Go seen, and be seen

The humble author in his happy space -- leaning against the new V-Class, a van packing a lot of lekker stuff for gearheads and passengers alike.

PEOPLE who sell yachts recommend the length of the deck should equal in feet the age of the owner.

Problem is, by the time most people get around to buying boats, they have seen at least 30 summers. But a thirty-foot yacht has a really cramped cabin, and the sensible choice is a 50-footer.

A stripped out 50-foot yacht goes for about R15 million these days. For that money, you get a hole in the water that sucks in your cash in return for all the violent seasickness you can handle.

Much better then to spend just a million rand on a land yacht, such as the facelifted V-Class Mercedes-Benz launched in the Western Cape last week.

From the outside, the boxy shape of V-Class looks like it should compete against any other panelvan, but open the door and you are reminded again not to judge a book by its cover.

The glass-roofed interior of the V-Class is as airy as a Edwordian green house on a rainy day.

This V-Class shares the drivetrains that made the Vito and Sprinter so popular, but the cabin is all about luxurious travel. Together, the blend of commercial vehicle reliability in front and luxury fit for a lounge’s TV commercial in the rear has ensured that the previous generation V-Class became South Africa’s best seller, and some 64 000 units sold worldwide just last year.

“This marriage between practicality, safety, lifestyle and luxury have given us complete market dominance in SA,” said Nadia Trimmel, vice-president of Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa.

She added there is a V-Class for everyone, be it road-tripping families, or VIP office shuttles, with five models ranging from the “entry level” V200 auto to an AMG line.

At the heart of the V-Class is Merc’s proven, four-cylinder OM 651 diesel mapped to deliver three outputs. The V 200d develops 100 kW and 330 Nm. The V220d generates 120 kW and 380 Nm. The top-of-the-line V250d makes 140 kW and 440 Nm. This is enough oomph to propel the V250d from 0 to 100 km/h in 10 seconds. No other van comes close.

Phiwe Konjelwayo, the new product and marketing manager, said what impressed her most about the facelifted fan was not the power, or the new bumper, nor the new rims or luxury massaging seat, but how easy it is to park the 5,140-metre van in narrow parking slots. And so it should be, for 5,14 metres is shorter than South Africa’s best selling vehicle, the 5,33 metre Toyota Hilux, or its competitor, the 5,354-metre Ford Ranger.

The vehicle height remains under the two-metre mark, ensuring the V-Class fits in regular garages as well as multi-storey and underground car parks without any roof scrapes.

But back to the money. Trimmel said the good news is the prices for the five models are only three percent up on the previous model range, with more spec now standard.

Michele Lupini, aka Mr Grappa, cut the cheese in the rear of the V-Class.

Not standard is the reclining seat that massages your back while it blows hot or cool air through vents in the chair. I did not get to sit on one of these sumptuous seats during the launch — they do cost the price of a small used car — but from other massaging seats in the Merc stable, it will turn any drive into a spa-like treatment.

Doing the Vomit Comet test

The V-Class is rear-wheel driven, which Merc said “enables the class-leading MPV to negotiate a wide range of surfaces with ease”.

To prove the point, we drove up and over the Bain’s Pass in pouring rain.

Again, I did not experience the smooth power and agility through the twisties behind the wheel.

Instead, I bravely tested whether my sensitive stomach could avoid road sickness while not only reading, but also eating a creamy Brie and a rather ripe Cheddar in the back as my colleagues slalomed around corner after corner.

Riding in the minibuses to school, doing homework while munching cheese triangles, was a sure-fire way to induce biliousness. But the suspension in the V-Class is in another class and everyone involved was relieved that my innards experienced only equanimity.

Active safety features like Crosswind Assist, brake assist and optional Highbeam Assist Plus makes the V-Class a breeze to drive on the open road or in traffic.

Trimmel said to ensure the V-Class facelift successfully takes over the reins from its predecessor, Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa is offering all V-Class facelift customers a complimentary top-up to a six-year or 100 000 km maintenance plan.

The V-Class faces its stiffest competition not from the three people movers in other stables, but the Vito, which also offers Merc’s leading finance or rental packages, but for a lot less.

This concept van from Merc shows competitors the way to the future.

Competition and prices

(August 2019)

Ford Transit Custom 2,2TDCi  (92  kW, 350 Nm) R500 200

VW Kombi 2,TDI Trendline  (75 kW, 250 Nm)  R583 700

Hyundai H1 2,5CRDi Elite (125 kW, 441 Nm) R664 900

Vito Tourer Pro (100 kW, 330 Nm) R710 074

Mercedes-Benz V200d (100 kW, 330 Nm) R913 951

Mercedes-Benz V220d (120 kW, 380 Nm) R955 518

Mercedes-Benz V250d (140 kW, 440 Nm) R1 027 686

Mercedes-Benz V220d Avantgarde R1 247 819

Mercedes-Benz V250 Avantgarde R1 292 474