2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Passenger Van
Fortunately the Sprinter line of full-size vans backs up its three-pointed star and arguably attractive styling with impressive medium- and heavy-duty capability, comfortable well-equipped cabins, powerful efficient engines, and numerous size, body style, window, and seating configurations, so the job at hand can be managed in the most effective, efficient way possible.
The Sprinter, which received a mid-cycle freshening in 2013 for the 2014 model year, not only benefited from a stylish new grille, revised headlights, a reshaped bumper, redesigned lower fascia, modified body panels, reworked taillights, and trim revisions front to rear, but at least as importantly it arrived with a new base engine.
The two-stage turbocharged 2.1-liter BlueTec four-cylinder diesel offers those who don’t need as much capability a less expensive, more fuel-efficient alternative to its carryover 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6. The smaller engine puts out 161 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque compared to the six-cylinder powerplant’s 188 horsepower and 325 lb-ft, plus the 2.1 makes use of Mercedes’ seven-speed automatic that includes two additional overdrive gears to improve performance and enhance economy; the V6 model soldiers on with the well-proven five-speed automatic.
For the 2015 model year, Mercedes continued to up its Sprinter game with a new segment-exclusive driver-selectable button-operated 4×4 drivetrain for V6-powered cargo and passenger models. The 4WD system boasts a 35:65 torque-split between the front and rear axles for considerable off-road capability, which is improved upon by 2.9 inches of increased ride-height up front and 3.9 inches in back. Also important, 2500 models like the Sprinter tested here received standard Crosswind Assist to help mitigate strong side winds.
With all the improvements over the past couple of years, no one should complain that the 2016 Sprinter is mostly carryover. This means standard Passenger Van features not yet mentioned still include automatic daytime running lights, LED brake lights, front and rear mud flaps, privacy glass, keyless entry, an impressively smooth passenger-side sliding door, side mirror turn signals, tilt and telescopic steering, multi-adjustable front seats with flip-down armrests, attractive Tunja Black cloth upholstery, quick-responding powerful air conditioning, a warm/cool air duct to the passenger compartment, an outside temperature display, a storage shelf above the windshield, decent sounding AM/FM/USB/iPod audio, Bluetooth, a 12-volt power outlet, a front console smoker’s package, rear ashtrays, a coat hook in passenger compartment, very comfortable albeit fairly narrow three-position first- and second-row bench seats with lots of legroom, a four-position third-row bench seat, 270-degree opening double-wing rear doors with integrated mesh pockets, hill start assist, front and rear wireless tire pressure monitoring, a hydraulic jack, a trailer prep package, all the usual active and passive safety features including a full set of dual front, side-thorax and side-window airbags for front occupants, and the list goes on.
I recently covered the Sprinter 3500 Cargo Van and therefore took opportunity to test a Passenger Van this time around, this people hauler only available with the lighter weight 2500 chassis, whereas the panel van can be had either way. Both were High Roof 144WB (144-inch wheelbase) models, but of course the Passenger Van is finished to a higher standard in back, with roof pillar, sidewall and door panels, windows all-round, and a fully enclosed roofliner, but there are no differences up front.
Before delving into the details, you can purchase a 2016 Sprinter Passenger Van for as little as $40,745 plus freight and fees, which gets you a 2500 144WB model with a Standard Roof height, meaning your passengers will need to crouch while finding their seats. Spending $43,240 upgrades the same van with the as-tested High Roof, allowing easy upright movement, which is much more suitable for shuttling elderly clients and/or those with disabilities. Mercedes also makes the same height with a longer 170-inch wheelbase starting at $46,940, just in case the standard-length High Roof model’s 80.9 cubic-foot cargo area isn’t large enough and 190.3 cubic feet is required. As for payload, you can haul a maximum of 2,907 lbs, which should take care of 12 peoples’ luggage and then some, while the Passenger Van’s GVWR is 8,550 lbs.
If you’ve driven a Mercedes car or SUV you might notice some similarities inside this van, although prepare yourself for a less elaborate experience. Most of the soft touch surfaces that pamper the luxury brand’s retail lineup don’t benefit the Sprinter’s cab, but take note there are plenty of tuners and customizers that will only be too willing to upgrade this big van as hedonistically as your budget allows, or turn it (or a Chassis Cab model) into an RV. Just the same, I can’t see a paid driver complaining about the stock Sprinter. Some features that resemble those in the brand’s car and SUV lineup include well-made power window switches, the optional multifunction buttons on its metallic trimmed steering wheel, stylish chrome trim surrounding the primary instrument dials, the stitched leatherette shifter boot, the color infotainment system, and the HVAC interface, this latter item using very similar rotating temperature dials to some of Mercedes’ cars. Still, the functions are simpler and cabin designed for durability over luxury, as it should be.
The driver’s seat is certainly comfortable, while the Passenger Van’s surrounding windows improve visibility over the Cargo Van, although I found myself relying on the big side mirrors anyway. It’s an easy van to maneuver through tight spaces, no problem in heavy traffic and a breeze on the highway, the aforementioned Crosswind Assist truly helping when forceful wind gusts could otherwise upset the broadsided machine.
My tester was outfitted with the larger engine, the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6’s substantive torque making light work of a mostly empty van. It takes off quickly, although it’s the smoothness of the powertrain that’s most impressive, the five-speed auto a very nice match to the engine. Once underway the big Sprinter continues to accelerate with ease and swaps through its gears almost unnoticeably, with plenty of passing power still available at higher than posted freeway speeds. The Sprinter’s brakes are strong too, while the big van’s surprisingly skillful handling defies its sheer size, height and mass, the Sprinter feeling much smaller than it actually is.
This commercial-grade Mercedes truly is a refined package, but options make it even nicer. For example, my tester came with a number of packages and standalone options including auto on/off headlamps with auto high beams, rain-sensing wipers, heated and power-adjustable side mirrors, heat-insulating front glass with a windshield band, collision prevention assist, blindspot assist, lane keeping assist, an overhead console with dual reading lamps, a multifunction steering wheel, a trip computer, cruise control, illuminated exits, a convenience light in the cargo/passenger compartment, two-stage sliding door opening, an assist handle on the sliding door B-pillar, aisle- and wall-side armrests for the rear bench seats, a powered sidestep below the sliding door; a fixed step for the rear door, front and rear parking sensors, plus more.
There’s much more available of course, with additional features including a chromed grille, alloy wheels, HID headlights with cornering capability, headlamp washers, halogen fog lamps, heatable front seats, an additional heat exchanger for the rear compartment, more insulation for the front and rear compartments, black leatherette front seats, a rearview camera, a reverse warning system, Becker Map Pilot navigation, cupholders under the three-seater bench seats, high-output air conditioning in the passenger compartment, rear window wipers and washers, roof rack mounting rails, and much more.
Merely going over the facts and running the numbers will help anyone appreciate the Sprinter’s many attributes, but I recommend spending some one-on-one time with something like this 2500 Passenger Van or one of its other body styles, as you’ll likely be very impressed. It’s a good looking, great driving, comfortable, safe, well-built, respectable conveyance that your clients will be happy to see arriving just for them, and in the end aren’t satisfied customers what matters most?
Story credits: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press Photo credits: Karen Tuggay, American Auto Press Copyright: American Auto Press
