Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

A few days behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter highlights just why it’s been at the top for so long, says Andrew Walker

Mercedes Benz launched the third generation of its Sprinter in2018, with evolution the watchword rather than revolution.

It now contains the brand’s Pro Connect advanced technology, accessed from a new centrally located 10.25” touchscreen. The interior features a new touch-capable multifunction steering wheel, natural voice control, a clearly laid-out uncluttered instrument panel, wireless charging for smartphones and some features from the Mercedes-Benz car range, such as the air-vents. It all gives Sprinter the most car-like interior of any van to date.

The top of the dash features three closing storage cubby holes, the larger central one holding the USB connection. Further storage comes in the form of door pockets large enough to hold a couple of bottles, two storage spaces underneath the dashboard controls, shelving above both driver and passenger and two smaller spaces under the central air-vents.

There’s a quality finish to the dash and the neat and tidy matt black interior. The lack of switches on the dash is a little disconcerting. The touchscreen and functions therein do take a little while to get used to, but it’s not as complicated as most modern cars. Once you’ve spent some time behind the wheel everything clicks into place, with the toggle heating controls, for example, becoming second nature to adjust. Everything you need is within easy reach from the driver’s seat as well.

From the outside it’s still unmistakably a Sprinter. Subtle updates include slender headlights, with LED bulbs on higher spec vans, a more upright windscreen, blistered wheel arches and a softer profile.

Both the inside and outside may be new but the engine range is the same as on the previous model. For the first time the Sprinter is offered with front wheel drive, powered by a 2.1-litre four-cylinder unit offered in three power outputs; 114hp, 143hp and 177hp, with the most powerful version exclusively reserved for the camper van.

Rear wheel drive also features on the 2.1 litre unit and offers power outputs of 114hp, 143hp or 163hp. And, if you need one, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel FWD version is now offered for the first time. As before, the Sprinter AWD is also available with four-wheel drive and a raised ride height to give it some extra off-road ability.

As standard, the Sprinter gets a six-speed manual gearbox, while the rear-drive model has the option of a 7Gtronic auto. The FWD mode also features a new nine-speed torque converter auto for improved efficiency and performance. If you’re a buyer looking to reduce emissions, especially for last-mile

The little extras keep latest Sprinter ahead of the competition

deliveries in urban areas, the all-electric Mercedes eSprinter is also an option.

If you’re looking for your large panel van to be just right for you, the latest Sprinter offers 1,700 variants, be it panel van, Tourer, dropside, chassis, bus or tractor head. Maximum load capacity is 17m3 and up to 5.5 tonnes. The addition of FWD increases payload by 50 kg and this model is also available with a 9-speed auto transmission. FWD also offers an 80 mm lower loading sill to make loading/ unloading and access/exit more convenient.

The panel van comes in a variety of sizes, with four wheelbases and six body styles. The FWD version comes in two wheelbases (3,259mm or 3,924mm) and is offered in panel van, chassis cab or tractor head guises, the latter being designed for camper van conversion.

Go for the Sprinter RWD and you have a choice of three wheelbases in either panel van, chassis cab, crew cab or passenger carrying Tourer bodies, while the RWD version also offers a double-wheel option for loads up to 5.5 tonnes.

The panel van has a load area that features a large, flat, plastic-trimmed floor, plus a plywood lining, which is now standard across the range. The box wheel arches have been strengthened and are able to carry as much weight as the load floor itself, while standard and high-roof variants are also offered.

In terms of electronics, the Sprinter now comes with electric power steering, so it’s able to make use of Mercedes’s latest safety systems from its car range.

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Gold medal for third Sprinter

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Distronic adaptive cruise control is also available. This brings the Sprinter to a complete stop before driving off again and it can cope with congested driving. Lane keep assist is on offer too, while the active system can automatically brake the vehicle if it senses the Sprinter is drifting across road lanes.

Depending on body type, wheelbase, roof height, drive configuration and engine variant, the fuel consumption figures vary between 41.5 and 29.1 mpg, with CO2 emissions ranging from 178 and 253 g/km. Nitrogen oxides after combustion falls by over 80 per cent and the AdBlue tank capacity has increased to 22 litres

CC&V had the opportunity to drive a FWD manual MWB and RWD auto LWB, versions of the Sprinter.

The first thing that strikes you about the latest Sprinter is just how easy it is to drive. Much like the latest Crafter and MAN TGE, it’s incredibly car-like in movement and feel. The speed sensitive electric power steering is light and well balanced and on the motorway it cruises nicely. In town, our 114hp test model lacked a bit of poke, just doing enough to keep up with traffic as we headed out on to the motorway, with two passengers and a load of bagged concrete onboard. In and around Manchester it coped well with rush-hour traffic and the light clutch was a real bonus.

From a connectivity point of view, Mercedes Pro Connect is a very useful tool for fleet managers and delivery drivers alike. It includes

the likes of Vehicle Supervision, Vehicle Operations, Fleet Communication, Maintenance Management, Accident Management and a Digital Driver’s Log. There’s also a high-speed internet connection in the Sprinter, which is available for the connectivity services of Mercedes Pro, but can also act as a hotspot for separate mobile devices. For the first three years, the Mercedes Pro service ‘Live Traffic’ is available for free with the navigation system.

The infotainment system offered includes an AM/FM radio, with my favourite DAB stations found using the built-in TuneIn internet radio App. Mercedes SatNav was straightforward to set up and worked well, although as with many counterparts, if you rely solely on it, you will need to keep your wits about you as it has a tendency, visually anyway, to be a little slow to point out the next turn, leaving you unsure as to which right hander you really should be going down.

The driver’s seat and its adjustment options were exemplary. Fore and aft, up and down are all on offer and it was easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. There’s space for three up front and the steel bulkhead keeps the cab quiet, a bonus if utilising hands-free Bluetooth.

The steering wheel also features buttons to access the infotainment system, the hands-free Bluetooth phone connectivity, the cruise control and vehicle information. Adjusting the air con to your liking is achieved by toggling the switches up and down. These are located to the left and right hand side of the central dash underneath the touchscreen. There’s also a push-button starter, standard across the range, with keyless entry and exit. The electronic handbrake is just below the steering wheel. All in all, clutter-free and Scandi-like in design.

The following day we got behind the wheel of the RWD LWB auto version. This was equally as impressive to pilot as the smaller manual. Stop-start traffic proved no problem with the auto box, in which the seven gears were well spaced.

We spent much of our journey in the RWD Sprinter stuck in traffic, negotiating the type of driving roads that delivery drivers encounter daily. We looped around the M60 but also got slowed down there as well. In comparison with the previous model, from a driver’s perspective, this latest Sprinter does everything better than its predecessor and in most cases better than the competition, too.

The Sprinter is offered as a panel or crew cab, with four lengths, three heights and three trims: Pure, Progressive and Premium. Prices start from £26,284 for a Pure 214 L1 H1 FWD, moving on through entry level Progressive, a 314 L1 H1 FWD and up to entry level Premium, a 314 L1 H1 FWD. These prices make it competitive against the Volkswagen Crafter and the MAN TGE, it’s natural rivals.

VERDICT The Sprinter does everything you’d want a large panel van to do. There’s plenty of choices of engines, transmissions and trim levels, and it’s full of quality fittings. Not cheap but a real investment that’s top of the class. CC&V RATING:

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