Test drive minivan Mercedes
The German minivan is so diverse that at the presentation we found more than 20 versions of the new product
The updated Mercedes-Benz V-Class, one after another, follow the circular route: the town of Sitges, the meanders of the surrounding paths, the highway and back to the hotel. The dynamic presentation schedule in Spain is clear in German: 30 minutes are given for a round trip. If you follow the ordnung, you have time to try out more versions. My flights were successful - I traveled as many as five different V-Class.
Before the start there is a curious aperitif - you can see the V-Сlass of the near future. The EQV electric concept was on display in the hotel's conference room. Unique techno-design of the front end, an LED strip stretches between the headlights, emblems and rims are decorated with blue. Under the floor there is a battery with a capacity of 100 kWh, on the front axle an electric motor with a return of 201 liters. sec., the declared speed is up to 160 km / h, the promised cruising range is over 400 km. Serial production is scheduled for 2021.
Today's V-Class stand in rows throughout the parking lot. A wide range of! Three options for dimensions: the more popular vans with a base of 3200 mm and bodies with a length of 4895 mm or 5140 mm are brought to the fore, followed by a number of top XL versions with a base stretched by 230 mm and a body length of 5370 mm. The configurations of the salons range from a six-seater one with separate armchairs to an eight-seater one with two sofas. Plus dozens of options, a choice of motors, drives and suspensions.
The main news in terms of technology is a series of two-liter diesel engines R4 ОМ 654 instead of R4 ОМ 651 with a volume of 2,1 liters. The new lightweight engines have an aluminum head and crankcase, cylinders coated to reduce friction, a turbine with variable geometry, less noise and vibrations, better efficiency (the lowest-ranked modification has reduced consumption by as much as 13%), and as for the environment - V -Class on diesel meet the Euro 6d-TEMP standards, which Europe will accept from September this year.
In total, the diesel family has two modifications with the familiar indices V 220 d and V 250 d (power has not changed - 163 and 190 hp), and the debut V 300 d (239 hp) appeared at the top of the range. The automatic transmission for these diesels is also new: the 7-speed is replaced by a 9-speed - optional for 220 d and standard for others.
The drive is either rear or full 4matic, in which the torque is divided by default with a slight emphasis of 45:55 to the rear axle. In addition to the basic suspension, an adaptive suspension with amplitude-dependent shock absorbers and a slightly low sports suspension are available. The previous generation V-Class had rear pneumatic elements, the current one has springs and nothing more.
In total, there are more than two dozen monocabs in the parking lot. Restyling is recognized primarily by the other front bumpers, in which the air intakes are combined into a wide mouth. Changed the design of the rims (17, 18 or 19 inches). Slightly dressed up with chrome body The AMG versions have characteristic diamond-dotted claddings.
The changes in the interior are modest: improved decoration and design of the vents a la "turbine". A significant new addition to the list of options: for the middle row, you can now order rich chairs with retractable leg support. I sat on these - comfortable, except that the padding wants a little softer.
To the set of electronic assistants, an auto-corrector for high beam has been added - it changes the beam of beams so as not to blind oncoming ones, as well as an emergency braking system with a pedestrian recognition function.
When driving, you think about the target audience. A hired driver who has seen all sorts of minibuses will definitely find the workplace prestigious and harmonious. Quite often V-Сlass is bought as a personal car. After a light experience, you have to come to terms with the vertical landing and with jokes from the series "pass for travel." Bus associations quickly disappear on the go: in general, V-Сlass is user-friendly. The review is good, the dimensions are immediately clear, the maneuverability is commendable. But literally - not easy to use: the mass still reverberates with inertia in the reactions. In general, the tested versions are comfortable and slightly relaxed, as if saturated with a secret Mercedes composition.
Basic van V 220 d 2WD with minimal length is the most pleasant for the driver. Presumably, the smaller weight also affects. With active driving, the younger diesel engine spins at high speeds more often than more powerful ones, but the recoil is problem-free. The steering wheel is the most informative here, the short V-Class dives willingly into turns, hints of skidding even in pleasure. The suspension of the version is sporty, the ride is moderately tight and the rolls are moderate.
The mid-size V 300 d 2WD with the AMG design package is equipped with adaptive suspension and 19-inch wheels and is more sensitive to minor asphalt blemishes. But in general, it rides more imposing. The diesel pulls very steadily, the automatic transmission strives to get to the top gears as soon as possible, but the transition to active driving also happens organically. The top motor has an interesting overtorque mode - you press the gas pedal to the floor, and the maximum torque of 500 Nm momentarily increases by another 30 Newton meters. And according to the passport, the V 300 d 2WD version is the most playful among the updated ones: acceleration to 100 km / h takes 7,8 seconds.
The extra-long V 300 d 2WD is already clearly heavy, stubborn on a curve, and if you do not drop the stroke, the sports suspension roughly fulfills large irregularities and allows pecks. You press the gas pedal - a pause. But driving is supposed to be just calm, this is a special format, especially for transfers.
The average 2WD with adaptive suspension seemed optimal. Diesel and automatic transmission work in perfect harmony, the handling is glorious. The average consumption by the onboard computer after an active lap-flight was 7,5 l / 100 km - less than after a wind-up drive on the younger V 220 d. So here's the most balanced and coolest V-Class. It is not surprising that the V 250 d is more popular in Russia than the others.
The updated V-Class is offered to our market with the same power units, and the OM 654 series is promised later without specifics in terms of time. That is, for the time being in Russia, in addition to the V 220 d and V 250 d versions, the diesel V 200 d (136 hp) and the gasoline V 250 (211 hp) remain available - all with 7-speed automatic transmissions.
In Russia, the V-Class will be priced from $ 46 to $ 188. Modification of the V 89 d with a medium-length body costs from $ 377. And it's not hard to guess that the options that turn the Mercedes-Benz V-Class into a plethora of abundance add up to those sums significantly.
V-Class based Marco Polo campers only come in medium lengths. It was possible to drive on the most equipped version of the V 300 d 4matic with adaptive suspension.
The weighty contraption is fast, it lays quite softly, but the handling is not as responsive as the rear-wheel drive ones. The steering wheel is heavier, plus the stubbornness at the entrance to tight corners. And why is there so much free play at the brake pedal? The regular V-Class slowed down more obediently. However, driving performance is much less important here than the housing issue.
The famous traveler Marco Polo would surely admire. The camper is designed for four people, for whom there are two beds on board: the lower one is obtained by transforming the sofa, the other - under the canopy of the lifting roof. There is a wardrobe, a kitchen and a lot of drawer compartments. The list of options includes outdoor folding furniture and a retractable awning. See the photo gallery for details.
The drive raises the roof in thirty-five seconds. You get to the upper bed through the hatch above the front seats. There are simplified versions of the Marco Polo without such a roof and without a kitchen.
We have Marco Polo, like conventional V-classes, so far they also do without new diesels. Choose from the MP 200 d, MP 220 d and 250 d versions at prices ranging from $ 47 to $ 262.
| A type | Minivan |
| Dimensions (length / width / height), mm | 5140/1928/1880 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 3200 |
| Curb weight, kg | 2152 (2487) |
| Gross vehicle weight, kg | 3200 |
| engine's type | Diesel, R4, turbo |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 1950 |
| Power, hp with. at rpm | 190 (239) at 4200 |
| Max. torque, Nm at rpm | 440 at 1350 (500 at 1600) |
| Transmission, drive | AKP9, rear |
| Maximum speed km / h | 205 (215) |
| Acceleration to 100 km / h, from | 9,5 (8,6) |
| Fuel consumption (mixture), l | 5,9 – 6,1 Feet |
| Price from, $. | ND |
