Mercedes-Benz has announced UK pricing for its 2020 Vito medium van update, starting from £22,845 (excluding VAT). Following a series of upgrades in 2019, the 2020 model gets new engines plus an enhanced roster of safety equipment and other high-tech kit. Keep reading for full details of UK trim levels and specs.
As part of the changes, Mercedes has also given the passenger-carrying eVito Tourer electric van a much bigger battery, taking its driving range between charges up to 261 miles. Keep reading for all the info you need on the ‘evolved’ Mercedes-Benz Vito.
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So, what’s supposed to be the difference in the way the new Vito looks?
It’s not much of a facelift, to be honest. Mercedes has changed the radiator grille, the interior fabric and a few elements on the dashboard.
The new grille puts the Mercedes star right in the middle, surrounded by three ‘black grained louvres’. These are finished in chrome on Premium models (with the option for the chrome finish on other versions, too).
On the inside a new Caluma fabric replaces the old Tunja cloth, while the dashboard gains ‘sporty turbine look’ air vents at either end, and some piano black finishing if you opt for the Chrome Package – which also frames the new air vents in chrome.
That’s it for the 2020 changes, though Mercedes did already add some new wheel choices (including alloys in 17-, 18-, and 19-inch sizes) and additional colours in late 2019.
Is there a choice of trim levels and specifications?
The main van versions of the evolved Vito (as Mercedes-Benz puts it), come in a choice of regular, three-seater panel van or double-cab six-seater crew van.
There are three body-lengths – L1 (4,895mm), L2 (5,140mm) and L3 (5,370mm) – but only a single roof height (1,910mm). Low enough to fit in many car parks.
Carrying on from changes to the pre-facelift model, Mercedes is now offering the Vito in a choice of three trim levels: Progressive, Premium and Sport – though Sport is only available on the crew van. Standard equipment is seriously generous, right across the range.
Scratching the surface, Progressive includes a Thatcham category 1 security system, cruise control, DAB radio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reversing camera, twin sliding side doors, eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, and multifunction steering wheel. These all have a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with the option to upgrade to a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic.
There’s also a good value (£1,700) Plus Pack available to add air-conditioning, colour-coded bumpers, full wheel covers and active parking assist.
Premium includes 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome front grille, metallic paint, colour-coded bumpers, parking package, air-con and 9G-Tronic as standard.
On top of this, Sport comes with sat-nav, black ‘leatherette’ upholstery, heated front seats, sports suspension, AMG (!) side skirts, LED headlamps and taillights, roof rails, heated windscreen, larger fuel and AdBlue tanks, chrome interior detailing and unique Sport graphics. Again, this is 9G-Tronic auto only.
Mercedes Pro Connect is also standard on all new Vito models, and you get a three-year subscription to paid services such as live traffic updates and the Optimise Assistance system as part of the price.
What are the new engines in the 2020 Mercedes Vito?
All rear-wheel drive (RWD) versions of the Vito are now powered by a new 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine.
Called the OM 654 engine, this comes from the Mercedes passenger car range originally, and was introduced into the Vito Tourer passenger carrying models in 2019. Following the facelift, it will be fitted in all RWD Vitos.
The new engine offers very modern emissions control systems – though it’s perhaps not as sophisticated as the twin-dosing 2.0-litre TDI engine coming in the 2020-2021 Volkswagen Caddy – and promises to be much quieter than the old 2.1-litre engine the Vito used before. Though that surely couldn’t be hard, given how noisy that was.
Anyway, the new Vito 2.0-litre CDI diesel comes in the following power outputs and fuel economy ratings:
- 2020 Mercedes Vito 114 CDI: 136hp, 330Nm, 46.3-48.7mpg
- 2020 Mercedes Vito 116 CDI: 163hp, 380Nm, 46.3-48.7mpg
- 2020 Mercedes Vito 119 CDI: 190hp, 440Nm, 47.1-48.7mpg
What’s more, all but the 116 CDI are fitted with Mercedes’ 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox as standard; this is also available as an option on the 116CDI, which is otherwise fitted with a six-speed manual transmission.
The 9G-Tronic is a nine-speed automatic, and together with the new engine helps make the new Vito up to 13% more fuel efficient than the model it replaces (which was available with a seven-speed auto).
It has a choice of Comfort and Sport driving modes, plus a Manual setting, which is controlled via paddleshifters fitted on the back of the steering wheel.
Can you still buy a front-wheel drive Mercedes Vito in 2020?
The Vito is the only van in the medium segment that’s available with a choice of rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive (FWD) – there are now no other RWD rivals at all, in fact – and the facelifted 2020 FWD models get a new engine, too.
Having gone off sale temporarily in early 2019, the FWD Vito has returned with a 1.7-litre CDI turbodiesel (OM 622, since we’re mentioning engine codes) that comes in two power outputs:
- 2020 Mercedes Vito 110 CDI: 102hp, 270Nm, 43.4-44.1mpg
- 2020 Mercedes Vito 114 CDI: 136hp, 330Nm, 43.4-44.1mpg
These are available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission and the Progressive trim level only.
Traditionally, we’ve always found the RWD Vitos much nicer to drive than their FWD counterparts. But we look forward to sampling the new motor as soon as we can to see if this has changed.
What’s new for the eVito electric van?
Having finally announced UK pricing and specification for the eVito panel van earlier in 2020, Mercedes has now increased the driving range of the eVito Tourer to 261 miles.
This has been achieved by using a larger 100kWh battery pack (some technical descriptions will list this as 90kWh, as this is the useable amount of electricity storage in day-to-day driving).
This is a significant boost over the 92 miles it offered before. However, the bigger battery is only available in the Tourer passenger carrying versions at this stage, so the eVito panel van remains restricted to the existing, shorter range.
Mercedes-Benz Vans boss, Marcus Breitschwerdt (below), is bullish about this, saying that real-world driving with customers proves that this is more than enough for the typical urban delivery use the eVito van is intended for.
The upgraded eVito Tourer can be charged from 10% to 80% battery capacity in under 45 minutes, using a powerful enough charger, and is equipped to handle AC and DC charging as standard – the charger itself is even water-cooled to make it more efficient.
There’s a choice of two body lengths – L2 (long) and L3 (extra-long) – for the electric Vito, and the Tourer can be equipped with up to nine seats.
As before, regular versions of the Vito are also available in an L1 (medium) body length. Crew van and panel van models are offered, too.
What’s the maximum payload of the 2020 Vito?
Mercedes say 1,369kg in the maximum payload, and there are some new features to help you optimise it.
For example, in addition to the traditional wooden floor lining, the Vito is now available with a hard-wearing plastic alternative that saves 12-15kg in comparison.
What new technology is available on the 2020 Vito?
Mercedes has increased the number of available safety systems, added an Airmatic air suspension option and is also introducing a digital rear-view mirror – which is a first in the medium van segment.
The digital mirror works like the ones fitted in some Jaguar Land Rover cars, which is to say it works like a regular mirror until you press a button, at which point it turns into a screen for a camera mounted on the back of the vehicle.
Our experience suggests that the camera view takes a bit of getting used to, but once you’ve adapted you learn to appreciate the much wider and unobstructed view it gives you. We’ll reserve judgement until we’ve tested it in the Vito, but it certainly sounds like a better solution than the rear-view cameras used by the Renault Master and Vauxhall Combo families.
There’s also a new infotainment system, which features a 7.0-inch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and – at last – DAB radio as standard. Mercedes Pro Connect also features.
What’s more Mercedes’ Intelligent Light System (ILS) is now available for the Vito – meaning full-LED active headlights that can adapt their beam pattern to the conditions and other road users while giving you the greatest possible view of the road ahead.
You can also option 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels, should you want to become great mates with your chiropractor.
What are the new safety features?
For the first time, the Vito is now available with Mercedes’ Distronic active cruise control system and Active Brake Assist, which is Mercedes’ name for autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
Add these to the digital rear mirror, and they take the available number of active safety systems from 10 to 13, with others including blind spot monitors, active parking, lane-keeping assist, crosswind assist and driver attention monitor (the latter two have been standard for five years now).
When does the new Vito go on sale, and how much will it cost?
UK pricing for the 2020 Vito facelift starts at £22,845 excluding VAT for a FWD 110 CDI in Progressive specification with the L1 body.
That’s actually a £3,500 saving over the cheapest pre-facelift model, which did cost £26,322, excluding VAT.
The new Vito is on-sale now. Look out for an updated Vito review on Parkers Vans and Pickups soon.
Also read:
>> Mercedes-Benz Vito full review (2015-on)
>> Mercedes eVito pricing and specification official info
>> Mercedes-Benz Vito 2019 – new engines and tech revealed
>> Mercedes Vito Sport returns – at a price
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