New Mercedes-Benz All-Wheel-Drive Vans Tested By Auto Trader

The true value of a commercial vehicle is measured in one key place - practicality. The rest comes second, admittedly a very close second. So, it would be understandable to hear people question whether a van’s ability to drive safely in the snow is worth consideration in the UK where heavy snowfall is rare. I believe it is, and so does Mercedes-Benz, which is why the company invited Auto Trader to Austria where its new 4Matic all-wheel-drive (AWD) Sprinter, V-Class and Vito vans were waiting to be pushed to their limits. For clarity’s sake, the new 4Matic AWD system provides drivers with automatic torque on demand of up to 50% split on each axle - previously, the company’s 4x4 mode on its vans would offer 35% torque to the front and 65% to the rear axle.
So, why is all-wheel drive capability important? Well, if you wear a watch capable of going 100 metres underwater, the fact it can go to that depth gives peace of mind that it won’t break from exposure to water. Therefore, if you drive a van that CAN handle deep snow and ice it gives you the confidence that if the weather turns foul then your van (and your family or business) will keep moving. A driver in the UK won’t need the capability every day but might need it at some point, which is why Mercedes-Benz is keen to demonstrate these capabilities in a country where snow-covered roads are commonplace… and more than a little dicey. Our testing track would be the stretch of road from the Austrian crossing point to the Italian border near Hochgurgl - several kilometres of twisty snow-covered ascent and ice-slick descent roads that would push any vehicle to its limits. Mercedes-Benz vans that are AWD or 4x4 capable have been in production for many years with various models and sizes available (have a look at some of them here). So, with all that heritage, just how capable are the new models? Let’s take it one van class at a time.

Let’s start with the elephant in the room - the new Vito is a facelifted version, but truly feels like a new vehicle, which is good because the previous generation had a few dated features that were beginning to hold it back. Today, it’s available as a commercial vehicle under the ‘Vito’ name, and as a passenger vehicle called ‘V-Class’. Significant upgrades have been made in every area with a fresh look for the exterior, new interior styling in the cabin, the integration of the new MBUX infotainment system and improved safety spec. The AWD Vito and V-Class vehicles offer high traction and driving stability on slippery surfaces, but offer the same entry and vehicle height as the rear-wheel drive models, making them suitable for all standard underground car parks even while being AWD capable.
But, I’ll save digging too far into the updates and new details for my full reviews coming soon to the Auto Trader site - this article will cover the driving experience and road handling on and off the snow. The Vito and V-Class vans I drove over the two days in Hochgurgl, Austria, were the Vito Panel Van (driven from Innsbruck airport to the Top Hotel in Hochgurgl - 55 miles over two hours), the V-Class MPV on the ice and snow roads from the Austrian crossing point to the Italian border, and a V-Class MPV I drove back to Innsbruck airport on the same route as the panel van. To really get a feel for the Vito, Mercedes-Benz had planned a good route from the airport to the hotel in Hochgurgl - taking in a blend of single-carriage A roads, twisting country roads, mountain ascent roads and motorways. The automatic 2.0-litre diesel Vito Panel van was my first drive and proved to be a competent road handler. It was loaded with a dummy load of 400kg strapped into the load space, which stiffened the suspension nicely and meant I experienced little to no wobble or roll in corners (and there are a lot of corners in Austria). Acceleration, where possible, was easy to control simply by applying more pressure to the pedal - the only lag I ever noticed was getting away from standing stops at traffic lights, and it wasn’t consistent. I felt like the vehicle might have been processing something else until I pressed the pedal and it took a noticeable second to kick into motion. Despite its size, I never felt out of control or worried about knocking into anything on tight corners - the safety package of sensors and cameras helped enormously to soothe that anxiety. Overall, I was impressed with how modern the new Vito Panel Van feels and I found myself settling into the role of ‘luxury van driver’ a little too easily. The full review of the Vito Panel Van will be on Auto Trader very soon! I drove the V-Class MPV on the way back to the airport the next day in an exact reverse of the route I’d driven the Vito - it handled similarly, although did not have the dummy weight in the back. It didn’t need it as all the extra seats and trims must’ve added up to over 400kg. If anything the suspension on the back wheels was even stiffer and the vehicle felt like it was gliding along the road. But it really showed its guts on the snow and ice. The 4Matic AWD system is a clever blend of computer-aided traction control and ESP that constantly checks and balances the vehicle, your driving ability and road conditions to keep the vehicle stable. About the only thing you need to worry about is braking and adding power to keep yourself mobile - the van does everything else. You’re driving on snow and ice, so the wheels spin and the vehicle wobbles, but never for long because it corrects itself before you feel like it might all unravel. My original point from the beginning of the article stands… in the UK, you’re not going to need AWD capabilities from a panel van or MPV all the time, but when you do need it the Mercedes-Benz vans can provide it efficiently and with minimal heart fluttering.

It’s hard to believe that Mercedes-Benz Vans created the “Sprinter” around 30 years ago, and even harder still to note that in Spring 2024 the new edition of the large van was launched. This new edition is even safer, smarter, more interactive and just as versatile as ever, finding particularly dedicated fans in fleets, small businesses and as a base vehicle for motorhomes.
The new Sprinter outputs up to 190hp from the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with its two-stage turbocharger producing torque of 450Nm. In the Sprinter 4x4, this is combined with all-wheel drive and the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission, there is a noticeable height difference in the AWD and 4x4 versions I was able to test, meaning it’s something to be aware of if you opt to drive one. Of particular note is the inclusion of the new MBUX infotainment system as standard, including a 10.25-inch touch display and instrument cluster with colour display, new safety spec, what felt like comfier seats and the new 2.0-litre diesel engines. As before, there’s plenty to talk about, but I’ll save getting into the major details and upgrades for my upcoming reviews. Of all the vans I drove on the snow track in Hochgurgl, the Sprinter was the one I spent most time with. For a vehicle this size and weight, it was like driving a large car and I was impressed with how easily it managed the snow, ice, climbs and descents. Never once did it feel like the vehicle was going to slip from my control… but that’s the magic of the 4Matic system, it’s not really you in control of the vehicle. It makes you feel like you’re in control, but the 4Matic system is what’s keeping the vehicle on the straight and narrow allowing you to make course corrections and apply power where needed. The Sprinter Panel Van also had a 400kg dummy load in the load space, adding to its weight, but again this did not trouble the 4Matic system one bit. On my first run, the back of the van swung around a bit on several tight turns, but that was me braking too hard - it was all user error. As I settled into the van and let the vehicle do its work, I never encountered this again, even on the iciest and tightest corners. I had my reservations about driving a van this big in such hostile conditions, but they were shattered very quickly - trust in the technology and the Sprinter will see you safely to your destination, no matter the surface.

Overall, I was impressed with how easily the 4Matic and 4x4 versions of the Mercedes-Benz vans handled the snow, ice and twisty mountain roads of Austria. It goes back to the analogy I used earlier in this article… you might wear a watch that’s capable of going underwater to depths of 100m and still function, but you won’t do that everyday, you’re just aware it can.
In the UK, you won’t need AWD or 4x4 capabilities everyday when you drive your van, but knowing it can handle terrain of even the harshest type is peace of mind - and that is where this capability holds most value. Keep your eyes peeled for the reviews of these vans on UK roads, they’re coming to the Auto Trader site imminently.

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