Living large

/ Mercedes-Benz V250d

IF EVER there was a vehicle to pique the interest of car lovers out there who are also tech geeks, the new Merc van is it. It has so many different compartments that open and shut; seats that tilt, swivel and offer a variety of seating configurations; and more space in which to swing the proverbial cat than you’ll ever need, that it was difficult to be bored while investigating this vehicle.

So let me kick off with the aspects that are really obvious. It’s cavernous, comfortable and luxurious; it feels like the car version of an airline’s business class, especially when every seat is occupied and you’ve got a lot of people all around you. There are leather seats throughout, and armrests, useful shelves and gadget trays for every occupant. There are even fold-out tray tables!

The windows are big, tinted, and offer excellent visibility all round. The rear window is huge, and the door surrounding it simply enormous – however, its dimensions do actually make it a little awkward to open inside a garage, so that’s something to be aware of. 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan 2-year/unlimited km

warranty 5-year/unlimited km roadside assistance Model tested: From R1 027 686

The boot configuration is interesting – a middle deck divides the stowage space horizontally, and Merc even supplies a few collapsible luggage baskets that fit on top of the shelf. How nifty.

Inside, the vehicle feels very high and, when driving through parking garages, it seems as though you’re going to scrape the roof (don’t worry, I didn’t, and I don’t think you will either). Up front, the console and dash design results in even more space to move around in. Soft dash materials along with the layout are simple yet elegant. Even the plastics look good.

In spite of its size, I averaged 8.0 L/100 km, which is very good for such a huge cruiser. This is the ideal road-trip car, perfect for family touring holidays. – Mark Samuel