Item: Mercedes V-Class
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

Although we could only manage 0-60mph in 13.0sec during our tests, we’d argue the 161bhp 2.0-litre diesel 220d is all the engine you need in a Marco Polo. There’s enough low down poke, it’s refined and it’s not like you’re going to drive a camper van quickly, is it? Only available with a smooth nine-speed automatic gearbox and in Sport trim.

V220 d

Estate

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

V CLASS

Only available with the V220d engine, we’d argue Sport is all the Marco Polo you ever need. You get twin double beds, a kitchen, an electric tailgate and sliding door, a removable camping table and two chairs, 18in alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, a 10.3in infotainment system with sat-nav, a DAB radio and Bluetooth, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, leather seats and ambient lighting as standard.

Marco Polo Sport

V220 d Marco Polo Sport 4dr 9G-Tronic [Long]

v220-d-marco-polo-sport-4dr-9g-tronic-long

Citroen e-Spacetourer

Citroën Berlingo

Citroën Spacetourer

Ford Tourneo Connect

Ford Tourneo Courier

Ford Tourneo Custom

Mercedes EQV

Mercedes V-Class

Peugeot Rifter

Peugeot Traveller

Toyota Proace Verso

Vauxhall Combo Life

Vauxhall Vivaro Life

Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life

Volkswagen Caravelle

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Pricing is yet to be 100% confirmed for the facelifted model, but the outgoing V-Class doesn’t come cheap, and the latest version is sure to follow suit.

Whether you judge it against the similarly van-like <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/model/bodyStyle/review/n17556">Ford Tourneo</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/traveller/mpv/review/n17329">Peugeot Traveller</a>, or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/mpv">regular </a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/large-suv">MPVs</a> such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/galaxy/mpv/review/n142">Ford Galaxy</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/alhambra/mpv/review/n17146">Seat Alhambra</a>, the Mercedes is a much pricier option. Even the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/caravelle/mpv/review/n17332">VW Caravelle</a>, itself far from cheap, isn’t quite as costly to buy as the V-Class. As for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/v-class/estate/review/n23174">Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo</a> camper van, it’s list price is eye-wateringly high, more so than VW’s Caravelle-based California.

For the best all-round value, go for the V 220 d. It combines strong enough performance with the best official&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">fuel economy and CO2 emissions</a> in the range. Bear in mind though, that the V-Class, as with the other van-based models, isn’t as good in these respects as regular MPVs, such as the Galaxy.

As a result the V-Class will cost you considerably more in diesel, as well as in Benefit-in-Kind <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-is-company-car-tax-calculated/n22618">(BIK)</a> tax if you’re a company car user. On the plus side, the V-Class has the best residuals in this class, closely followed by the Caravelle; although the Mercedes is more expensive to service over a typical ownership period of three years and 36,000 miles.

The Sport model comes well equipped. Highlights include 18in alloy wheels, LED headlights, power-folding door mirrors, parking sensors front and rear with a reversing camera, a powered tailgate and sliding-rear doors, rear privacy glass, sat-nav, Bluetooth, cruise control and full nappa leather upholstery with heated front seats.

It’s hard to justify the AMG-Line version; all your extra outlay gets you is a set of 19in alloy wheels, sportier body styling, metallic paint and carbon fibre-look interior trim.

You can also get Exclusive trim, which sits above AMG Line and adds more luxurious, armchair-style seats for the middle row. Full specification is yet to be confirmed, but it'll push the price up even further, making it even more difficult to recommend.

There are two Marco Polo versions available. The Marco Polo Horizon gives you two beds but few other campervan luxuries, while the version named simply Marco Polo gets the kitchenette.

Mercedes doesn’t have the most consistent reliability record, as was highlighted in the 2020 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n20069">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>. Mercedes finished near the bottom of the table, below Ford, Volkswagen&nbsp;and Seat. At least Mercedes provides a decent three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty, which should offer some reassurance.

Also positive is that the V-Class offers good crash protection, scoring the full five stars in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> safety tests in 2014 – although more stringent tests have been introduced since then.

All models come with a driver fatigue monitoring and automatic emergency braking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a>, while the optional Driver Assistance package includes adaptive cruise control, seatbelt pre-tensioning, blind spot warning and lane-keeping assistance.

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Even the&nbsp;220d, the smallest, cheapest V-Class engine is up to the job and pulls well from low revs, but if you are regularly filling all those seats we’d suggest you plump for the more powerful 300d.

Its extra shove&nbsp;not only helps it feel relatively brisk, but it’s also quieter – not having to rev it so hard to make progress tempers the engine noise. Both engines come with a nine-speed automatic gearbox, and this works well, producing slick shifts.

Unfortunately, as its name strongly hints, the V-Class is based on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/vito/van/review/n18152">Vito van</a>, and its commercial vehicle underpinnings are made evident right from the off by the somewhat rudimentary way it rides. Even with the adaptive suspension&nbsp;that comes as standard on UK models, it bounces along on undulating roads and, if you hit a hefty bump or ridge at any speed, a resounding shudder will echo through the cabin.

It falls a long way behind the comfort offered by regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/mpv/">MPVs</a> such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/galaxy/mpv/review/n142">Ford Galaxy</a>, while even the similarly van-based <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/traveller/mpv/review/n17329">Peugeot Traveller</a> manages to do better.

The same is true of handling. Bar the Galaxy, none of these large MPVs feel particularly agile, granted. Yet, with low-witted steering and a hefty amount of body lean through corners, the V-Class lives firmly in the shadow of rivals including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/alhambra/mpv/review/n17146">Seat Alhambra</a>, and, again, even the Traveller.

Another area in which the V-Class lags behind its purpose-designed MPV rivals is refinement. Wind and road noise are reasonably well checked, but you get lots of suspension noise over broken surfaces. The&nbsp;diesel engines,&nbsp;which were slightly tweaked during the 2019 update,<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/do-i-choose-petrol-or-diesel/n1110">&nbsp;</a>are pretty quiet unless you work them hard but, overall, the Ford Galaxy is a far more relaxing car to travel in.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/v-class/estate/review/n23174">Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo</a> versions have the same suspension and engine set-ups, but all the additional fitments inside bring a hefty chunk of extra weight. This serves to provide a somewhat more settled ride at a motorway cruise, but makes the V-Class feel even more cumbersome along twisting roads. You’ll definitely prefer to gently shuffle from one picturesque campsite to another, rather than hot-foot it between them.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

v220-d

Another 2.0-litre diesel, this time with 234bhp. That’s enough for a claimed 0-62mph time of 8.6sec with a negligible loss of efficiency.

V300 d 237

v300-d-237

What unites Russian oligarchs, high-ranking members of the Japanese mafia and British VIPs whisked away from an airport? No, it’s not a dodgy bank account, but the fact they are most likely travelling in a Mercedes V-Class.

The theory is that, being based on the hefty Vito van, the V-Class offers even more space than regular large MPVs such as the Ford Galaxy and Seat Alhambra, and being a Mercedes, you can also turn the luxury up to 11.

It's not the only commercial vehicle to put on an MPV suit, either – there’s also the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/tourneo-custom/mpv/review/n17556">Ford Tourneo Custom</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/traveller/mpv/review/n17329">Peugeot Traveller</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/caravelle/mpv/review/n17332">VW Caravelle</a> to consider.

The V-Class is now in its fourth generation and you can have it in standard, long or extra-long form with a choice of two diesel engines. There's also an electric variant, called the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqv/mpv/review/n22795">Mercedes EQV</a>. There are several trim levels to choose from, including one named AMG line that brings a more aggressive exterior.

Not only is it offered as an MPV, though. You can also buy a campervan-style version which sleeps up to four people, has a kitchenette, and is known as the V-Class Marco Polo. The V-Class range received a facelift in 2019, bringing styling tweaks inside and out, as well as a new lineup of engines and a new automatic gearbox.

The question is, would this big people carrier work for you? Is it the ideal choice to transport your troop of kids? Read on through this review to find out everything you need to know about Mercedes V-Class.&nbsp;If you also like to take your big family on outdoorsy adventures, we have a full separate <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/v-class/estate/review/n23174">V-Class Marco Polo review</a>.

And don’t forget to look at our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/mpv">New Car Buying</a> pages to see how much money we could save you off your next new car without any awkward haggling.

As with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/caravelle/mpv/review/n17332">VW&nbsp;Caravelle,</a> the V-Class manages to pull off the transformation from van into business-class transport more convincingly than the cheaper <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/model/bodyStyle/review/n17556">Ford Tourneo</a>&nbsp;does.

Standard Nappa leather seat trim and lashings of chrome dotted around, along with faux-leather across the dashboard, make it look and feel pleasingly smart inside. Because the switchgear is borrowed from <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz">Mercedes&nbsp;cars</a>, the buttons feel suitably substantial as well.

Everything on the dashboard is logically arranged, making it easy to use, although the infotainment system menus can seem a bit overwhelming before you get used to them. At least the high-mounted screen is clear and easy to see.

The driver’s seat is set quite high and offers an excellent view of the road ahead. Large side windows and door mirrors also mean&nbsp;you can easily see what’s coming up alongside.

The view behind isn’t quite so clear; the third row of seats hinder your vision through the rear screen. Fortunately, as all models come with parking sensors (front and rear) plus a reversing camera, this isn’t too much of an issue.

The captain’s-type driver’s seat, with its folding armrest, feels comfortable to sit on but doesn’t provide much side support when cornering. Nevertheless, it and the steering wheel both offer plenty of adjustment, so it shouldn’t take you long to find a comfortable driving position.

Decent luxury and space, but it’s too expensive to buy and not that great to drive so we’d stick with more regular MPVs

Mercedes-Benz V-Class

Access to the front seats is easy thanks to large, wide-opening doors, and the rear seats are even easier to get to thanks to a vast electric sliding door on each side. They are electrically operated via buttons as standard and are a real plus point when you need rear-seat access in a tight multi-story car park.

There’s a completely flat floor that makes it easy for passengers to move around inside. It is roomy, too, but the standard length V-Class doesn’t actually offer much more space for each passenger than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/galaxy/mpv/review/n142">Ford Galaxy</a>.

The second and third row of seats sit on rails that run from front to rear, allowing you to position them to maximise leg room for either of the two&nbsp;rows, or to enlarge the boot space. Sliding them back and forth isn’t as easy as it is in a regular MPV, though.

The standard arrangement is of two individual&nbsp;seats in the second row with a storage box in between, which contains cup holders and two foldout tables. If you wish, you can turn this row around to face the three third-row seats.

You can also upgrade those seats to recline and massage you like those in the back of an S-Class. Long and Extra Long versions come with eight seats as standard, including three seats in the middle row as well as the third.

Disappointingly, with all seven seats deployed, the boot area is relatively small and will struggle to take seven people’s luggage. You’ll find the Ford Galaxy to have a far bigger boot with all its seven seats in place, and it also shares with similar regular MPVs the advantage of a third row that folds into the floor when it’s not in use.

The V-Class only offers the option of removing the third row altogether, and it’s a cumbersome thing to lug about and store. If you go for the longer eight-seat V-Class Long and Extra Long models, the boot is far bigger and will swallow several large suitcases.

Meanwhile, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/v-class/estate/review/n23174">Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo</a> camper van turns that seven-seat interior into luxury property on wheels. There’s seating for four, two of whose seats can fold down into a double bed. For the other two, a pop-up roof provides space for another double bed on the makeshift ‘second-floor’.

Depending on specification, there’s also a full-on kitchen installation with a sink, gas hob, fridge and plenty of cupboards and storage compartments. Factor in Mercedes’ trademark glitzy finish and the end result is a living space that is significantly more glamorous than most university halls’ of residence.

Sport

sport

AMG Line

amg-line

marco-polo-sport

We wouldn’t bother with this top trim unless you really must have the 300d engine. Other than that, all you get are bigger 19in wheels, sports suspension and AMG styling touches inside and out.

Marco Polo AMG Line

marco-polo-amg-line

With so much space and potential for luxury on offer it’s no surprise that the Mercedes V-Class isn’t cheap. Whether you judge it against the similarly van-like Ford Tourneo and Peugeot Traveller, or regular MPVs such as the Ford Galaxy and Seat Alhambra, the Mercedes is a much pricier option. Even the VW Caravelle, itself far from cheap, isn’t quite as costly to buy as the V-Class. As for the Marco Polo campervan, it’s list price is eye-wateringly high, more so than VW’s Caravelle-based California camper.


Van-based MPV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all the family and their paraphernalia</li> <li>Comfortable ride for everyone inside</li> <li>Seats with plenty of adjustment and versatility of layout</li> <li>Engine that can cope with a full load of people and luggage</li> <li>Excellent efficiency to avoid big fuel bills</li></ul>

Practicality is king in the MPV market, which has taken a hit as buyers have turned towards trendier SUVs. There are still plenty of decent offerings to suit most budgets, though, with Citroën fielding a particularly strong line-up. The French manufacturer’s Berlingo offers bags of space for not much money and you can easily haggle off thousands of extra pounds in discounts, too.

Citroën also scores with the larger Grand C4 Spacetourer, which offers seven seats, lots of oddment space and appealing running costs for something so large. A similarly priced and even better option is the Volkswagen Touran. Meanwhile, if you prefer a premium badge, there's always the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers or Mercedes B-Class and V-Class.

But for something sizeable that's still decent to drive, we’d recommend you check out the Ford Galaxy, which can offer three rows of seats and decent luggage space at the same time. It’s not that much pricier than the smaller S-Max.

Mercedes V-Class review

Introduction

What Car? says...