Mercedes Vito In-Depth Review 2021 - Best Mid-Sized Van for Businesses?

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The Mercedes Vito van has been revitalised by a mid-term update that's delivered the brand's latest OM 654-series 2.0-litre diesel engine and (for Vito Tourer bus operators) the option of all-electric power too. There's also a light visual update, improvements to safety kit and even a clever new digital rear view mirror option. As before, there's a choice of front or rear-driven drive configurations and very class-competitive load capacity and payload stats. As a result, Stuttgart's medium-sized LCV contender looks better equipped than ever to take the fight to an increasingly impressive array of Volkswagen Transporter and Vauxhall Vivaro-sized rivals.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00​​​​ Introduction
00:52 Background
03:55 Driving Experience
13:56 Design & Build
21:15 Market & Model Range
39:27 Cost of Ownership
48:23​​​ Summary

Background

One of the things you learn early on in business is that the cheapest options aren't always the best ones. And that the way you deliver your goods says plenty about them. Both things explain the appeal of the Mercedes-Benz of medium range vans, this model, the Vito, which slots in just below the larger Sprinter model in the German brand's LCV range. Well over a million examples have been sold since its original launch in 1996 but in a tougher, more eco-conscious commercial market, this design now needs more than just badge and build quality to stave off competition from less prestigiously badged but arguably more complete rivals. Hence the improved Vito model we're looking at here, smarter, better to drive and crucially, less costly to run.

All of which it will need to deliver if it is to be a credible alternative to tough rivals as diverse as the Renault Trafic / Nissan NV 300 / Fiat Talento design, the Peugeot Expert / Vauxhall Vivaro / Toyota Proace / Citroen Dispatch collaboration, the Volkswagen Transporter and of course the ubiquitous Ford Transit Custom. All these alternatives claim to match this Vito's all-round excellence for less money, but Mercedes reckons that it won't take operators very long behind the wheel to appreciate the difference that the Three-Pointed Star can make.

Driving Experience

So, what kind of business do you have? If its deliveries are primarily long distance ones, then Mercedes wants to sell you the long-legged version of this Vito, which in this revised form features a newly installed 'OM 654'-series 2.0-litre twin turbo diesel engine mated exclusively to rear wheel drive and 9-speed automatic transmission; there are three rear-drive options - the 134PS 114CDI, the 163PS 116CDI and the 190PS 119CDI. If though, as is possibly more likely, your company primarily makes urban-bound deliveries over short distances, there are two quite different Vito alternatives to consider.

One is all-electric, the 116PS eVito variant, which has a 41kWh battery mated to a 116PS electric motor and can offer a 92 mile combined driving range when fully charged, a replenishment process that occupies up to 6 hours. Your other Vito option, the least expensive one, uses the 1.7-litre diesel unit we tried, which can only be paired with front wheel drive and a manual gearbox. There are two options with this smaller powerplant, a base 110CDI variant with 102PS; and the 114CDI front-driven variant we sampled, which offers 136PS. As for WLTP-rated efficiency figures, well they're not particularly notable, but one attribute that will be on your test drive is this Vito's superb refinement and seat support: quite simply, it's the most comfortable van we've ever driven.

Design and Build

Visual changes to the improved version of this third generation 'W447'-series design are subtle, mainly centring around a restyled radiator grille. Rear twin doors are standard for the van models, which can be opened back to the 180?? position or locked in place at an angle of 90??. A tailgate is standard on the crew van and Tourer models, as well as being a no-cost option for panel van models. Easy access is also achieved to the loadspace via side sliding doors, fitted to both sides of the vehicle as standard, with a wide entry. In addition, a full-height bulkhead is fitted to panel vans as standard.

PLAYLISTS
► Weekly Motoring News: https://bit.ly/35JuUo7
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► Highlight Car Reviews: https://bit.ly/35N1Wnx
► Electric Car Reviews: https://bit.ly/2TAqjPK
► Short Car Reviews: https://bit.ly/2HHlJMS
► Hatchback Reviews: https://bit.ly/3mKNAen
► SUV & 4X4 Reviews: https://bit.ly/37Verjt
► MPV Reviews: https://bit.ly/3e7114S
► Van Reviews: https://bit.ly/31QWcb4
► Business Car Reviews: https://bit.ly/3kGZncN
► Family Car Reviews: https://bit.ly/3myLaiy

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