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The Mercedes of large crew vans as this one, the Sprinter Crew Van. It's big, in every respect - exterior size, cargo capacity, payload - and price. But after looking at what's on offer here, you might just feel it's worth it.
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Background
Large jobs usually require not only large amounts of cargo but also plenty of people power. Which might conceivably leave you needing a large crew van. Here's one of the very biggest; the Crew Van version of the Mercedes Sprinter.
The Sprinter line-up's changed quite a bit in recent times with the introduction of a completely redesigned EV powertrain. We can't imagine many crew van customers choosing that (if it ever becomes available in this form); anyway, it's the diesel version we're testing here - in simply enormous L3 H2 form. In principle, everything you need from a large crew van is on offer in this instance. But how will it work in practice? Let's put this tough LCV to the test.
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Driving experience
The Sprinter Crew Van we tried was a 317 L3 'Progressive' model with a 2.0-litre 170hp diesel offering a useful 400Nm of torque. Our test vehicle was front wheel drive, but the Sprinter can also be had in rear wheel drive or all-wheel drive forms and can therefore be optimally configured for the relevant transport requirement and operating profile. The front wheel drive format especially shows its inherent advantages when the vehicle is lightly loaded or in slippery conditions. Front-driven variants get either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 9-speed automatic 'box. In the rear-wheel drive variants, thanks to separation of the drive and steering, the classic advantages lie in optimum ride comfort, a smaller turning circle and more agile handling. Rear-wheel drive also allows more control when towing a trailer and at the limits of the maximum permissible gross vehicle weight.
The optional all-wheel drive system improves traction, particularly in difficult weather conditions or poor road conditions, thus enhancing driving safety and driving dynamics. Gear reduction is additionally available for demanding operations. As for other engines, well two other versions of the brand's four cylinder 2.0-litre diesel powerplant are available, with either 150hp or 190hp and available with either 6-speed manual transmission with tried or a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed auto gearbox.
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Design and build
We've rarely tested anything quite as big as a Sprinter Crew Van - well in this L3 H2 form anyway. Inside, this is one of those crew vans with a cargo bay properly separated from the dual-row passenger compartment - which is always a much safer design approach than having second row occupants exposed to heavy un-tied-down items that might fly forward from the rear in an emergency.
Otherwise, it is of course just like any other Sprinter van. The driver's workplace is uncluttered, practical and designed to meet the relevant transport requirements. You get ergonomically-shaped seats, keyless start and an effective air conditioning system. A variable stowage concept ensures that everything has its place. The interior also features a modular dashboard design that allows for maximum flexibility - and everything from extra storage, to cutting-edge infotainment and wireless charging is available.
The multimedia system has a large, high-resolution touchscreen, fast hard-disc navigation with 3D map display and smartphone integration. For pleasant temperatures inside the cockpit, owners can choose between a semi-automatic air conditioning system or automatic climate control, according to their comfort requirements.
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Market and model
There are potentially front-driven, rear-driven and all wheel-driven Sprinter Crew Van models. And the diesel versions come with a choice of three trim levels - 'Pure', 'Progressive' (which is what we tried) and 'Premium'. The price for the vehicle we tried at the time of our test in early 2024 was £63,972 (ex VAT) - or £76,550 (inc VAT). Sprinter Crew Vans are considered special orders by Mercedes van dealers, so anyone considering a Sprinter in this particular body format would need to work with a local franchise to specify to their individual needs.
All Sprinter models include an advanced connectivity package, the 'Communication Module', which has an in-built LTE SIM-card offering rapid data transmission between vans, drivers and vehicle managers. And as you'd expect, safety is very well accounted for. The Sprinter gets standard autonomous braking, the brand's 'Active Brake Assist with pedestrian protection' package. Plus, like the Vito, this LCV is also fitted with 'ATTENTION ASSIST' drowsiness detection, to prevent fatigue and encourage drivers to drive responsibly with breaks when they get tired. The Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call system can summon rescue services in the event of an accident, whilst Rear Cross Traffic and Exit Alert monitors the rear of the vehicle, and can autonomously brake in the event of an impending collision. In the event of an accident, Sprinter automatically applies its brakes to prevent secondary collisions.
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Summary
For any business, a large crew van like this is a substantial investment. And with that in mind, you might feel better about committing to the premium required for this Mercedes, rather than one of its more mainstream brand big crew van rivals. In this part of the market, it's not really the allure of the Three-Pointed Star that draws the custom - though that's no doubt welcome. Customers are more bothered about toughness, longevity and low depreciation, attributes this Sprinter Crew Van nails more effectively than its most obvious rivals.
It feels the more solid contender that it is - to the point where a decision to choose one of these might be accompanied by one to extend this model's working life on your fleet. At which point, with the up-front costs spread over a longer period, you might be inclined to see purchase of one of these not as an expensive investment but, potentially, rather clever one.
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