Mercedes-Benz V-Class review

The V-Class is in a different category to people carriers. It’s in a sort of luxury minibus category, almost by itself.

Even the biggest ‘normal’ people carriers are very full with seven adults, and there’s little luggage space left over. The Mercedes V-Class carries up to 8 easily and still has lots of room for their luggage.

It comes in three lengths - normal, long and extra-long (which is enormous).

Seven-seaters have a couple of luxury swivelling captain-style seats in the middle row.

Eight-seater versions have a three-seat bench instead. They both have three seats in the rear row.

Tech and features

All the seats are of premium quality. The front heated seats have four-way lumbar supports. Electric multi-adjustment is an option.

Middle-row seats can have the same, plus cooling ventilation. Longer versions come with fold-up tables in the middle.

The cabin design and trim are again more like a C-Class executive saloon than a Vito van.

There’s full leather seating, a swooping dashboard with a dark upper strip hosting most instruments, and the central seven-inch touchscreen.

Beneath that is a console with a controller to scroll through infotainment settings.

The V-Class offers various connectivity options, including sat-nav, DAB, Bluetooth and creating an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot.

Driving position

There’s a lot of glass so it’s light and airy. No one will feel squashed.

The length is awkward enough when parking but also be aware that the height, almost 1.9m, is too much for many indoor car parks.

That won’t be helped by the optional selection of roof boxes available to buyers.

It’s huge. This means driving the V-Class feels intimidating at first. There are some spaces it simply won’t fit.

You soon get used to it though. Most of the time it feels just like driving a car.

Handling and ride comfort

The controls are light and precise, and the driving position is more like the C-Class than the Viano van. It’s smooth and comfortable for passengers.

Try to find a version with the optional all-around cameras to help with tight spaces.

Engines and power

There’s a choice of powerful turbodiesels that drive the rear wheels in the traditional way, via a standard seven-speed automatic gearbox.

An electric version, badged EQV, was launched in 2020 with a claimed range of 213 miles.

Look out for models fitted with the most helpful option – the 360-degree camera system. It makes parking the V-Class so much easier.

Boot space

Once you’ve parked, the powered tailgate is huge, making loading big objects easy. It’s so big it can even keep you dry in the rain like an awning.

You do need to park with enough space behind you to open it. If you can’t, you can load through the opening rear window.

The boot space is big, even in the normal-length version. Some versions come with handy load space dividers to stop shopping rolling around.

Rear seats

The substantial seats can be folded, slid around and removed. They’re heavy to lift, though, so you’ll need a couple of people.

Storage solutions

There are a few storage slots around the cabin, a glovebox and USB sockets between the front seats. The rest of the cabin gets a measly 4 cup-holders.

Safety

Safety features have helped the V-Class get a five-star safety rating, and the tech on board includes brake lights that glow brighter the harder you brake.

There’s also automatic emergency braking and a system to counter crosswinds on the motorway.

The V-Class is as expensive as an executive car when new. Prices quickly tumble though and a used one could be the price of a new hatchback.

Fuel economy

The fuel economy of turbodiesel versions should be between 35 and 38mpg. Expect pricey tax, servicing and insurance.

Reliability

All new Mercedes vehicles come with a three-year warranty and, helpfully for used buyers, a 12-year anti-rust cover – as long as the regular inspections have been maintained.

The only place where this model’s van origins is a positive factor is reliability. The tough, tried and tested engineering of a Mercedes van should mean most V-Class problems are very minor.