-inch wheels with a smarter 5-twin-spoke design, headlights with the company's LED Intelligent Light System, puddle lights with the brand logo and rear privacy glass. Inside, this upgraded trim level gets you leatherette upholstery, an improved 'Audio 40' centre dash infotainment screen, front seat hearing and ambient lighting. Standard safety equipment across the range includes Active Brake ASSIST, Adaptive ESP, Adaptive Brake Lights, Attention Assist, Crosswind Assist, driver and co-driver airbags, Hill-Start Assist, Rescue Assist QR codes, plus a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. Twin front airbags are included too.

Practicalities and Costs

The Vito Crew comes in two handy lengths: L2 and L3. The L2 can take up to 3.6m3 of capacity thanks to 1,664mm of load length. With the L3, it's 4.1m3 thanks to 1,894mm of load length. Both variants have a cargo area width of 1,685mm, which narrows between the arches to 1,270mm. There's only one roof height choice available, which gives you up to 1,391mm of cargo area height. The rear floor loading height is 558mm. Payloads are rated at up to 809kg for the L1, up to 789kg for the L3 and up to 781kg for the L2 'Premium Night Edition'. Keeping costs down will be a major priority for potential owners, so it'll be good news for operators that this Vito's 2.0-litre diesel engine line-up is pretty economical. The brand's BlueEFFICIENCY package is fitted, which can help a Vito Crew Van L2 'Premium' model achieve up to 37.1mpg on the combined cycle and 200g/km of CO2; it's 36.6mpg and 201g/km for the L3; and 35.8mpg and 206g/km for the Crew Van L2 'Premium Night Edition' 187hp variant we tried.

Summary

You might think this Vito Crew Van is neither one thing nor the other; too smart to be a working van. And too LCV-like to be a luxury MPV. Having tested it though, we prefer to think of it offering the best of both worlds. And if you don't need a third seating row, it's a much cleverer choice than the Mercedes V-Class it looks identical to, not least because (unlike with that model) you can recover VAT on the purchase price. Mercedes has hit upon quite an interesting niche here. And if you understand why, you'll understand why there's nothing quite like a Vito Crew Van.