Driving experience
As usual with a Vito, the powerplant is a 2.0-litre diesel unit mated to 9G-TRONIC auto transmission. The ordinary 116 version gets this powertrain in 160hp form with 380Nm of torque. The plusher 'Premium Night Edition' variant we tried gets this engine in uprated 187hp guise, with 187hp and 400Nm of torque.
And over bumps and around corners? The ride might be a slightly firmer than you're used to but it's an undeniably supple and well-controlled one you'll quickly adapt to and appreciate. Overall, we'd struggle to name a crew van rival that rode better or was more refined. There's also the fact that, a little unusually in this class, this van is rear rather than front driven, meaning more rewarding handling than you might be expecting and a tighter turning circle.
+ More
Design and build
The face of this Vito has a chunky, robust look that takes its cues from the current Mercedes passenger car line up. There are two body lengths available (L2 and L3) but just a single roof height. A chrome radiator grille and 17-inch alloy wheels are standard on all Crew Vans, along with colour-coded bumpers, front fog lights and metallic paint. The top 'Premium Night Edition' version we tried (only offered in L2 form) gets roof rails and rear privacy glass too.
A tailgate is standard on the Crew Van and easy access is achieved to the removable rear seats via side sliding doors, fitted to both sides of the vehicle as standard, with a wide entry. Passenger space in the rear is generous.
The Vito's wide door opening and well placed step mean that getting in to the cabin is a simple enough manoeuvre and once seated aloft, you'll find a cab with two front chairs that's close to Mercedes-Benz passenger car standards thanks to high quality fixtures and fittings. These include leatherette upholstery, driver's chair lumbar support, front seat heating and ambient lighting in the 'Premium Night Edition' variant we tried; it really doesn't feel much like a van at all.
It also helps that the smart steering wheel isn't set at such a bus-like angle as you'll find in some competitors, with further car-like cues found in the way that most of the controls are located on a neatly presented centre console, with gears operated from a stalk off the steering wheel.
+ More
Market and model
In its volume 'Premium' form, the Vito Crew Van comes in two lengths (L2 and L3), priced from just under £40,000 excluding the VAT. If you're happy with the shorter L2 version and can find around £4,500 more, then you can get yourself the plusher 'Premium Night Edition' version we tried, which increases power from the 2.0-litre diesel engine from 160 to 187hp - but that'll take your spend over £44,000 - or nearly £53,000 including the VAT. You have to have 9G-TRONIC auto transmission.
'Premium' spec gets you 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, power-folding mirrors, metallic paint, PATKTRONIC all-round sensors, TEMPMATIC air conditioning, a reversing camera, cruise control and velour floor mats. The 'Premium Night Edition' version we tried adds roof rails, 17-inch wheels with a smarter 5-twin-spoke design, headlights with the company's LED Intelligent Light System, puddle lights with the brand logo and rear privacy glass. Inside, this upgraded trim level gets you leatherette upholstery, an improved 'Audio 40' centre dash infotainment screen, front seat hearing and ambient lighting.
Standard safety equipment across the range includes Active Brake ASSIST, Adaptive ESP, Adaptive Brake Lights, Attention Assist, Crosswind Assist, driver and co-driver airbags, Hill-Start Assist, Rescue Assist QR codes, plus a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. Twin front airbags are included too.
+ More
Summary
You might think this Vito Crew Van is neither one thing nor the other; too smart to be a working van. And too LCV-like to be a luxury MPV. Having tested it though, we prefer to think of it offering the best of both worlds. And if you don't need a third seating row, it's a much cleverer choice than the Mercedes V-Class it looks identical to, not least because (unlike with that model) you can recover VAT on the purchase price.
Mercedes has hit upon quite an interesting niche here. And if you understand why, you'll understand why there's nothing quite like a Vito Crew Van.
+ More
