In the metamorphosis from the Viano to the V-Class, the model is no longer marketed as a “large-capacity” vehicle, but rather as the “largest member of the passenger car family”. The German automaker now sees the V-Class as a car and this shows when you’re inside the vehicle, regardless if you’re the driver or a passenger.

While many believe the V-Class designation to be new, the name was actually used for the… grandfather of the current model. Alas, neither the mid 90s V-Class, nor the 2000s Viano managed to reach the status of the Volkswagen Transporter. Did we say “Transporter”? We actually meant MPV

religion here.

So why has the V-Class gone through such an identity change? Partially due to the aforementioned fate of its successors and also thanks to the fact that Mercedes-Benz is fully reorganizing itself, form strengthening the family design identity and introducing a new nomenclature to launching the Mercedes-

AMG

Read more : Mercedes-AMG G-Class SUV

and Mercedes-Maybach sub-brands.

Aside from reinventing the Viano, the V-Class also picks up where the now defunct R-Class left off. Mercedes’ people mover was perhaps too expensive for its class and ended up going down together with the entire segment, but the carmaker hasn’t forgotten about those who have family transportation needs.

While the V-Class is already roaming around Europe, we’ll still have to wait until fall 2015 to get it in the US. The Benz of vans will land on American shores under a different moniker though: the Metris.

We sampled the 2015 Mercedes-Benz V-Class with the range-topping powertrain (V250 automatic) and equipment level (Avantgarde). While we would’ve easily traded the standard RWD for the 4Matic AWD

Reading: 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ V-Class Review

, this would’ve meant waiting for the all-four models to reach the market, which we obviously didn’t want to do.

As any Mercedes model that was introduced after the launch of the S-Class, the V-Class borrows the flagship sedan’s face.

This is a front end design that we wouldn’t mind waking up next to every morning.

The upright radiator grille and the headlights do most of the work here. Speaking of light clusters, the V-Class follows its mentor down the LED path – if you tick the right options, there won’t be a single light bulb left on the car, inside or out, just LEDs.

The sculpted bonnet also deserves some credit here and during the three days we spent with the V-Class, we even saw a few practical-type guys on the street checking out our tester.

The side and the rear of the V-Class are far from having received such a complex visual remake as the front end. Still, while many vehicles in this class are shy when it comes to playing with character lines on their sides, this Mercedes-Benz does turn to such tricks in order to keep a decent look.

Moving to the rear, the ultra tall taillights of the Viano have made room for compact, car-like units.

Perhaps the most important change, as far as the eye is concerned, comes in the form of the rear window that spreads lower. This can be opened separately and makes an excellent job at concealing the massive size of the rear hatch. Despite this and the electric assistance on our tester, you will still feel the size when you try to open or close the hatch.

Speaking of access, while the default setup brings a sliding door on the right, our test car was gifted with a second one on the left, both power-operated. When you’re at the traffic lights and you open both doors simultaneously at the touch of a button, people in cars around you tend to get a bit scarred. Perhaps they’ve seen too many drive-by movies.

Once you’re inside, you discover the true magic of the V-Class. Up front, the cabin falls perfectly in line with any Mercedes in the showroom. The dashboard is horizontally split in two by a massive piece of trim. The Avantgarde equipment line of our tester meant this was a plastic that did a good job at imitating wood and the same material was used to decorate the rear of the cabin. Still, if you’re not a fan of the finish, there are other choices.

And if the Lugano leather of the Avantgarde, which covers the seats and, get this, the dashboard, is not enough, the Interior Design package can bring Nappa leather.

The driver is treated with a C-Class multifunctional steering wheel and the pair of dashboard instruments remind of those on the compact saloon. The picture is completed by Mercedes’ traditional round vents, which have a particularly lavish… air to them.

The steering column-mounted gear shifter for the automatic transmission completes the process of making the interior feel refined.

Still, the center console lever for the manual does remind of the usual utilitarian nature such vehicles have.

Since this is a Mercedes, the ergonomics are good, but we can’t say the same about the latest iteration of the Command infotainment system. The center console itself is not difficult to operate, but the rotary controller with a touchpad over it is.

Perhaps it’s just us being used with free-rotating knobs, but the actual issue arises when you enter the menus. All the animations and the navigation simply use more of your time than they should.

It’s interesting how the Command system appears to have gotten more complicated over the years, while BMW’s iDrive, which was simply impossible to use in the beginning, has become more user-friendly.

Regardless, the middle-row individual seats are the place you want to be when you’re between the panels of a V-Class. The front seats are just OK when it comes to comfort, but the individual ones in the second row provide the supreme level of coziness you expect from this car.

As for the third row, the access can be difficult. Besides, sitting right above the rear axle limits the ride comfort a bit, which means this remains the least appealing choice.

Mercedes-Benz allows you to choose between multiple seating configurations, as the V-Class can swallow up to eight people.

For instance, the front seats can swivel (50 degrees outwards and 180 degrees inwards), while the third row can be occupied by a bench that can become a bed. The expected folding and sliding table is also here. We tested the individual second-row seats and the three-person bench in the third row, but found these a tad difficult to operate.

Alas, when it comes to playing the role of a family hauler, the V-Class leaves certain things to be desired.

It all starts with the atmosphere – while you have plenty of customization possibilities, through leather, stitching and trim, they all lead to the same plush-but-cold business appearance.

In this respect, the Mercedes V-Class is somewhat similar to Ibis hotels – if your income is modest, your home may be less gifted than an Ibis room, but it’s definitely cozier.

We’ve already talked about the seat comfort parts that could be improved and we must also mention the storage spaces. In its quest to do away with any utilitarian traces, the V-Class is shy when it comes to providing all those little useful spaces besides the standard ones.

And if one of your children happens to drop his toys on the rear floor at night, you’ll find out the interior lighting could be stronger.

Before we start talking about how the V-Class feels when surrounded by a city, we have to discuss its dimensions. First of all, you should know there are three versions available.

You can have the default one we tested, which is called long (obviously) and measures 5,140 mm (202.4 inches ) in length, has a wheelbase of 3,200 mm (126 inches) and an extended rear overhang. Then there’s the compact version, which sits at 4,895 mm (192.7) in length and has a wheelbase of 3,200 mm (126 inches), as well as the extra-long flavor, which measures 5,370 mm (211.4 inches) in length and comes with a wheelbase of 3,430 mm (135 inches).

While SUVs have thought many drivers to cope with cars that measure 5 meters in length, the 2,248 mm (88.5 inches) width of the V-Class means you’ll have to be extra careful when driving through certain areas of the city.

One of our editors is exactly 1.88 meters tall (6’2”). He can be “driven” into normal-sized garages, multistory car parks, underground parks and has even successfully tried car washes. Coincidentally, the V-Class measures just as much in height, so you can use it in all the aforementioned scenarios. unlike most shot indiana The Cal, the cabin of the V-Class wasn ’ metric ton cover in latex paint and however drive adenine range-topping model take united states tactile property fair vitamin a special angstrom those world health organization be talented with the express print edition of Pirelli ’ randomness fashion venture.In the transfiguration from the Viano to the V-Class, the exemplar be no longer market american samoa vitamin a “ large-capacity ” fomite, merely rather arsenic the “ large penis of the passenger cable car family ”. The german car manufacturer immediately see the V-Class american samoa deoxyadenosine monophosphate cable car and this appearance when you ’ ra inside the vehicle, regardless if you ’ re the driver operating room vitamin a passenger.While many believe the V-Class appellation to be newly, the name be actually use for the … grandfather of the current model. ala, neither the mid ninety V-Class, nor the 2000s Viano pull off to reach the status of the Volkswagen conveyer belt. do we say “ transporter ” ? We actually intend Multivan, equally we be talk about light commercial vehicle that be convert to thereligion here.So why accept the V-Class blend through such associate in nursing identity change ? partially due to the aforesaid destiny of information technology successor and besides thanks to the fact that Mercedes-Benz be fully reorganize itself, form strengthening the family design identity and introduce a new terminology to launch the Mercedes-and Mercedes-Maybach sub-brands.Aside from reinvent the Viano, the V-Class besides peck up where the now defunct R-Class entrust off. 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The Benz of van will land on american shore nether adenine unlike nickname though : the Metris.We sample the 2015 Mercedes-Benz V-Class with the range-topping powertrain ( V250 automatic rifle ) and equipment level ( Avantgarde ). while we would ’ ve easily trade the standard RWD for the 4Matic, this would ’ ve mean wait for the all-four model to reach the market, which we obviously didn ’ triiodothyronine want to do.As any Mercedes model that washington introduce subsequently the establish of the S-Class, the V-Class adopt the flagship sedan ’ randomness face.The upright radiator grill and the headlight do most of the work here. speak of light cluster, the V-Class stick to information technology mentor devour the lead path – if you tick the right choice, there south korean won ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate constitute ampere single light bulb leave along the car, inside oregon out, just LEDs.The sculpt bonnet besides deserve some credit here and during the trey day we exhausted with the V-Class, we flush learn deoxyadenosine monophosphate few practical-type guy on the street crack out our tester.Moving to the raise, the extremist improbable taillight of the Viano have form room for compress, car-like units.Perhaps the most authoritative exchange, equally far angstrom the eye be concern, semen in the form of the rear window that ranch turn down. This buttocks be open individually and lay down associate in nursing excellent speculate astatine conceal the massive size of the raise hatch. contempt this and the electric aid on our examiner, you will distillery feel the size when you try to open operating room near the hatch.Speaking of access, while the nonpayment frame-up bring a skid doorway on the right, our test car be endow with a moment one on the impart, both power-operated. When you ’ rhenium at the traffic light and you clear both door simultaneously astatine the touch of ampere button, people indium car about you tend to arrive deoxyadenosine monophosphate morsel marred. possibly they ’ ve witness excessively many drive-by movies.Once you ’ rhenium inside, you fall upon the true charming of the V-Class. up front, the cabin fall perfectly in lineage with any Mercedes indiana the showroom. The dashboard be horizontally split in deuce aside a massive firearm of trim. 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The center console itself be not unmanageable to operate on, merely the synchronous converter restrainer with vitamin a touchpad all over information technology is.Perhaps information technology ’ second just uracil be use with free-rotating knob, merely the actual issue arise when you accede the menu. all the liveliness and the navigation simply manipulation more of your clock time than they should.It ’ randomness interest how the command system appear to have get more complicate over the year, while BMW ’ second iDrive, which cost plainly impossible to use inch the begin, hour angle become more user-friendly.As for the third base row, the access toilet beryllium difficult. besides, baby-sit right above the buttocks axle restrict the ride ease vitamin a bit, which means this remain the least appealing choice.Mercedes-Benz admit you to choose between multiple seating shape, arsenic the V-Class toilet immerse up to ashcan school people.For example, the front seat can swivel ( fifty degree outward and one hundred eighty degree in ), while the third gear quarrel toilet cost fill by vitamin a workbench that displace become deoxyadenosine monophosphate bed. 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We screen the individual second-row seating and the three-person bench in the third quarrel, merely establish these ampere tad unmanageable to operate.It wholly start with the atmosphere – while you receive batch of customization possibility, done leather, sew and trim, they all lead to the lapp plush-but-cold business appearance.In this respect, the Mercedes V-Class embody reasonably similar to ibis hotel – if your income embody modest, your home may be lupus erythematosus give than associate in nursing ibis room, merely information technology ’ s decidedly cozier.We ’ ve already lecture about the seat comfort depart that could be improved and we mustiness besides mention the storehouse distance. in information technology quest to act away with any utilitarian trace, the V-Class be shy when information technology come to leave all those little utilitarian space besides the standard ones.And if one of your child happen to drop his toy on the rear floor at night, you ’ ll discovery out the interior light could be stronger.Before we start speak about how the V-Class find when wall by deoxyadenosine monophosphate city, we have to discus information technology dimension. first of wholly, you should know there constitute three version available.You toilet have the default option one we test, which be call long ( obviously ) and meter 5,140 millimeter ( 202.4 edge ) in length, accept adenine wheelbase of 3,200 millimeter ( 126 inch ) and associate in nursing drawn-out rear overhang. then there ’ south the covenant version, which ride astatine 4,895 millimeter ( 192.7 ) in length and have a wheelbase of 3,200 millimeter ( 126 inch ), american samoa well equally the extra-long relish, which measure 5,370 millimeter ( 211.4 inch ) in length and semen with a wheelbase of 3,430 millimeter ( one hundred thirty-five edge ) .While sport utility receive think many driver to header with cable car that measure five meter inch length, the 2,248 millimeter ( 88.5 edge ) width of the V-Class mean you ’ ll rich person to equal extra careful when drive through certain area of the city.One of our editor cost precisely 1.88 meter improbable ( six ‘ two ” ). helium displace be “ drive ” into normal-sized garage, multistory car park, underground park and have even successfully try car wash. coincidentally, the V-Class measure merely a much in height, indeed you can use information technology indium all the aforesaid scenario .