BLUE COLLAR WITH BOW TIE

Flashy passenger car convenience comes to the van market

Lashings of luxury have been added to Mercedes-Benz’s workhorse van range.

Sprinter vans now come with a flashy touchscreen and digital driver instruments that can be controlled via steering wheel-mounted controls.

Safety has also improved with the option of the latest lifesaving technology — including radar cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert and active lane-keeping assist that autonomously stops the vehicle straying outside the lines.

Power has been bolstered across the four-cylinder and V6 turbo diesel engine line-up, as well as the addition of front-wheel drive variants, complementing rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options.

Prices have increased in line with the improved equipment, rising $3000–$5000 depending on the model — where there is no shortage of options.

Mercedes says 1700 different Sprinter variants are available when you combine body types, drive configurations, cab designs, body lengths, tonnages and load compartment heights.

That’s more than the outgoing model but the primary goal of this latest iteration is to bring passenger-car comfort and convenience to vans.

Sprinter is Mercedes’ fourth most popular model in Australia, only trailing the C-Class, GLC SUV and compact A-Class.

“It can be transporting cement, fresh produce all the way through to VIP transportation for events or a high-end motorhome,” Mercedes-Benz’s Blake Vincent said.

“It has really broad scope so it needs to be multi-talented.

“It works off a building block principle … we have a lot of customisation and it can be tailored to a specific customer’s needs.

“We have more flexibility than we have ever had.”

Launching from this week, the range won’t be complete until next year, with the 12-seater minibus due in the second quarter while

all-wheel drive models will land about June.

There will also be a tractor-head option, which enables motorhome builders to attach the front end to bespoke bodies.

WHAT’S NEW

Look at the skin and the Sprinter maintains traditional proportions — minor changes have been made to the grille, headlamps and bonnet.

The rear-wheel drives have an identical load area to enable seamless upgrades. They are available in mid, long and extra-long wheelbase.

Front-wheelers, only available with four-cylinder engines in short and mid wheelbase, come with a 50kg additional payload and a 80mm lower loading sill.

DRIVING

Despite the Sprinter’s length and breadth, they’re a simple vehicle to drive.

Safety additions become vital tools in traffic, enabling confident lane changes, while the optional cameras offer impressive all-round vision — an exercise involving a completely blacked out cabin proved their value in confined spaces.

Sampling the mid-spec four-cylinder and the V6, both proved solid but it’s the latter that is the choice for those wanting more serious punch (that’s also the donk used by the nation’s ambulances). While six-speed manual transmissions are available, automatics account for about 98 per cent of sales.

Steering is light while the new infotainment system is simple to navigate once you have your bearings and steering wheel touch pads mastered.

While Mercedes has brought mainstream luxuries to the segment, there are various storage spots and a lot of hard-wearing plastics throughout the cabin. It’s designed for long-haul hardiness, not first-class.

Servicing packages are available in three tiers — basic, select and complete — and are claimed to be at least 20 per cent cheaper than pay-as-you-go options. Intervals are long at 40,000km or annual.

Warranty coverage is on par with the industry, three years or 200,000km with roadside assist for the same period, only trumped by the Ford Transit which is five years and unlimited travel.

SAFETY

Vans have often been overlooked in the past for the latest safety gear but for the first time Sprinter comes with active brake assist and attention assist. Former options like lane-keeping assist, blind spot warning, reverse camera, four airbags and cross-wind assist are also now standard.

Blind spot and reverse camera are not available on cab-chassis models.

Upping the ante are a range of new options, including a 360-degree camera with parking package ($1232), active lane-keeping assist which can autonomously keep the vehicle between lines ($554), parking package ($792), traffic sign assist to provide a constant reminder of speed limits ($385) and radar cruise control that always maintains a safe distance when trailing other vehicles ($1067).

TECHNOLOGY

Embedded within the Sprinter is Mercedes’ billion-dollar baby.

Significant investment was required to deliver the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX).

It’s like Siri or Google Home for your car. Making its debut on the just-released A-Class, there is a central seven-inch touch screen (optional 10.25) and a digital display for the driver that sits between the speedo and tachometer.

On the touchscreen, you can press, hold, drag, zoom, pinch and swipe like you would on a smart device.

There are two touch pads on the steering wheel that offer the same functionality as the touchscreen — on the left you can also control the main screen, while the one on the right dictates what is seen in the driver’s binnacle.

It can personalise and house up to 10 profiles — learning the driver’s preferences in terms of satnav destinations, music, contacts and even the seat position (if you have electric seats).

One function expected to be available next year is Mercedes Pro, which will enable position tracking and full vehicle analysis.

Fleet managers will be able to access driver logs, have real-time data on vehicle condition and know exactly when servicing is required in real time.

Available from West-Star Motors Mercedes-Benz, corner of James and Hume streets, Toowoomba.