Test drive the new Mercedes Sprinter
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is similar to the new cars from Stuttgart: it has very smart multimedia, many electronic assistants, and you can also follow it
A huge black minibus is clearly not the size of small Holland. The roads are already cramped, at the edges bounded by bike paths with insolent cyclists, ditches and bridges. It is easier to navigate the many canals by boat. The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cannot swim, but out of 1700 modifications of it, you can choose a car for any conditions and tasks.
Once VW Crafter and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter were produced at the same Mercedes plant. New vans are created by companies on their own and are more different from each other. But there is still a lot in common between them, as if they are relatives: several types of drive, the rate on "automatic" and light behavior.
A convex radiator grille, squinted headlights, solid rounded lines - the front end of the new "Sprinter" has become more impressive and lightweight. A minibus with a body-colored bumper and LED headlights looks especially advantageous.
The oblique sill of the front door is a characteristic feature of Mercedes vans since the T1 from the 1970s. In comparison with its predecessor, the profile of the new van has become calmer: instead of a fancy flourish, there is the usual flat stamping along the entire side.
The lightweight theme is continued in the interior, and the only commercial one here is hard plastic, easy to clean and scratch resistant. A steering wheel with tiny touchpads and an impressive number of buttons on the spokes - in general, almost like in the Mercedes S-Class. A separate climate unit with rocker keys brings to mind the fresh A-Class. Air ducts, turbines, seat adjustment keys on the doors - there are enough analogies with passenger cars.
Despite the obvious increase in premium, the interior has remained as practical as possible. The number of different compartments and niches is impressive: under the ceiling, in the front panel, in the doors, under the passenger seat cushions. The entire top of the front panel is reserved for drawers with lids, in the central one there are sockets of an unusual USB-C format. You can also install wireless charging here.
A separate story is the niches under the center console. In cars with "mechanics" the left is occupied by the gear lever, but in versions with "automatic" both are empty. With the help of special inserts, they can be converted into cup holders in addition to those located under the windshield. The right niche, if desired, is removed altogether, for example, so that the middle passenger does not bump his knee against it.
The wide panel in the center should resemble Mercedes twin screens. In basic versions, it is even too modest - matte plastic, a simple radio tape recorder in the center. And in expensive ones, on the contrary, it shines with chrome and piano lacquer. Even the top-end multimedia display takes up a very small part of it, but again for a commercial vehicle it has an impressive diagonal and very high-quality graphics.
The new MBUX infotainment system has only recently appeared on the A-Class, and it's even cooler than the top Comand. Artificial intelligence is self-learning and will understand complex commands over time. Suffice it to say, “Hello Mercedes. I want to eat". And navigation will lead to the nearest restaurant.
Everything went smoothly at the presentation, but in reality the system has not yet been sufficiently trained, including the Russian language. Instead of looking for the nearest restaurant, MBUX persistently asked: "How can I help you?" She sent from the Dutch Leiden to the Smolensk region and was interested in what year's music we prefer to listen to. But the system responded willingly to the request to plot a route to Moscow and without much hesitation counted more than two thousand kilometers.
If you find fault with something in the navigation, then to the small route tips on the right side of the screen. The driver can hardly distinguish between them. It is difficult to call this a serious drawback - the same prompts are on the display between the devices.
MBUX has few commercial opportunities. The only thing she can do for now is to display the trip route received through the Mercedes Pro system on the screen. Naturally, taking into account traffic jams and overlaps. Even the simplest Sprinter can be connected to the new telematics complex, without advanced multimedia. The driver opens the car using a smartphone, receives orders and messages from the dispatcher for it. In turn, fleet managers through Mercedes Pro track cars online.
The Sprtinter can now be ordered with three types of drive: in addition to the rear and full, the front is available, and in this case the engine is turned across. The advantages of a front-wheel drive van over a rear-wheel drive are a lower loading height by 8 cm and a higher load capacity by 50 kg. But this is if we compare cars with a gross weight of 3,5 tons. The limit for front-wheel drive is 4,1 tons, while rear-wheel drive Sprinters can be ordered with a total weight of 5,5 tons.
In addition, the maximum distance between the axles for front-wheel drive is limited to 3924 mm, and in total for the new "Sprinter" offer five wheelbase options from 3250 to 4325 mm. There are four body length options: from short (5267 mm) to extra-long (7367 mm). There are three heights: from 2360 to 2831 mm.
Judging by the diagram shown in the presentation, there are fewer versions for a passenger van and a minibus than for an all-metal van. For example, the first one cannot be ordered in the longest version, and the highest roof is not available in either case. The maximum for passenger versions is 20 seats.
The maximum volume of the body of an all-metal van is 17 cubic meters. The five-ton truck can be ordered with single rear tires - it has a standard Euro pallet between the arches. In total, five pallets are placed in the body. On the step opposite the sliding door, there are special supports for pallets and boxes - such little things are full of the new Sprinter.
Tricky hinges allow the rear door flaps to be folded back more than 90 degrees, it is impossible to damage the halves if they are closed incorrectly - safety rubber buffers are provided.
In addition to the 4-cylinder 114-163 hp engines. (177 - for front-wheel drive), the Sprinter is equipped with a 3-liter V6 with 190 hp output. and 440 Nm. In 2019, they even promise an electric version with a power reserve of 150 km.
With a top-end powertrain, a large minibus drives very dynamically. The front-wheel-drive, 4-cylinder Sprinter isn't as fast, but its 9-speed automatic instead of the 7-speed on the rear-wheel drive versions offers savings. It is as economical as machines with "mechanics" - less than 8 liters in the combined cycle. The impression is that while relying on the "automatic", the "Mercedes" did not pay enough attention to the mechanical transmission. The first and sixth gears are not included as easily as we would like.
In any case, the new Sprinter rides very lightly, regardless of the engine and body length. On the track, it is stable, also thanks to the crosswind stabilization system. Active cruise control and other safety electronics work perfectly, and parking sensors and a rear-view camera with various prompts help out when maneuvering.
The car drives surprisingly quietly and smoothly, even empty. The most comfortable was the front-wheel drive version with unusual rear springs made of composite material. For expensive versions, you can order a rear air suspension. In addition to comfort for passengers, it can reduce the ground clearance, which is convenient for loading and unloading.
In Germany, the cheapest Sprinter costs 20 thousand euros - almost $ 24. Naturally, in Russia (we are expecting a novelty in the fall), the car will be more expensive. For the restyled Sprinter Classic produced by the Gorky Automobile Plant, they now ask for $ 175. The main demand in Russia will be, as before, for the "classic" Sprinter, but the new generation of Mercedes-Benz small-tonnage has something to offer to more demanding buyers.
| Body type | ||
| Van | Van | Van |
| Gross vehicle weight, kg | ||
| 3500 | 3500 | 3500 |
| engine's type | ||
| Diesel, 4-cylinder | Diesel, 4-cylinder | Diesel, V6 |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | ||
| 2143 | 2143 | 2987 |
| Max. power, hp (at rpm) | ||
| 143 / 3800 | 143 / 3800 | 190 / 3800 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm (at rpm) | ||
| 330 / 1200-2400 | 330 / 1200-2400 | 440 / 1400-2400 |
| Drive type, transmission | ||
| Front, AKP9 | Rear, AKP8 | Rear, AKP9 |
| Average fuel consumption, l / 100 km | ||
| 7,8 – 7,9 | 7,8 – 7,9 | 8,2 |
| Price from, $. | ||
| Not announced | Not announced | Not announced |
