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‘The S-Class of vans’ - Mercedes-Benz spruces up V-Class – design tweaks, improved interior

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Image: Leigh-Ann Londt
Image: Leigh-Ann Londt

 · Refreshed interior: sportier air vents and updated upholstery 

 · Additional luxury styling and comfort options

 · Exemplary safety enhanced: Active Brake Assist and Highbeam Assist Plus

 · More than 209 000 units sold globally since international launch in 2014 

Comfortable, luxurious, incredible tech... are just some of the reasons that the V-Class has been a dominating force in the van segment, both locally and abroad. The automaker nailed the brief of creating a high-end, business-orientated van by essentially creating the 'S-Class of vans'.

Locally, 2015 was the year the Mercedes-Benz V-Class celebrated its debut with a completely new approach to design, value appeal, comfort and safety in the Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) segment. 

What would end up being known as "the Mercedes of MPVs" went on to be a true success.

mercedes v-class

                                                 Image: Wheels24 / Leigh-Ann Londt

This is confirmed by more than 209 000 units being sold globally, and additionally, the V-Class achieving a sales record in 2018 with approximately 64 000 units sold for the year.

The 2019 facelift makes for a refreshing feel to the already dominant model. Focal points include a restyled and striking front-end design, a sporty and streamlined cockpit as well as a new range of alloy wheels and interior trim options. 

GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz V-Class

Power

With the facelift, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class retains its proven four-cylinder OM 651 diesel engine in three output variants. The V200d develops 100kW/330Nm. The V220d generates 120kW/380Nm. With an impressive output of 140kW/440Nm, the top-of-the-line V 250d is as powerful as it is agile.

The V 250d accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in an unmatched 9.1 seconds. At the same time, the top model provides an extremely smooth ride.All engine variants of the V-Class facelift are rear-wheel driven, enabling the class-leading MPV to negotiate a wide range of surfaces with ease. 

The vehicle height remains under the two-metre mark ensuring the V-Class loses none of its day-to-day usability and can still fit in regular garages as well as multi-storey and underground car parks without any challenges.

What's it like to drive?

The V-Class is one of the most comfortable vans on the market, with its supple suspension easily dispatching bumps and undulations with a plomb. Steering is light and it has an agility that belies its size. For ease of manoeuvring it's fitted with a reversing camera and sensors, a boon for dealing with tight spots and the confines of city streets.

The V-Class is comfort made manifest as it's a breeze to drive and packs enough utility to create a mobile meeting room, albeit one for more inviting than your average office boardroom. Sure, the driver won't have access to the niceties of rear set passengers but there's enough comfort upfront to ensure you're able to drive in relative luxury.

mercedes v-class

                                                Image: Leigh-Ann Londt

Wheels24 Leigh-Ann Londt said: "If you're looking for a vehicle fit for family road trips, or need to kart business professionals around, the V-Class makes for a compelling choice. The V-Class's face-lift is quite appealing with its exterior tweaks making the van that much more attractive.

"I find the steering wheel to be light, and as a driver and passenger, you always have a commanding view of the road ahead. With heated front seats as an option, the V-Class provides pure comfort and luxury. It has a 7" display and all necessary functions and buttons are close at hand so there's no need to take your eyes off the road."

New design and even greater comfort

The style and value appeal of the V-Class facelift is poised to be the segment leader, once again. 

The designers used a series of targeted measures to give the MPV a new look which follows the design language of the current Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. The V-Class facelift has a broader appearance and an even stronger visual presence thanks to its new front-end.

This comes courtesy of a new bumper design with striking cooling air inlets and a new diamond structure in the radiator grille. The eye-catching Mercedes star is positioned centrally in the radiator grille and framed by two slats in silver. The personalisation concept with the attractive AVANTGARDE and STANDARD lines and various design packages is retained, while the AMG line becomes visually more striking with the facelift.

mercedes v-class

                                                Image: Leigh-Ann Londt

It features a new diamond radiator grille with chrome pins, and thus delivers a particularly sporty note. With its updated design cues, the V-Class facelift makes an especially emotive statement. At the same time, new light-alloy wheel designs ensure a striking appearance.

The 17" and 18" light-alloy wheels in tremolite grey or black, come with a 5-twin-spoke design and a high sheen finish.

At the upper end of the new wheels portfolio are the black-painted 19" 10-spoke light-alloy wheels with a high-sheen finish. The interior of the V-Class follows the trend of modernity and clarity.

The V-Class facelift presents itself with new air vents in a sportier turbine and the refreshed upholstery and equipment colours make a modern and elegant statement. 'Modern' and 'elegant' can also be used to describe the new trim element in twin-stripe look, which is used on the instrument side-panelling. The trim elements in the piano lacquer, ebony wood, carbon fibre and brushed aluminium looks remain.

mercedes v-class

                                               Image: Leigh-Ann Londt

As part of the facelift, rear passengers can enjoy a special comfort feature. Optionally available luxury seats pamper occupants with reclining and back massage functions as well as air conditioning. A journey in the V-Class facelift – for instance if used as a VIP shuttle - thus turns into a spa like treatment.

An even safer van

With Crosswind Assist, which helps the driver to keep the vehicle on track even in the case of gusting crosswinds, and the drowsiness detection system ATTENTION ASSIST, the V-Class redefined the safety standards in its segment when in it was launched internationally in 2014.

The facelift continues to build on this position.Active Brake Assist, which is available for the first time, can detect the risk of a collision with a vehicle ahead, and initially initiates a visual and acoustic warning. If the driver responds, it builds up brake pressure appropriate to the situation. If there is no response, the system actively assists with evasive and braking manoeuvres. In urban traffic, Active Brake Assist also reacts to stationary obstacles or crossing pedestrians.

mercedes v-class

                                               Image: Leigh-Ann Londt

Highbeam Assist Plus is another new safety feature. When in high beam mode, it supports the driver with a consistently optimised illumination of the road. In the event of vehicles in front or oncoming traffic, the LEDs of the main-beam module are partially deactivated, creating a U-shaped cut-out in the cone of light. The remaining areas of the roadway continue to be illuminated with the main-beam headlamps (partial main beam).

Complimentary launch PremiumDrive top-up: To ensure the V-Class facelift successfully takes over the reins from its predecessor, Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa is offering all V-Class facelift customers a complimentary top-up to a 6-year or 100 000 km maintenance plan. This is a limited special launch offer, enhancing the standard 5-year or 100 000km maintenance plan.

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