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

Citroën Relay

Fiat Ducato

Ford Transit

Iveco Daily

MAN TGE

Mercedes Sprinter

Nissan NV400

Peugeot Boxer

Renault Master

Vauxhall Movano

Volkswagen Crafter

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

It is true that Sprinter vans are at the more expensive end of the large van segment, and when it comes to servicing or repairing one the bills don’t get any cheaper.

What Sprinter vans do offer is a good reputation for reliability and an extensive dealer network to help support the product. That said, you’re still paying a premium for the Mercedes badge and without any steps up in the pricing structure you can easily find yourself adding thousands in extras.

Option packs like Comfort and the Driver’s package are definitely recommended because&nbsp;they add much needed additional seat adjustment as well as parking sensors and air conditioning.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kWoWvUM8tMw"></iframe>

Safety features are always high in Mercedes vans and the Sprinter is no exception. Crosswind Assist, to keep you in a straight line when the wind gusts, and Attention Assist are both standard, but there’s also optional features like Active Distance Assist which maintains a safe distance to the vehicle in front and combines with Active Brake Assist to ensure there’s no rear-end impacts. Service intervals are the best in the segment with a variable two year 37,500 mile interval, while the van is covered by a 36-month warranty.

This Sprinter, however, is all about the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (or MBUX for short). It first appeared on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">A-Class</a> family hatchback and is standard on the Sprinter – although you can choose to remove it.

The key benefits&nbsp;are total connectivity to the vehicle providing real-time data and a much better interface for the driver. Voice commands using the phrase “Hey Mercedes” is perhaps a novelty, but the system’s self-learning to providing you with details about your journey to work or places to stop will be the most useful. It’s a great system if you feel the need to have a van almost as competent as a smartphone.

For all the latest van reviews, news, advice, and videos visit our dedicated van section&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/vans">here</a>

With a revised range of engines from 143bhp to 170bhp, the Sprinter no longer has significantly more power than its rivals.&nbsp;

While the entry-level 2.1-litre engine is essentially the same unit that has been used in the Sprinter van since its upgrade to Euro-6 engines in 2014, and remains on a par with rivals in terms of performance and efficiency, the new 2.0-litre engine is a thoroughly modern and efficient&nbsp;engine. For that reason, the 143bhp unit would not be our choice, unless you needed to have a front-wheel-drive van (which gets you a fraction more in terms of payload).

The first of the newer 2.0-litre engines would actually be our preferred engine, with 148bhp and 251lb ft of torque, rather than the 168bhp unit, despite it having 30lb ft more. Combined fuel economy is not unduly altered between each of the models, with a best of 32.1mpg from the 148hp unit, compared to 29.1mpg for the 168bhp engine.

The rest of the package is everything you’d expect from a Mercedes-Benz van. The steering is heavy, but exceptionally well balanced. The Sprinter sails around corners with astonishing levels of grip and composure, while it also eats up the motorway miles in fantastic comfort. With each incremental change to the Sprinter van it becomes a more complete package, and while the Volkswagen Crafter has&nbsp;arguably a more comfortable ride, the Sprinter is still a top-notch van.

The six-speed manual gearbox is well paired to all the engine options, and as such there’s little need to opt for the nine-speed automatic. If you do need an automatic gearbox, however, the 9G-Tronic is a smooth unit that responds quickly to kickdown requests and seamlessly shifts up and down through the gears.

Our biggest gripe is&nbsp;with one of the safety features that has been introduced to make the van even better. Along with Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist is a safety feature designed to make motorway miles, in particular, much easier and safer. Yet, in the Sprinter lane keeping is corrected through the use of the brakes rather than the steering. The net result is severe breaking on the opposite side of the vehicle to the direction you’re straying in which prevents you leaving the lane.

The downside is sometimes a significant reduction in speed which can startle other drivers, but in the Sprinter’s defence, Mercedes says the drastic braking is in fact to startle the driver to make sure they adjust their driving wayward driving.

If any brand has come the closest to making the perfect van, it has to be Mercedes-Benz. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has won countless awards, has legions of loyal customers and has improved like a fine wine through&nbsp;more than 20 years of gradual refinements.

The latest third-generation model is no exception, but in the current digital age&nbsp;the Sprinter, a humble van, is trying to keep up with the trends by adding connectivity and voice control to its repertoire of talents.

Like its closest competition, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit/van/review/n18188">Ford Transit</a> and Volkswagen Crafter, the Sprinter has a wealth of body types to choose from and has also now added a front-wheel drive configuration to the existing rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options. There are four body lengths, three roof heights and – in addition to panel van models – there are crew cabs, chassis cabs, chassis crew cabs, dropside bodies and minibus Tourer versions.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kWoWvUM8tMw"></iframe>

Power initially came from a four-cylinder 2.1-litre diesel with 111bhp, 143bhp and 163bhp outputs, as well as a 3.0-litre diesel V6 engine producing 187bhp. These all met Euro-6 emissions requirements.

However, the introduction of Euro-6d engine regulations meant that the 2.1-litre engine had to be revised and the range revamped. The line-up now consists of a similar 2.1-litre unit producing 143bhp, along with a 2.0-litre engine producing 148bhp or 168bhp. Front-wheel-drive is limited to the 2.1-litre engine, while rear-wheel-drive is the only option for the 2-litre vans.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard across all vans, but a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic option is available on all models. &nbsp;The 7G Tronic Plus gearbox has now been deleted from the range, having previously been available on all 2.1-litre engine models. There’s also the option of a fully electric Sprinter van. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-sprinter/van/review/n22228">Mercedes-Benz eSprinter</a> is front-wheel drive and is single drive – meaning there is no gearbox.

Trim options<s> </s>in the Sprinter start with the Pure model, followed by Progressive and finally Power. Mercedes briefly abandoned dedicated trim levels,&nbsp;instead allowing the Sprinter to be customised with various option packs.&nbsp;While the packs, which include the Driver Pack, Comfort Pack, Premium Pack, Active Safety Pack, Lane Tracking Pack and Comfort Pack Plus, all remain available, much of the equipment is incorporated into the new trim tiers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Equipment like parking sensors and electric heated door mirrors, right through to less obvious options like covered storage compartments or an adjustable steering wheel, are&nbsp;all available.

Read on to find out how the Sprinter compares with its key rivals.

Mercedes is billing its new Sprinter as the most connected van on the market – making a great deal of noise about Mercedes Pro and the services that can be provided around the van including fleet management, improved communications and a greater transparency with the vehicle and its needs (eg. servicing or fault code warning).

On a more basic level, however, the inside has been dramatically overhauled to better suit the people that are using the Sprinter – the driver. Basic interiors are still geared around storage and functionality, with large open areas suitable for keeping all manner of items.

Entry-level vans in the UK get a 7.0in touchscreen as standard, but as you explore the range of options available the storage becomes more sophisticated and the centre console more elaborate, with a 10.25in screen option available to provide navigation and infotainment. It’s an imposing screen and one that certainly fills the console. From a purely cosmetic point of view it looks better than the 7.0in version too, but given that the larger screen will come at a hefty price&nbsp;we’d be inclined to stick with the standard screen.

The new interior does lack a glovebox, which many will find an annoyance, but the space around the gear stick has been used to provide additional space. Opt for an automatic gearbox&nbsp;and you’ll get two large storage holes beneath it that can be specified with cupholders or as a smaller cubby. Alternatively, you can delete the storage altogether to provide extra knee room for the middle seat passenger. If you’ve got a manual gearbox, the gear stick takes up one of the spaces leaving the other free for cupholders or general storage.

It’s a quality feeling interior too, as you would expect from Mercedes. The plastics are soft and textured, while switches are springy and much closer to car equipment than CVs. Even small details like pushing on the air vents result in a weirdly satisfying amount of give, demonstrating that in the Sprinter these aren’t your common or garden commercial vehicle components.

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

SPRINTER

The Sprinter is without doubt the most advanced van on the market. The Sprinter’s reputation alone means you should at least consider it, but rivals come in just as many shapes and sizes, but without the frills.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

There’s always been a great deal of choice in the Sprinter range, with short, medium and long wheelbase models available in four body lengths and three roof heights. Now though, there’s the addition of front-wheel drive as well as rear- and four-wheel-drive.

Mercedes has levelled the playing field between it and its competitors while offering up to 17m3 and a total payload of 3,175kg because the maximum GVW extends as far as 5.5-tonnes. Payload for your run-of-the-mill front-wheel drive 3.5-tonne van exceeds 1,200kg thanks to a 50kg saving compared to the equivalent rear-wheel drive model. There’s also the added benefit of an 80mm reduction in rear loading height.

Loadspace dimensions for length range from 2,607mm in an L1 van to 4707mm in an L4 model, while heights span 1,798mm to 2,209mm for H1 and H2 options. Width is 1,555mm and 1,358mm between the wheel arches.

Double rear doors and a left-hand-side sliding side door are standard on all models, but there is the option of power assisted versions on all panel van variants as well as a second sliding door.

The Sprinter is without doubt the most advanced van on the market. The Sprinter’s reputation alone means you should at least consider it, but rivals come in just as many shapes and sizes, but without the frills.

Large Van

Mercedes Sprinter review

Fill out our 2022 Reliability Survey - and win a prize!

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Volvo XC60

Nissan Ariya

Fiat 500

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Honda HR-V

Dacia Jogger

/news/complete-the-2022-what-car-reliability-survey-for-the-chance-to-win-a-prize/n15554

New car deals >>

site ribbon config

Buying advice for the Mercedes Sprinter covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

It is true that Sprinter vans are at the more expensive end of the large van segment, and when it comes to servicing or repairing one the bills don’t get any cheaper.,What Sprinter vans do offer is a good reputation for reliability and an extensive dealer network to help support the product. That said, you’re still paying a premium for the Mercedes badge and without any steps up in the pricing structure you can easily find yourself adding thousands in extras.,Option packs like Comfort and the Driver’s package are definitely recommended because they add much needed additional seat adjustment as well as parking sensors and air conditioning.Safety features are always high in Mercedes vans and the Sprinter is no exception. Crosswind Assist, to keep you in a straight line when the wind gusts, and Attention Assist are both standard, but there’s also optional features like Active Distance Assist which maintains a safe distance to the vehicle in front and combines with Active Brake Assist to ensure there’s no rear-end impacts. Service intervals are the best in the segment with a variable two year 37,500 mile interval, while the van is covered by a 36-month warranty.,This Sprinter, however, is all about the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (or MBUX for short). It first appeared on the A-Class family hatchback and is standard on the Sprinter – although you can choose to remove it.,The key benefits are total connectivity to the vehicle providing real-time data and a much better interface for the driver. Voice commands using the phrase “Hey Mercedes” is perhaps a novelty, but the system’s self-learning to providing you with details about your journey to work or places to stop will be the most useful. It’s a great system if you feel the need to have a van almost as competent as a smartphone.For all the latest van reviews, news, advice, and videos visit our dedicated van section here

New car deals >>

Mercedes Sprinter review

MAN TGE

Volkswagen Crafter

Costs & verdict

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

What Car? has a buying service

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information