 |
| Merc's biggest new 'car' is actually the V-Class. |
PRETORIA — Nicolette Lambrechts, vice-president for Mercedes-Benz
Vans, can be forgiven for describing the new V-Class the best possible first
impression a business can make.
Before handing over the luxurious vans to media representatives for
a first test drive, Lambrects said this was no van like the Viano, but the
newest, largest member of the passenger car family from Mercedes-Benz,
incorporating all the luxurious features of the C-Class.
As a dyed-in-the-wool Van Man who loved the power and space in the
biggest Mercedes-Benz Sprinter panelvan then on sale in South Africa, I rather
hoped she was wrong.
I like to tell people who ask what is the best bakkie to go buy a
van, any van, as it encloses the load against weather and thieves, offers a low
floor to facilitate loading and drinks less fuel than any bakkie. If Lambrechts
was right about her van being like a car, I may have to adjust my answer.
It certainly is big
Inside the V-Class van there is room for up to
eight people and I expected to see more of the same luxuries I know from the
Viano. The luxurious interior of the V-Class, however, adds a whole lot more
high-class appeal, comfort. It even parks itself.
There are three equipment lines: V-Class Standard, V-Class BlueTEC
and V-Class BlueTEC Avantgarde, plus an Exterior Sports package and an Interior
Design package available for each of the three lines, as well as a host of
optional extras.
The keyhole sits on the left of the steering column, and the
automatic gear lever is on the right, where other vehicles have a indicator
stalk.
You don’t use these much, as state-of-the-art radar, camera and
ultrasound sensors help you park and cruise in the V-Class.
Should the winds blow strong on your passage, there is Crosswind
Assist that will stabilise the big van — sorry, car — with little nips on the
brakes while Attention Assist will warn to “wake you” if you are drowsy.
And don’t think all this is on the usual expensive optional extras
list. Active Parking Assist, which makes parking of the new MPV as easy and
convenient as parking a compact car, is standard.
Also standard is the Audio 20 USB with free-standing seven-inch
central display and a multifunction steering wheel with a dozen buttons. (Yep,
12 of them.) Ditto the steering wheel shift paddles in the case of automatic
transmission, side air bags, electric parking brake and active arrest for the
rear sliding door.
What are optional features are the 360° camera and adaptive cruise
control that assist you to stay in your lane, check the blind spots as well as
an intelligent LED light system that automatically dims and brightens the
lights.
The seat are placed in Merc’s proven quick-release rail system,
which requires very little effort to position any seats or benches in a number
of different ways. They can all be removed as well to create a loading area
tailored to specific needs at any time.
For easy loading and unloading, the V-Class features another first
in this segment in the shape of the separately opening rear windscreen attached
to the upper tailgate frame.
Under the nose
The V-Class comes to the starting line with the
state-of-the-art 2,2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with two-stage
turbocharging, which has already proven highly successful and which has now been
further enhanced specifically for the MPV.
It is available in three power output levels:
• The V 200 CDI develops 100 kW of power and a
maximum torque of 330 Nm.
• The V 220 CDI generates 120 kW of power and
380 Nm. With fuel consumption of just 5,7 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2
emissions of 149 grams per kilometre, the V 220 CDI occupies a leading position
in its segment.
• The top-of-the-line V 250 BlueTEC engine makes
140 kW and 440 Nm, and is as powerful and agile as the previous 3-litre V6
turbodiesel engine. In the acceleration phases, an additional 10 kW and 40 Nm
are available (“over-torque”) to makes 150 kW and maximum torque of a full
480 Nm.
This means even I, the Van Man, could accelerate the big van from 0
to 100 km/h in less than 12 seconds. Merc claims a more impressive 9,1 seconds,
but that would be with a boy racer behind the wheel.
The conclusion then, Miss Lambrechts is right. This V-Class is a
car. A big one.
And now it is also the answer I will give when people ask me what
is the best car to buy.
It’s a van. The V-Class Van.
Prices
V 200 CDI Standard R695 981
V 220 CDI Standard R726 875
V 250 BlueTEC R782 416
V 220 CDI AVANTGARDE R949 175
V 250 BlueTEC AVANTGARDE R984 196
A six-year or 100 000 km maintenance contract is
included.
