Introduction
If Mercedes decided to make washing machines, you can bet they would be pretty damn good. As well as producing excellent cleaning results, they would look stylish and outlast most rivals on the market. In fact it's hard to think of anything the company would do badly with any product to which it turned a hand - from an engineering point of view, of course.
Soft furnishings may be a problem.
Its success can be summed up in two words: research and development. And they are now what has guaranteed the success of the Sprinter, now in its eighth year. Newer vehicles are on the market, but if you were considering options in this class, the Sprinter would be high on your list.
To help keep things fresh, the company has performed two facelifts, one back in 2001, which saw common-rail technology introduced and ABS as standard on most models. The second, introduced early this year, saw further cosmetic adjustments as well as the introduction of ESP (electronic stability control) and a new automatic transmission.
Not really radical stuff, but why upset a winning formula?
The next talking point is the size of the thing. There's no getting away from the fact that this is one big van. And although the GVW is set at 3.5 tonnes, if you need to carry more weight, Mercedes offers the uprated 416CDI with a 4.6-tonne GVW, though this steps into the realms of the tachograph. With vans this size, there is also the Luton or box chassis cab option to consider.
However, by its very mature, a panel in a van body is a lot stronger structurally, due to its all-steel body, which translates to better handling characteristics and a better secured load area. And the bigger the vehicle, the more important that is.
Product Profile
Options in the range are broad. There are three wheelbases, two roof heights, and five engine options comprising four turbo-diesels and one petrol unit. The 316CDI gets a 2.7-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel which uses common-rail direct-injection technology. It's the most powerful engine in the range, producing 154hp at 3,800rpm with a whopping 330Nm available between 1,400 - 2,400rpm.
All-round discs provide braking, and ABS is standard. A further option is ASR - acceleration skid control - to keep things in check if the going gets hectic. This is a worthwhile consideration if you're going to be carrying heavy loads in difficult conditions. Front suspension is fully independent with transverse leaf spring, shock absorbers and stabiliser, while the rear uses parabolic leaf springs and again shock absorbers plus a stabiliser.
Productivity
When it comes to economy the equation of big van/big engine does not raise expectations. So the figure of 28.0mpg that it produced after a fully laden trip around the Kent test route was respectable. Previous testing shows that the lesser-powered 311 CDI (2.1-litres) produced 31.3mpg with the average in the class ad just under 30mpg. However, the vehicles used (CM 28 August) had smaller engines and shorter wheelbases, which more than compensates for the difference in figures.
Regarding the load area, you could probably get an echo out of the Sprinter, so vast is its rear volume. Length is 4.2m, which compares favourable with the largest Vauxhall Movano at 3.7m and Ford Transit at 3.4m. And loading the Sprinter is not a problem either; rear door height is low enough to step into without much trouble and standing upright is fine, even for the lankiest members of our test team. The kerbweight is 1,810kg, which allows the vehicle to carry up to 1,690kg.
When it comes to servicing, the Sprinter is fitted with the company's ASSYST service indicator. This allows oil change intervals to be up to 24,000 miles, depending on wear and tear.# Major service intervals are set at 36,000 miles and the warranty is three years? unlimited mileage. But the main peace of mind comes from the Sprinter's superior build quality. Think parts replacement and residuals and you get the picture.
