Mercedes eVito review

The Mercedes-Benz eVito has been on sale in the UK since 2020, making it one of the earliest fully electric medium vans available here. That doesn’t mean it was successful, though, as those early models struggled to make a convincing case for themselves, thanks to a limited driving range and modest payload capacity.

Mercedes has since gone back to work on the eVito, and the latest version is a meaningful step forward. A larger 66kWh battery improves the range, charging speeds are faster than before, and the cab has been updated with new technology intended to bring it in line with modern expectations. On paper, at least, the eVito now looks far more competitive than it once did.

Even so, the electric medium van market has moved on quickly. Rivals such as the Ford E-Transit Custom, Maxus eDeliver 7, Renault Trafic E-Tech, Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, and Volkswagen e-Transporter offer longer ranges, higher payloads and, in some cases, lower list prices. 

That puts pressure on the eVito to justify its premium positioning with comfort, refinement and strong aftersales support rather than outright numbers.

All versions of the Mercedes-Benz eVito use the same powertrain, regardless of trim or body length. There’s a front-mounted electric motor producing 114bhp, with peak torque of 221lb-ft. Power comes from a 60kWh (usable capacity) battery.

That means it’s good for an official range of up to 159 miles for the L2 model we had the keys to, increasing by just a mile for the larger L3 van. Those figures place the eVito well behind newer rivals such as the Ford E-Transit Custom (204 miles), the Stellantis-built competitors such as the Citroën ë-Dispatch and Vauxhall Vivaro Electric (231 miles), and newcomers like the Farizon SV (up to 247 miles).

In real-world use, that gap is clearly evident. Driven in cold conditions with little payload, at 2.3 miles per kWh, we were getting around 130–140 miles between charges. That makes it well suited to urban and regional work, but less convincing for sustained motorway use, especially once it’s loaded.

Performance is adequate rather than brisk. Around town, the instant torque makes pulling away easy, as you would expect, but acceleration tails off quickly as speeds rise, and joining faster traffic requires a little more planning than in some rivals. Once you’re on the motorway, the eVito is limited to a top speed of 75mph – more than enough for UK roads, of course.

The eVito offers three driving modes — Comfort, Economy and Economy Plus — which adjust throttle response, power delivery and, in the economy modes, even reduces the power used by the climate control system. Notably, there’s no ‘Sport’ mode to extract maximum power.

Comfort provides the most natural response, while Economy and Economy Plus progressively rein things in to extend range. In everyday use, Economy strikes a fine balance, but there’s little real-world difference between them.

Energy recuperation is more sophisticated than many rivals. Five regeneration modes are available via steering wheel paddles, ranging from strong one-pedal-style deceleration to a coasting mode that allows the van to ‘sail’ on motorways. There’s also an automatic mode that uses sensors to select the most appropriate setting, and it works well enough that most will simply leave it engaged.

Ride comfort is one of the eVito’s stronger suits, feeling more comfortable than firmer riding vans like the E-Transit Custom. Even with weight in the back, it handles speed bumps and broken tarmac calmly, making it a relaxing van to drive over long shifts.

Handling is safe and predictable rather than engaging, with light steering that works well in town but offers limited feedback at higher speeds. The E-Transit Custom and have the edge here, feeling more involved when covering ground on anything other than a motorway.

“The regeneration system is one of the eVito’s highlights. Set it to automatic, and it quietly gets on with the job, without forcing you into full one-pedal driving if you don’t want it.” – Phil Huff, Van reviewer

The eVito’s interior has been significantly improved compared with earlier versions, with vast swathes of grey plastic replaced by slightly nicer swathes of grey plastic. The dashboard design is shared with the latest diesel-powered Mercedes Vito, bringing higher-quality materials, a cleaner layout, and more up-to-date, better integrated technology than before.

All models feature Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system with a 10.25in central touchscreen, paired with a 5.5in digital instrument display. The system looks sharp and responds quickly enough, but many functions are buried within menus that aren’t always intuitive, and the lack of physical shortcut buttons can make adjustments fiddly on the move.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, though, allowing drivers to bypass Mercedes’ own navigation and use familiar apps instead. 

Mercedes’ typically unconventional control layout remains. Drive is selected via a column-mounted stalk where you might expect to find the windscreen wiper controls; you’ll find those on the left column stalk, along with the lights and indicators. It frees up space in the centre of the cab, but it takes time to adjust if you’re used to more conventional layouts.

The multifunction steering wheel uses touch-sensitive pads rather than physical buttons, which look modern but can be frustrating to use. Accidental inputs are common.

Comfort levels are generally good. The driver’s seat offers plenty of adjustment and support for long stints behind the wheel, and climate control as standard helps keep the temperature in check. 

However, space is a little tight. Taller drivers may find legroom limited, especially since the seat can’t slide back far enough due to the full steel bulkhead, and the interior doesn’t feel as airy as the Ford E-Transit Custom or Vauxhall Vivaro Electric.

Storage provision is fine if not outstanding. There are door bins, a glovebox and overhead storage, but fewer clever cubbies than you’ll find in newer rivals.

Visibility is good, helped by large mirrors and a relatively upright driving position, while the higher-spec Select model we had benefits from a 360-degree camera system that makes tight manoeuvres far easier.

That’s one of only a handful of differences between the entry-level Pro and the top-spec Select, with adjustable lumbar support and a leather-wrapped steering wheel being the other upgrades. There are plenty of cosmetic touches on the outside, though.

“MBUX is slick and modern, but it sometimes feels like Mercedes has replaced simple buttons with menus for the sake of it.” – Phil Huff, Van reviewer

The Mercedes-Benz eVito is available in two body lengths — L2 and L3 — and both benefit from the same underfloor battery layout. That means there’s no intrusion into the load bay, and cargo space is identical to the equivalent diesel Mercedes Vito.

In L2 form, the eVito provides a load volume of 6.0m³, rising to 6.6m³ in the longer L3 version. That’s pretty good and comfortably larger than an Citroën ë-Dispatch, Fiat E-Scudo, Peugeot e-Partner, or Vauxhall Vivaro Electric from Stellantis. It’s larger than an L1 Ford E-Transit Custom, too, but smaller than the longer L2 E-Transit Custom. The slightly larger Farizon SV trumps them all, though, with 7m³ in the smallest L1H1 version.

The load bay itself is sensibly shaped, with a maximum load length of 2,461mm in the L2 and 2,691mm in the L3, although that can be extended by another 370mm thanks to a cut-out beneath the front seats that allows longer items to be carried.

Access is straightforward. All versions come with twin sliding side doors as standard, along with rear barn doors that open to 180 degrees. A top-hinged tailgate is available as a no-cost option. The loading height is relatively low at around 565mm, which makes repeated loading and unloading less tiring over the course of a working day.

Where the eVito falls down is payload. Depending on the version, the maximum payload tops out at just 794kg, which is well below the class leaders. The E-Transit Custom, SV, Vivaro Electric and Volkswagen e-Transporter can all carry more than 1000kg in comparable configurations. Optional equipment can further reduce the eVito’s payload, so careful specification is important.

To make matters worse, the eVito is not approved to tow a trailer at all, which will rule it out for many trade buyers.

“Access is excellent, though. Twin sliding doors and a low loading height make it easy to work out of, especially on busy urban jobs.” – Phil Huff, Van reviewer

The Mercedes-Benz eVito’s biggest challenge is its purchase price. List prices are getting perilously close to £50,000 plus VAT for the entry-level eVito Pro L2, although the uplift to the longer L3 is a reasonable £720. It’s almost £4000 more for the plusher Select trim, which offers little extra in the cab but some cosmetic upgrades. Splashing out on the Select does make the van look very much like you expect a Mercedes van to look, though, with a bold chrome grille, painted bumpers and sleek 17in alloy wheels.

All versions qualify for the Government’s Plug-in Van Grant, which currently reduces the price by up to £5000, but even after this incentive, the eVito remains significantly more expensive than key rivals.

By comparison, a Ford E-Transit Custom or Vauxhall Vivaro Electric can be bought for several thousand pounds less while offering greater range and payload. That makes the eVito difficult to justify on upfront cost alone.

Running costs, however, are more competitive. We managed roughly 2.3 miles per kWh, which means that, when charged at home or at a workplace depot, electricity costs remain lower than diesel — at £1.40 a litre, you’d need to be doing better than 170mpg to match the cost of electricity at an overnight rate of 8.5p/kWh. At public rapid chargers, where costs can reach as much as 90p/kWh, the maths isn’t so positive.

Charging capability is adequate rather than class-leading, with AC charging at up to 11kW allowing a full charge in around six and a half hours. That’s fine for overnight depot charging, but the DC rapid charging rate of up to 80kW is disappointingly slow. A 10–80% top-up will take around 35 minutes, but that means adding just 100 miles or so of range.

Servicing costs are helped by Mercedes’ Integrated Service Package, which includes four services — two minor and two major — as standard. Mercedes also includes MobiloVan roadside assistance, with out-of-charge cover for three years as part of the package.

Warranty coverage is competitive but not exceptional. The eVito is backed by a three-year, unlimited-mileage vehicle warranty. That puts it in the middle of the sector, with some offering longer warranties. Farizon provides four years, Volkswagen five, Kia seven, and Toyota up to 10 – if you get it serviced at a franchised dealer – although all four of these warranties have mileage limits. Ford and the Stellantis quartet limit their cover to three years and 100,000 miles.

“Once you strip away the badge, the numbers are difficult to justify. Several rivals go further, carry more and cost less.” – Phil Huff, Van reviewer

Buy it if…

- You want a van that’s smooth and refined

- You like a van with a modern interior

- Good aftersales support is important to you 

Don’t buy it if…

- You regularly cover long distances in a day

- You want the cheapest medium electric van

- You need a van with a massive payload

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