• Real-world economy is similar for all engines
• Van origins should make servicing easier
• Residual values are strong across the range

What are the running costs?

The V-Class is an expensive vehicle to buy, and given its size you won’t be surprised to hear it’s not the cheapest thing to run. On the plus side, it does hold its value well, meaning it should still be worth a sizeable amount when it’s time to sell it on.

While the modern diesel engines, a dependable start-stop system and carefully honed aerodynamics mean the latest versions are capable of around 35mpg in the real world on the motorway, we found this fell to around 27mpg when driving around town.

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Driven in the same manner, there’s little significant difference in efficiency between the two engine power options – though after making the most of the V300d’s extra performance, we found the fuel economy fell accordingly.

View detailed mpg and CO2 figures on our Mercedes-Benz V-Class specs page

Servicing and warranty

The V-Class comes with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty as standard – so if you cover a lot of distance you’ll be well protected here. You can get a Mercedes extended warranty at extra cost if you’re planning to keep the vehicle for longer.

The V-Class has a built-in service indicator that will alert you when a service is required – the time and distance varying with the kind of driving the vehicle has been doing. Prefer to play it safe? Then bank on an annual service or one every 10,000 miles. A range of official Mercedes-Benz service plans are available to help you spread the cost.

Is it reliable?

• Mechanical components should last well
• Technology shared across the Mercedes range
• No recalls in recent years

Being based on a van should be good for mechanical dependability – Mercedes has an outstanding reputation in this area as demonstrated by its consistent high performance in the FN50 most reliable vans survey. Do look out for power-steering issues, however, and if buying used remember these are typically vehicles that cover lots of miles, so a first-class service history is essential.

There have been four official safety recalls, but the last of these was in 2015, so it’s fair to say Mercedes knows how to put these together properly. If you already own one, don’t forget you can give your own opinion in the Parkers owner reviews section.