Mercedes-Benz has fixed the only major problem with its eVito electric van – the driving range. By adding a bigger battery pack, the firm says the eVito will now officially travel up to 162 miles between charges.
At the same time, Mercedes has added a Premium trim level to expand the eVito line-up.
What’s new for the 2022 eVito?
The major technical difference between this updated eVito and the one that came before is the capacity of the battery.
The old electric Vito had a 41kWh battery pack, the new one has a 66kWh battery pack. That’s enough for the WLTP driving range estimate to rise from a previous best of 92 miles to the new top figure of 162 miles.
That’s still not as far as its major rivals from Toyota and Stellantis can manage. But we’ve always found the eVito to have impressive range accuracy, so this new one may prove a more dependable companion than the Toyota Proace Electric, Citroen e-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert, Vauxhall Vivaro-e and forth coming Fiat E-Scudo alternatives if you actually need to put some distance in between charges.
And yes, those five other vans listed are all technically identical to each other.
How long does it take to charge the new eVito?
Rapid charging capability means you can 105 miles of range to the new eVito in 35 minutes on a powerful public DC charger. That’s a 10-80% charge.
An 11kW AC wallbox charger – which you might have available at your home or office, though 7kW is more common in the UK – will perform a complete charge in 6.5 hours. A regular domestic plug requires 20 hours.
What variants are available?
As before, the eVito is available in L2 and L3 bodysizes. Now, however, you can also order it Premium specification as well as the more basic Progressive trim level.
Both models feature a 7.0-inch infotainment system and a three-year subscription to the Mercedes me app to provide connectivity to a range of digital services. Including pre-conditioning functions to heat or cool the cab while the van is charging, remote-locking via your phone, and navigation that takes charging points along the route into account.
Progressive models also feature Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB radio, reversing camera, air-conditioning and ‘comfort’ driver’s seat.
Step up to Premium and you get body-coloured bumpers and metallic paint, 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome grille, leather steering wheel, parking sensors, front foglights, electric-folding mirrors and lumbar support for the driver.
There are four option packages that bundle popular extras together for better value in the UK:
- Load Area Package
- Technology Package Plus
- Comfort Package Plus
- Driver Assistance Package
All versions come with an alarm, double locks, MobiloVan roadside support and a three-year unlimited mileage warranty. The battery pack is covered for up to eight years or 100,000 miles.
What are the other technical details?
Power is provided by an electric motor that drives the front wheels, delivering up to 116hp and 360Nm of torque.
Gross vehicle weight is 3.2-tonnes, which equates to a maximum payload of 807kg, while the larger L3 variant offers 6.6 cubic metres of load space – the same as diesel versions of the van as the batteries are mounted under the floor.
How much does the 66kWh Mercedes eVito cost?
Prices start at £43,600 for the smaller L2 model in the entry-level Progressive trim level – that’s excluding VAT and without the UK government plug-in van grant, which is currently worth £5,000 on the eVito.
This is slightly more expensive than the Toyota Proace Electric with the 204-mile battery pack, which is the 2022 Parkers Electric Van of the Year award-winner.
The L3 version of the eVito Progressive is £44,130, while the Premium model only comes in the L2 size and costs £46,900.
The updated Mercedes eVito is on sale now.
Also read:
>> Our current Mercedes-Bezn eVito review
