Pros: Well built; good handling; great diesel
efficiency; it's everything U.S. domestic vans are not
Are you looking for a car that can be all things to all
people? Your first stop would be the Toyota Camry. But if you
are looking for a van to carry cargo or passengers, one that can be configured
to haul many things or carry a dozen people, the short answer is the Sprinter.
Built by Mercedes-Benz,
the people/cargo carrier can be used as an airport shuttle, commercial carrier,
luxury RV or cab chassis. In many configurations, the Sprinter will meet your
needs and exceed your expectations, despite its hefty $40,000 base price.
Those expectations begin with M-B's three-pointed star
fronting the traditional grille and the abbreviated hood. Behind the iconic
face is the heart of the Sprinter exercise, a 3.0-liter V6 Bluetec diesel
providing 188 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque while meeting the strict
emission standards set by the EPA and the California Air Resources Board. And whether
opting for a standard roof with short wheelbase or the high roof sitting on
either the short or long wheelbase, you'll enjoy ample space with hyper
efficiency.
While the Sprinter's many features and capabilities will
certainly captivate, the ringer with the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz is the
enjoyment provided in its ownership. Although common in Europe, the Sprinter
remains relatively unique in the U.S. And with a design distinct from its
American competitors, along with a built-in durability that seemingly defies
time, there's a lot to like in the 2012 Sprinter both at the time of purchase
and at trade-in.
Comfort & Utility
The Sprinter's comfort level is established from the moment
you step inside, whether as a driver slipping (instead of climbing) behind the
wheel or a commercial passenger entering through the Sprinter's best-in-class
side door. Once inside, you'll enjoy top-quality materials crafted in a precise
- albeit fully functional - manner. You won't, to be sure, confuse the environs
with those of Mercedes' CLS; but neither will you think you've returned to your
long-forgotten Ram Van.
In the Sprinter Passenger Van, there is seating for up to
12, including the driver. Quick-release locks provide for easy installation and
removal of all passenger seats except the last row. Passengers enjoy contoured
benches with integrated shoulder harnesses that use supportive foam and quality
coverings far removed from what we typically associate with the passenger van
or van conversion. If you opt for the long-wheelbase Sprinter, you get some six
feet of load length behind its rearmost seat.
If used for cargo, the Sprinter Passenger Van offers volumes
ranging from 141 cubic feet with seats in place to almost 500 cubic feet with
seats removed. In cargo-specific configuration, the Sprinter Cargo Van is
available in three lengths, the longest of which offers more than 15 feet of
load space between the front seats and rear doors - which open 270 degrees on
all models. The Sprinter 2500 Cargo Van and all the passenger models have a
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 8,550 pounds; the 3500 Cargo Van boasts a
GVWR above 11,000 pounds..
Finally, for those families or firms with a need to
(literally) split the difference between people and their stuff, the Crew Van
combines the advantages of a Cargo Van with seating for up to five, including
the driver. There's an optional variable load-securing system.
Technology
Most of the tech in the Sprinter is devoted to safety, but
an Audio 20 radio is available; it has a dual tuner, CD player with MP3
capability, CD changer and Bluetooth with telephone keypad. In working with you
to keep the van vertical, Mercedes adds an Adaptive Electronic Stability
Program, which works with ABS, acceleration skid control, electronic brake force
distribution, Brake Assist and ESP Trailer Stability Assist.
Under the hood, the 3.0 liter V6 is chock full of the latest
thinking. Fuel is delivered via state-of-the-art common-rail technology and
compressed via an intercooled turbocharger. Once ignited, exhaust gases are
cleaned with Bluetec, Mercedes-Benz's proprietary Selective Catalytic Reduction
using AdBlue diesel exhaust fluid.
Perhaps the most significant technology separating the
Sprinter from its domestic competition is the thinking behind its design. No
manufacturer to date combines commercial capabilities with daily-driver comfort
to the degree offered by the 2012 Sprinter. The highest evolution of technology
is when it works without the driver or passengers noticing.
Performance and Fuel Economy
The engine's 188 horsepower, delivered at 3,800 rpm, may
seem modest, but the story here is torque, with the V6 turbocharged diesel
delivering its maximum of 325 lb-ft between 1,400 and 2,400 rpm. In short, you
can pull stumps at any engine speed above idle. Diesels are inherently more
efficient than their gasoline counterparts, and although the EPA doesn't
provide an estimate of miles per gallon, the number of Sprinters you see in
commercial service despite the $40,000 base price testifies to their efficiency.
From a performance standpoint, whether you're behind the
wheel or in the Sprinter's third row, you won't lack for reasonable
acceleration or relatively relaxed cruising capability. And coming to a stop is
as predictable as a sunset.
Safety
As we've pointed out, the Sprinter has plenty of Mercedes
technology to help keep the driver on the road and out of trouble. Should a
collision take place, however, the Sprinter is fitted with a full complement of
airbags as well as easily accessed three-point seatbelts and four-way comfort
head restraints on all seats. Mercedes also offers a host of load-securing
options to keep your cargo where it should be, and prevent it from going where
it shouldn't.
Driving Impressions
At most introductions of full-size vans, a manufacturer will
load it up with people, attach a trailer to a hitch or both. In demonstrations
of the Sprinter, Mercedes prefers to take testers to an autocross course, where
the Sprinter's well-connected steering and composed suspension are tested at full
throttle. To be sure, full throttle is engaging 188 hp and not 388 hp, but the
capability demonstrated in directing a Sprinter through a turn and coming out
of that turn upright can't be overemphasized.
Whether you're transporting motorbikes or best buddies, know
that you're in better control of the Sprinter than virtually anything else in
its competitive category.
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