Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (2013)
Introduction
Even though competitors like Ford and General Motors has cargo vans for much less money than the Benz Sprinter, this Mercedes get the job done better. There are many pros in the Benz Sprinter some of them are good construction and materials, interior standard and the large space available inside which will allow a 6 foot 3 inch man to walk upright inside the van.
When the Benz Sprinter is this large in dimensions it is expected to be very hard to maneuver. However it is not that difficult to drive when you get used to it. When it comes to fuel economy the Benz Sprinter does way better than its rivals, however falls behind on acceleration and towing capacity due to the smaller engine than that of Ford, Nissan and General Motors.
Benz Sprinter is at the top of what is expected out of a cargo or passenger van; however that quality will come at a very high price, roughly thousands higher than its rivals. However it is our opinion that the price gap between the Mercedes and its rivals are worth it for the quality of the Benz Sprinter.
Trim level options
There are many options available for the full sized van. Each option comes with 2 wheelbases and 2 roof heights.
The van for cargo has only two front seats, the van for crew has an additional rear bench seat. The passenger van has seating space for 12 adults where as the MiniBus has an additional seat allowing 15 seating positions.
There is a lengthy options list for the Benz Sprinter. All the typical features are included, also there is a choice from different front seat designs and an upgraded sound system.
Power and Performance
The 3.0 liter diesel V6 produces 188 horsepower and 325 pound-feet torque. Transmission is a five-speed automatic gearbox with rear-wheel drive. The engine comes with Bluetec exhaust-scrubbing technology by Mercedes. You can expect better fuel economy from the Benz Sprinter than its rivals.
Safety
Standard Benz Sprinter comes with stability and traction control and airbags (front)
There are optional safety features as well, like the driver side airbag, passenger side airbag, parking sensors.
Interior
The quality of the Benz Sprinter is noticeably higher than other full-sized vans. Yet you cannot expect the standard Mercedes leather and high-tech gizmos in the Benz Sprinter. The modern layout of the Benz Sprinter gives it a high end look similar to a SUV.
The maximum storage capacity of the Sprinter is 547 cubic feet. That is a huge number compared to those of its competitors Nissan NV: 323 cubic feet and Chevy Express: 270 cubic feet. The 2500 Cargo Van weighs roughly from 2,875 pounds to 3,425 pounds, while the rating of the 3500 weighs from roughly 4,360 pounds to 5,415 pounds.
Driving feel
Considering the fact that the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a 24 feet long and 9 feet high monster it manages the roads quite well. The driver’s position is similar to a car and with the great handling it is quite a pleasant experience to drive the Sprinter.
However when it comes to driving in the highway the Sprinter falls short of expectations due to the fact that the V6 engine does not provide sufficient thrust. Therefore if you require a lot of time on the high way with a big van your best alternative would be the Nissan NV.
