Range boost makes the eVito a real option for delivery fleets

Mercedes has massively improved the battery range of its eVito, making it far more attractive prospect. Andrew Walker got to grips with one recently and here’s how we got on.

The upgraded eVito looks and feels the same as a diesel model, except that it’s powered by an 114bhp 85kW electric motor offering 300Nm of torque. The improved eVito now features a 66kWh battery with a WLTP range of 162 miles; that’s up from the 93 miles of its predecessor.

AC charging to 11kW and DC to 80kW are both standard on eVito. As ever, plug-in at home or at work for cheaper rates – we use Rolec chargers, https://www.rolecserv.com/ ev-charging

Model range and sizes

We were testing the PREMIUM eVito. It costs from £46,900, though a cheaper PROGESSIVE is also available. eVito comes in two lengths, L2 or L3, with the smaller model offering 6.0 m3 cargo volume, the larger one 6.6 m3

Specs and safety

eVito PROGRESSIVE offers colour-coded bumpers, full wheel covers, front fog lights, Headlight Assist, a 75mph speed limiter, Audio 30, lumbar support and electrically foldable mirrors. PREMIUM adds Hyacinth red metallic paint, a spare wheel with jack and a leather steering wheel, PARKTRONIC, reversing camera, hate insulting glass, TEMPMATIC semi auto air-con and cruise control.

Exterior and interior

From the outside it looks like a standard Vito and you’d be hard-pressed to know it’s electric unless you spot the discreet eVito and eLECTRIC badging.

Inside you’ll find the updated Vito interior, which includes two USBs and a heated front driver seat. There’s a three-seat configuration up front, as well as some top-of-the-dash storage, a decent glove box and two handy deep door pockets, but there’s nowhere to fit a large bottle or drinks container.

The ignition is on the left of the usual steering column, while the gear lever is mounted on the right, meaning the headlight and wipers are both on the right stalk. Cue changing into neutral a lot when it rains!

Power steering is standard and the wheel is both rake and reach adjustable. The driver’s seat also offers a myriad of adjustment, so getting comfortable was not a problem.

The hand brake is located on the floor as it is in Mercedes cars. You push a ‘fourth’ pedal with your left foot to engage the brake and then pull a dash-mounted lever to release. I found it straightforward to use, although some may not like it as it doesn’t help you with hill starts.

In the centre of the dash and higher up than in some vans are the Audio 30 infotainment hand slide-opening side doors and twin rear doors that open 180 degrees.

Driving

Of more interest I’m sure, is how the eVito drives and how far one can travel in it. It’s easy to drive and very relaxing on the motorway. The gear lever offers Neutral, Reverse or Drive options and even with the battery weight underneath the floor, the eVito handles pretty well for its weight.

As with most electric cars, the eVito offers several levels of regenerative braking, which can be adjusted using the paddles on either side of the steering wheel.

system and heating controls. The infotainment screen is slightly awkward to reach for the driver, as are the USB inputs on the left of the dash. For a left-hand driven Vito this location would make perfect sense, but not so for UK right-hand-drive versions.

The front windows are electric and keeping the cabin quiet is a full width bulkhead. The quality is top-notch but it’s not as practical a cab as some competitors.

Loadspace

The rear load space is easily accessed as the L2 Vito we drove comes with left and right

This enables you to utilise D-, the strongest regenerative level, which is also the most noticeable. You can then decrease the strength of regeneration by pulling on the right hand paddle, moving through the options of D, then D+ and as we found for motorway driving the very useful D++.

There are three drive modes; E+, E or C. E+ offers the most efficient driving style; E is the middle option and the one we preferred, or you can select C, which is the least efficient, but the most fun.

The eVito was delivered with a full charge, and the gauge said we had a 157-mile range. We covered 30 miles at 70mph driving to Chester via the M56, using drive mode E. On arrival we charged up while we shopped.

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Our journey had decreased the range from 157 miles to 118 and after an hour charging was up to 126 miles for the return leg. Thirty miles later and back home, the range now showed 98 miles.

We repeated the journey the following day and concluded that if driven unladen with just a driver, at mostly motorway speeds, the eVito has a 140-mile range. At lower speeds of up to 50mph the range increased to 157 miles, as you can really take advantage of the regenerative braking to top the battery up.

That means eVito can now match, or even surpass, Stellantis vans’ claimed WLTP battery range of 143 miles.

Pros

That much improved battery range now gives the eVito a competitive range. The cabin is hewn from granite, top quality and very comfortable. The addition of proper air-con is also an improvement. The overall build quality puts the competition to shame.

Cons

The infotainment system isn’t as good as you’ll find on some other vans. Similarly, neither is the payload.

Conclusion

The improved range makes longer journeys a lot less stressful and you can trust the range. It’s comfortable, quiet to drive and offers Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, something we really can’t live without.

You may consider a 150-160 mile range nowhere near enough, but we reckon that plenty of businesses don’t need a complete fleet of long-distance vans. Ultimately, we think it will come down to the buyers’ confidence in the eVito’s range, their daily mileage, plus their access to charging points.

If your business has charging stations, or you have one at home, there really is nothing to fear from an electric Vito.

CC&V VERDICT

The increase in range is a real game changer and sweeps away the biggest concern we had about owning and running one

CC&V RATING: N N N N N