Normally I write car reviews with the general idea that someone reading the thing could actually use it to determine if buying something is a good idea. But one Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Goods Valve with a 170-inch wheelbase and a high roof? Who could this really be for? Owner of a rooter company? FedEx? Royal letter?
So this will be different: an opportunity to experience and share the thrill of driving one of the giant, high-top trucks that are becoming increasingly common in this age of e-commerce. It also provides a taste of what #vanlife would be like for everyone who buys a Sprinter like this, increasing the ride height, using some off-road tires, and assembling the interior to venture out. great weather… and really pissed off everyone at the campsites who didn’t. I’m not entirely sure why, but I got that impression.
In short, the Sprinter is definitely different. Metallic unlocking driver’s door clack and unfolds to reveal the driver’s seat placed at nearly body height on a metal box of the same body color. In this case, Royal Mail is red. You put one foot on the removed plastic step and lift yourself up into the cabin, dropping yourself into the faux leather, fabric driver’s seat. And yes, it’s officially “fake leather” isn’t it Mercedes‘Regular MB-Tex. That would be a convincing skin substitute. Here The thing is pure, sticky vinyl that’s sure to go great with 90’s and a few windshield models. The buttons will be scorched, but at least it’s just a $62 option. No, I didn’t leave zero. It’s really just $62.
To turn on the air conditioner to relieve the burning in the buttocks, increase the fan speed to maximum. The Sprinter has a manual climate control system, although that switch and other buttons are commonly used in the automatic climate control arrays of other Mercedes. This is just one of many examples where familiar Mercedes components are used in a very foreign way. The touch screen has the same menu structure and graphics as the MBUX equipped monitor Mercedes-Benz or SUV, but the display is very small and no touchpad in the center console is redundant. It will need a central panel for that. The cool rotary vents are shared with the GLB and other Mercedes A-Class lines, but all the hard, scratchy plastic around them certainly isn’t. Similarly, the steering wheel design, control buttons and accompanying pillars can be shared with the GLB, but it is not covered in leather and decorated with metallic plastic. Its menu buttons and left touchpad operate an old-fashioned black-and-white trip computer display between plain Jane analog gauges. There are no fully digital screens here with multiple design layouts and dance club lighting.
There are multiple seating options available, including hanging seats, swivel seats, and “comfort seats” that add manual adjustments. However, this Sprinter comes with an optional power-adjustable Comfort Plus driver’s seat that is adjusted into place using the usual Mercedes door-mounted seat controls. It also includes manual thigh extensions. With any of these choices, the sitting position is like sitting in a kitchen chair with the pedals at your feet. Taller riders may find the saddle doesn’t back far enough, and it’s unclear if this van’s optional partition is to blame. Even so, it definitely haunts the rearview mirror. I just pointed it at the roof to remind myself not to look at it, but before Automatic log contributor Dan Edmunds discovered that if you leave the, it combines with the partition window and dark cargo area to become a forward looking mirror. It got weirder.
Above that mirror are plastic shelves perfect for storing clipboards and such for FedEx drivers, and possibly a Whole Foods trail mix boat for hunters. Additional memory is found at the top of the dashboard, where the proprietary USB ports reside in a plastic bin behind the infotainment system. There are also cup holders above the outer parts of the dash, including behind the instrument panel, which is exactly where I like to keep my hot coffee. There are four additional upgraders in the traditional van position below the climate control system. In total, there are six cup holders for two seats.
Above the driver is just enough space for Abe Lincoln to sit comfortably without taking off his hat or otherwise, all of your 6-foot-3s are literally standing between the seats with my head just grazing car. In the even taller cargo area of this tall covered Sprinter, I could walk without thinking twice about diving. That would be why they make such good campers – fancy off-roading version or otherwise.
The climb to the cargo area is also much lower (27 inches) than an old cargo truck like GM‘S Chevy Express and GMC Savanna, let alone a pickup. Lifting a heavy metal side table in and out of the Sprinter’s side doors is exponentially easier than lifting it into a pickup bed. Honestly, I don’t think I’ll be able to do it at all. And that’s just one reason why a cargo truck like this is so much more useful in transporting stuff than a pickup. While I shipped over 20 boxes and rubber crates from my home to a storage facility in three full-size pickup truck trips, I managed to transport the entire load in the Sprinter with stacking or stacking. minimal overlap. There’s also room for backup. While this is a fairly large van in terms of dimensions (there is even a longer version using the same wheelbase), the experience certainly shows the benefits of having a low space, cave and easily maneuver to carry heavy cargo and/or multiple objects. It is obviously enough for light transport, relatively unclear luggage.
And speaking of maneuverability, one parking attempt is all it takes to make you “oh”. The spin of this special edition Sprinter is 47 feet, maybe 7 feet wider than the Mercedes GLS, but this Sprinter is also 5 feet 8 inches longer than the GLS. The wheels rotate to the extent that it is almost as if a rope is attached to the bow of a boat to pull it towards the dock; an impression is certainly enhanced by the fact that you are basically sitting on top of the front axle.
Once underway, the Crystal Palace’s high, front seating position and windshield provide incredible visibility. Only bus and other commercial vehicle sure to beat this. Possibly Popemobile, but apparently Francis doesn’t drive. Traction from the turbodiesel is strong and well-suited for a car like this (the only gas option is a 188hp inline four, which can only challenge the Columbia Glacier on fast speeds), and when idling, it’s 325 pound-feet of torque which is enough for it to definitely not feel slow. That said, this van’s 3.0-liter inline-6 turbo diesel option will be discontinued in 2023. An inline-4 twin-turbo diesel will replace it, and despite that fewer cylinders but will produce more power and torque. There will still be a single turbocharged diesel-four engine on offer, but it’s also new. The four-cylinder engine continues to race against the Galapagos tortoise. A nine-speed automatic will also debut to replace this van’s seven-speed, which is completely harmless, but more gears is rarely a bad thing when transporting heavy loads.
Driving a 23-foot vehicle clearly requires you to change the way you drive, with turns being the main focus. You have to swing as wide as you would in a pickup, but because you’re so far in front of the vehicle, you’re physically going even further out of your normal position when turning. Imagine you are attached to the hood of a F-350 while turning right and you will get an idea. The trip is good, but this is a 2500 model. I would imagine a 3500 or the 3500XD will be a bit Flintstone-ish if you happen to be driving those dual versions with no load.
The other main thing to keep in mind is the height. And not just “Don’t drive the 9-foot truck into a garage.” The sides are so high that trees become a problem when parallel parking on city streets… or even just driving along city streets. This is probably a big reason the FedEx guy parked at the end of your driveway or curiously far away. And remember, this is an unmodified high-roof Sprinter. The glamping overlander versions have increased ground clearance and off-road tyres, in addition to presumably auxiliary air conditioning, skis and a carton of Yakima on the roof. I’m not exaggerating either. There are several in my neighborhood, all of which are furnished like this to some extent.
However, none of them are painted Jupiter Red, which is a C-Class color not long ago. While most of the Sprinters you see are painted in black, white, or gray (possibly the most Mercedes thing about them), there’s still a surprisingly vibrant paint collection. Besides this Royal Mail-appropriate lip color you can get teal-like navy blue, egg brilliant blue, sunny Calcite yellow, two complementary shades of red (Sunset and Velvet) and four shades of darker blue (Steel, Vanda, Cavansite and Dark Blue).
In short, Sprinter is like that. Honestly, it’s not like I’m giving the rugby game my usual deep comparison test drive experience. I’ve never driven a Ford Transit, it’s been 5 years since I’ve driven a Ram Promaster in a closed course and 10 years since I commanded a Nissan NV. One of those GM trucks? I’m pretty sure I was in high school the last time Chevy had a Show on the press team… and I’m 38 years old.
Therefore, I will leave the comparative analysis including cost, size, tonnage, etc., to someone more qualified. However, as I see it, one obvious reason to buy a Ford or Ram instead of a Mercedes is maintenance and fix. If something breaks on your downhill vehicle in the middle of nowhere, it’s a lot easier to find a Ford. seller than a Mercedes or Freightliner facility (maybe?). But that’s all I really have. The final main point is: promote a large and long amount Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 is a real trip. I recommend it. If you can do so without hiring FedEx first, all the better.
