Mercedes-Benz has announced the UK pricing of its all-new Vito van, which we tested last year. The new vehicle starts at £17,855 plus VAT, which is cheaper than the Ford Transit Custom (£18,295), Volkswagen Transporter (£18,440) and Vauxhall Vivaro (£18,858).
We highly rated the new Mercedes-Benz Vito, which means you will be getting a lot for your money. There are three lengths, three weight variants, and two turbodiesel engines in five power ratings ranging from 87bhp to an eye-watering 189bhp.
There are also kombis and minibus variants, which can provide seating for up to nine people.
Interior
It’s not like Mercedes-Benz has been tight fisted on the spec, either. Cruise control with the ‘Speedtronic’ speed limiter is available as standard, as is the multifunctional steering wheel, 5.8-inch screen with audio streaming and iPod interface, and Bluetooth, USB, SD card and auxiliary connections.
Load Area
The load area can be accessed via either of the two standard side loading doors, or the rear barn doors. A tailgate is available at no extra cost, and is standard on the crew van and Tourer models. The long wheelbase (£18,210) is £355 more expensive than the compact wheelbase (£17,855), and the extra-long wheelbase (£18,685) is around £475 more expensive than the long wheelbase.
Engines
The cheaper 1.6-litre engines are front wheel drive, while the 2.1-litres are rear wheel drive. There is an approximate £1,300 increment between the first four power ratings (109CDi to 116CDi), although the top-of-the-range, 189bhp 119CDi costs considerably more at £25,145.
‘Blue Efficiency’ packages, which feature better optimised alternator management, improved underbody aerodynamics, and ECO start/stop function, are fitted to all rear-wheel drive models, which can help to achieve up to 47.1 mpg (combined) in the 119 BlueTEC.
The 2.1-litre engines are already Euro-6 compliant, and use SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) to achieve the regulations which come into play September 2016. The Adblue will have to be filled every couple of thousand miles or so, depending on driving characteristics.
As ever, there is an impressive array of safety systems on-board the new Mercedes-Benz van. Adaptive ESP, Adaptive Brake Lights, Attention Assist, Crosswind Assist, driver and co-driver airbags, Hill-Start Assist, reflection-style headlights with daytime running lights, Rescue Assist QR codes, and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System are all standard features.
Thorax and window airbags are standard for the Vito Tourer PRO and SELECT, and optional on the panel and crew van.
Summary
As previously mentioned, prices start at £17,855 for the 89bhp 109CDi compact, to £25,975 for the 189bhp, 119CDi extra-long wheelbase. Unlike most the other manufacturers, there are no trim levels with the Mercedes-Benz Vito and the option list is yet to be announced. The first models are set to arrive in UK dealerships in late spring, and all prices mentioned in this article are subject to VAT.
