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Faced with the problem of how to convert all of the buyers of small estates and mini-MPVs to the three-pointed star, Mercedes designers came up with the Vaneo. It's by no means the most elegant looking vehicle on the block, but it gets the job done in a solid no-nonsense manner. In many respects, it's the very antithesis of Mercedes' extreme power and premium pricing philosophy, offering an affordable and modest vehicle to those who still harbour some residual badge snobbery.
Loosely based on the long wheelbase chassis of the A-class supermini, the Vaneo makes an interesting used buy. Although it never really caught the British public's imagination, the Vaneo is surprisingly rugged and soaks up miles very well.
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History
A combination of the A-class' poor start to life and the British resistance to buying a passenger car with the letters V-A-N in the title probably did as much as anything to scupper the Vaneo's chances of making big sales figures. On the continent, buyers adopt a far more pragmatic approach to van-based passenger vehicles and although the budget end of the market is receptive to cars like the Fiat Doblo, the Citroen Berlingo Multispace and the Renault Kangoo, the thought of paying all that money for something with a Mercedes badge on the bonnet had most prospective customers looking instead at a Renault Scenic, a Citroen Picasso or a Vauxhall Zafira. Launched in May 2002 with a range of four engines and three trim levels, the Vaneo got off to a low-key start and hasn't really picked up.
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What you get
The 4,192 mm long Vaneo sits on a very long wheelbase of 2.9 metres and on rather wide tracks (1,524 mm front and 1,477 mm rear) making for a different 'footprint' to the A-Class. All this is just as well, for to stand any chance of competing with Scenics and Zafiras, this car needs to be a lot larger than Mercedes' entry-level model. True enough, a highish roofline of 1830 mm is coupled to an interior height of 1240 mm to give an agreeably airy feel to the cabin. Remove the rear seats and you've got 1810mm of length in the rear cargo bay. You won't want to repeat this procedure too often, however as they are rather heavy. Remove the front passenger seat and you can get items up to 3000mm long inside. Socially inept windsurfers may well have found their nirvana.
Load the Vaneo up with people and paraphernalia and it rides very well, but such is the firmness of the springing that when it's empty, the ride quality deteriorates somewhat and feels slightly commercial. A seven seat option is available for those who run six a side football teams and/or are gifted procreators, but most will be content with the five seat version which is one of the rare offerings in the mini-MPV class that can not only seat five but can also transport the accompanying luggage. Full marks to Mercedes there.
The modular seat layout, two wide opening sliding doors and tailgate give easy access to the large interior and an optional pull-out compartment floor makes loading simplicity itself. The Vaneo is reasonably well equipped, with standard features such as ESP electronic stability control, Brake Assist, twin front and side airbags and the proven sandwich-body construction pioneered by the A-class.
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What to look for
A full Mercedes dealer service history is absolutely essential, especially for the most recent models whose lengthy warranty - effectively for the life of the car - is dependent on proper servicing by an authorised agent.
Check that all the accessories work and watch out for cosmetic damage which can be expensive to correct. These are popular family cars, so check for wear and tear in the rear. Also look for the usual signs of wheel kerbing and poorly repaired accident damage. Unlike many manufacturers who concentrate on a plush cabin and skimp on the out-of-the-way bits in order to create a good first impression, Mercedes have bizarrely adopted the alternate approach with the Vaneo. Despite the lacklustre plastics quality of the cabin, the mechanicals are very tough indeed. Don't judge this book by its flimsy cover.
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Replacement parts
(approx. Based on a Vaneo 1.6 Trend) Allow around £40 for a set of front brake pads and £25 for the rear and about £175 (excluding catalyst) for a factory exhaust system. A full clutch replacement would cost around £175, a radiator is about £135 whilst a starter motor can be up to £250. A new alternator would be in the region of £445 and a front headlamp would cost about £95.
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On the road
Four engines feature in the Vaneo line-up, but most will opt for one of the two 1.6-litre petrol units on offer, respectively developing 82 and 102bhp. There's also a range-topping 125bhp 1.9-litre petrol powerplant. As in the A-class, these units are eight, rather than fashionable 16-valve in configuration. The engineers apparently rejected the multivalve approach on the grounds of size and weight and, sure enough, both powerplants are about 25% lighter than equivalent engines, a difference that makes the car feel livelier than their respective power outputs would suggest. The more powerful 102bhp 1.6, for example, makes sixty in 11.1s on the way to 111mph. As well as the standard manual gearbox, there's also an auto box and something between the two - a manual without a clutch.
There's no doubting, however, the hi-tech credentials of the 1.7-litre direct injection turbo diesel. This 91bhp engine uses 'common rail' diesel technology to produce an impressive balance between power and economy, averaging nearly 50mpg. Whichever option you choose, in true Mercedes fashion, you can select it in one of three trim packages - Trend, Family and Ambiente. Various lifestyle packages are also available, with names like Carry, Dog, Cycle, Surf and Winter that obviously sounded good after a long marketing lunch. Still, it seems Mercedes are playing the lifestyle card with major conviction.
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Overall
Don't let the uninspiring looks and twee name put you off. The Vaneo is well built and offers a surprising amount of space in its compact footprint. It won't win any beauty contests and inviting people for 'a spin in the Merc' might be a recipe for disappointment, but to know a Vaneo is to love one. Surprisingly good.
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