Mercedes-Benz V-Class: Swabian luxury bus in road test

The new V-Class from Mercedes: 64 colors and massage seats

Luxury – that is the basic strategy of Mercedes-Benz. Now also with Vans. That’s why the new V-Class has been given a completely new cockpit. Full digital with two 12.3-inch screens with widescreen optics, as well as a new steering wheel, lots of chrome, shine and glory. For the first time you feel that you are no longer sitting in a commercial vehicle. MBUX is standard, ambient lighting can be changed in 64 colors – optionally, a large panoramic roof with two sections brings you closer to the sky. Massage chairs? Without doubt. There’s even a dedicated business seat in the back. The seat is cold and heated together, and of course the backrests can be folded down. For a power nap between two meetings. Cost: more than 10,000 euros. You were getting a new minivan for that. Piano lacquer, leather, wood, as far as the eye can see. Just hard plastic where you don’t normally see it – the whole interior was very well-furnished. Pleasant living on four wheels. The only thing missing are the mats, which automatically extend when the two side doors (now standard) are fully opened electrically.

Driving comfort and assistance systems have also been improved. Intelligent lighting with 84 individually controllable lights has entered for the first time, as well as a 360-degree camera. Trailer Assist helps with driving a trailer – here the V-Class remains a real commercial vehicle, able to tow up to two tons. Depending on your wallet, you can order almost everything that Mercedes has on its shelf in terms of accessories. Commendable: The mandatory warning of annoying speed can be turned off with one “touch” on the screen.

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Electric Mercedes-Benz EQV – how far does it go?

Of course, the creature of luxury can also be moved. We chose the EQV – as a kind of prediction of the coming of the fully electric Mercedes car division from 2026. In addition, true luxury also has something to do with the absence of noise. Driving the EQV is definitely fun in this regard. We enjoy the scenery as we do with our direct competitor, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz, and allow ourselves to be seduced by the powerful torque (365 Nm) to chase fast curves, which the saloon does very well.

Depending on your needs, the electric bus can be ordered with two battery sizes. 60 or 90 kWh (distance 249/365 km). The electric motor has a peak power of 204 hp and a continuous output of 95 hp. Typical consumption is given as 27 kWh per 100 km. In our test it was 25.6 kWh after exactly 100 km. The conditions were more than ideal. Temperature close to 20 degrees, we completed almost half of the route on the roads of the south of France with a maximum speed of 70. We covered the other 50 percent on the highway, more than 120 km per hour in the beginning, 365 km remained km left End 225 left . In reality and with heavy traffic in the city, the EQV should cover about 300 km. There is nothing new when it comes to charging: 11 kW on the wall, a maximum of 110 kW and direct current. You have to spend 40 minutes until the luxury car gets 80 percent battery power again.

And these are the prices of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class

The V-Class is available with four additional engines. Three diesel engines with 163, 190 and 237 hp and one gasoline engine as a small hybrid with 231 hp (from autumn). Combustion engines are mounted on the rear axle (diesel engines are also available as an all-wheel drive version). They will probably make a large number of orders, similar to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The electric V-Class has the engine on the front axle and it also pushes here. Prices start at 57,482 euros for the small diesel in the Model equipment variant. All combustion engines are available in three sizes: 4.90, 5.19 or 5.37 meters long, and can be ordered with six or eight seats. The EQV costs from 58,500 euros with a small battery. If you want a bigger battery, you have to add another 3,500 euros.

Technical data Mercedes V-Class model (entry level model)

• Motor: 2,0-Liter Diesel
• Drive: Rear / 9G-Tronic
• Power: 120 kW (163 HP)
• Torque: 380 Nm
• 0 – 100 km/h: 10,7 s
• Maximum V.: 193 km/h
• Consumption: 7.1 l 100 km
• Länge / Breite / Höhe: 4,90 / 1,93 / 1,90
• Weight empty / permissible: 2,192 / 908 kg
• Load capacity: 2,000 kg
• Trunk: 610 – 4,200 l
• Price: 57,482 euros

Our conclusion about the new V-Class from Mercedes-Benz

Wherever it says Mercedes on it, there is a Mercedes in it. Now also for V-Class cars. The price is also high. With a big, smooth AMG diesel and air suspension, we broke the 100,000 euro barrier in the developer. A lot of money for a lot of cars. Basically an S-Class in a V-Class. An almost classless Mercedes. Rudolf Bögel