Item: Mercedes eSprinter
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

As you’d expect from a modern Mercedes, the eSprinter comes with a range of advanced safety equipment. There’s active braking, crosswind assist and attention assistance, all of which make driving and running this big van easier and safer.

The Mercedes PRO connect service also provides you with theft warning alerts and the option of geo-fencing alerts to further increase the safety and security of the van and its load.

There’s a three year or 100,000-mile warranty covering the eSprinter itself, however, the batteries are also backed up by an eight year, unlimited mileage warranty.

The eSprinter also has an accompanying app, called EQ Ready. It allows you to simulate electric driving in your current van&nbsp;and also gives you public charging point information. The idea behind the app is to help&nbsp;you to determine if your normal work routine will fit in to electric van ownership, so it is best checked out prior to purchasing.

In diesel engined form&nbsp;the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is one of the best large vans to drive. It’s comfortable, very refined for such a big van and handles superbly. The good news is that, with an electric powertrain, the eSprinter is even better.

Like the Mercedes-Benz eVito, the eSprinter offers four levels of regenerative braking. This really contributes to the feeling that you are driving the van, as you select the level to maximise efficiency as you go.

The severity of the braking effect&nbsp;is controlled with steering wheel-mounted paddles; in&nbsp;D++ mode you coast along with almost no friction on the motor, D+ imposes a small amount of braking and D is the standard mode, wherein braking is noticeable but not severe. Finally, D- mode prompts the most forceful level of braking,&nbsp;slowing the van down to such an extent that you can&nbsp; drive almost without having to use the brake pedal.

With the batteries nestled between the chassis rails under the loadspace floor, the eSprinter has a very low centre of gravity. This means that the already razor-sharp handling is further improved. There’s next to no body roll, and you can really feel every tiny&nbsp;steering input altering the van’s course. While the eSprinter is a heavy van, at just under 2.5-tonnes to almost 2.7-tonnes depending on the battery pack, it doesn’t feel all that cumbersome.

Driving along all you hear is a tiny whine from the electric motor and road noise from the tyres. However, you also notice that the eSprinter is quick. The 85kW motor delivers the equivalent of 114bhp, but with 218lb ft of torque from a standstill the eSprinter gets moving very rapidly.

Irrespective of which of the three driving modes you use – C, E or E+ –&nbsp; it feels fast, but each mode performs a subtle and important job. C mode – or Comfort –&nbsp;gives you full power and the quickest torque delivery at the cost of the range of the van, while E (Economy) still gives you full power&nbsp;but is more miserly with the torque delivery. E+ (Economy +) limits the power and torque to 70kW and 199lb ft. It also turns the heating and cooling to a minimum in order to maximise range.

With a full load you might be a little underwhelmed by the performance, especially in E+, but you’ll have no complaints with the smoothness with which it reaches its 75mph top speed.

Everything else is as you would expect from a standard Sprinter van, including its excellent driving position and fantastic all-round visibility.

There’s a common misconception that the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is an expensive van.

Yes, it might cost you a chunk more upfront than its closest rivals, but Mercedes knows as well as anyone that a van is a working tool that has to at least earn its keep. So, while the old adage of "buy cheap and buy twice" doesn’t quite apply to buying a new van, buying a pricier one like the Sprinter might not cost you more when you come to adding up the total cost of running the vehicle.

This isn’t intended as a lesson in sucking eggs, but bear&nbsp;those opening paragraphs in mind when you weigh&nbsp;up whether a Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is right for you, because there’s no question that it’s up-front price is eye-catching.

Then again, that’s true of almost all of the new breed of large electric vans. Where once the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/master-ze/van/review/n20172">Renault Master ZE</a> and the LCV EV80 had the zero-emissions market all to themselves, all of a sudden new big electric vans are popping up across the segment. As a result, the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter competes with the Fiat eDucato, Citroen e-Relay, Peugeot e-Boxer&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/e-crafter/van/review/n20142">Volkswagen e-Crafter</a>. And as with all electric vans, they're rather more expensive than the combustion-powered machines they're based on. So, of course, buyers need a high degree of certainty that the vehicle will pay those high upfront costs back.

Unlike other Sprinters, the eSprinter comes in just one size, with a medium-length body and a high roof (L2 H2), but crucially there are two battery sizes that allow a range of up to 96 miles. Power comes from an 85kW motor producing 218lb ft of instantaneous torque.

Heavy batteries compromise payloads, but the fact that the&nbsp;eSprinter doesn't need a heavy engine or gearbox helps to balance things&nbsp;out; it's capable of moving up to 1045kg and has a load volume of 11m3.

Charging time for the eSprinter’s depends on which battery pack you choose and the type of charger you are using. A standard model can take a 20kW charge, under which 80% charge can be added in less than two hours. However, on a standard wallbox with a domestic power supply you’d be looking at an eight-hour charge for the 55kWh battery and six hours for the smaller 41kWh battery. Rapid charging is supported as an option, adding an 80kW charging capability that allows an 80% charge to be added in just 30 minutes.

The eSprinter only has one trim option and it's comparable to the mid-level diesel-engined Progressive trim. In addition, the eSprinter comes with remote vehicle pre-conditioning to allow you to heat the cabin before starting a journey and you get two years of Mercedes PRO connect to remotely monitor battery charge levels and routing.

The eSprinter’s interior is fairly straightforward in its design and equipment list,&nbsp;and as there is only one trim level, you have to either like it or lump it.

In our view it’s no bad thing; it gives you&nbsp;Mercedes' hallmark high-quality materials and its layout is intuitive, with&nbsp;plenty of storage. Standard equipment includes a heated driver's seat with armrest, two front passenger seats, air-conditioning, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity. It also has a height and rake adjustable steering wheel, as well as a covered central dash area.

You’ll find two cup holders in the central section of the dash as well as two more storage compartments on either side of the lower portion. These can be configured as compartments or yet more cupholders.

The infotainment panel is the smaller 7in touchscreen from the MBUX multimedia system, but there’s integrated controls on the multi-function steering wheel, along with cruise control.

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

e-Sprinter

The Mercedes eSprinter is one of the very best large electric vans - although&nbsp;range, volume and payload limitations do mean that you need to weigh up if it will suit your needs prior to purchasing

With two battery options available, eSprinter buyers have to chose between either a longer range or more payload capacity.

The smaller battery (41kW) will give you a claimed range of up to 70 miles with a payload of 1045kg, whereas the larger battery (55kW) increases range to 96 miles but limits payload to 774kg.

Buyers will need to judge which they value most and should also consider rivals like the Renault Master ZE, which can carry up to 1128kg, or the Volkswagen e-Crafter, which has a 107 mile claimed range and a&nbsp;970kg payload.

The load area is unchanged from the regular Sprinter; with just one body length currently available the L2 H2-sized van is capable of moving 11m3. It has a maximum load length of 3397mm, a load space height of 2079mm and a width of 1787mm. Rear doors open to 270-degrees and a ply-lined load area is part of the standard specification.

The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is an immensely capable and comfortable electric van. Its big size will work for many operators who don’t need to carry heavy loads, but it’s small payload does compromise its mass appeal. We also can’t hide from the fact that, for many, the eSprinter is just another large electric van that struggles to combine range, volume and payload all at once. But, if it’s limitations don’t phase you, it is among the best of the breed.

   



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Mercedes eSprinter review

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Review of Mercedes eSprinter interior by the expert What Car? team. Compare in car entertainment system, driving comfort and visibility with similar cars.

The eSprinter’s interior is fairly straightforward in its design and equipment list, and as there is only one trim level, you have to either like it or lump it.,In our view it’s no bad thing; it gives you Mercedes' hallmark high-quality materials and its layout is intuitive, with plenty of storage. Standard equipment includes a heated driver's seat with armrest, two front passenger seats, air-conditioning, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity. It also has a height and rake adjustable steering wheel, as well as a covered central dash area.,You’ll find two cup holders in the central section of the dash as well as two more storage compartments on either side of the lower portion. These can be configured as compartments or yet more cupholders.The infotainment panel is the smaller 7in touchscreen from the MBUX multimedia system, but there’s integrated controls on the multi-function steering wheel, along with cruise control.

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