Everything you need to know about the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Among the most popular light commercial vehicles (LCVs) on the market today, the sturdy Mercedes-Benz Sprinter offers a superb selection of van options which sit within the large van section of the market. Adaptable to all kinds of business uses, read on to learn more about what this model can offer.
History of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has been around since 1995, and it’s certainly no stranger to Britain’s roads. With its boxy dimensions and selection of body styles setting the model apart from the get-go, it’s remained popular throughout the three decades since its launch. Very much at home in the large van section of the market, the Sprinter’s van, chassis cab, minibus and pickup truck options are easily suited to all kinds of business operations.
A second generation of the model began production in 2006, which received a facelift in 2014, to then be followed by the current and third generation of the Sprinter which became available for purchase in June 2018. Along with an exterior refresh and upgraded interior touches, additional features include a front-wheel-drive option for the very first time, as well as many of the latest semi-autonomous driving tools.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Awards
With over 25 years of heritage, the popular Sprinter has won a raft of awards in its time. Most recently, the Sprinter has been named Most Reliable Van for the fifth consecutive year at the FN50 awards, as well as Motor Awards’ Van of the Year in 2019.
What variants of the Mercedes Sprinter are there?
The Sprinter is one of the most versatile vans on the market, available in many body styles, heights, lengths and in both long and short wheelbases. These include a popular 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter model.
The three main variants when it comes to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are:
- Cargo van – available in four different lengths and two roof heights, including a bulkhead option, the Sprinter cargo van is a durable panel van that can be customised to your size and payload requirements.
- Crew van – similar to the cargo, the crew van edition of the model gives over some of its load volume to provide an additional row of seats behind the driver. The variant still offers a lineup of impressive dimensions and the option of a bulkhead is retained.
- Cab Chassis – available as both a single or double cab, the simple chassis design of this variant allows for the model to be adapted towards more specialist commercial requirements.
Converted Mercedes Sprinter
Mercedes-Benz also produce converted Sprinters to order, using the Cab Chassis edition of the model. These include lots of specialist configurations such as a Sprinter Dropside, Sprinter Tipper and Sprinter Luton vans that may prove ideal for how your business operates. Whether you’re shopping for new or used Sprinter vans, or are looking to hire one, you may well see some of these conversion models crop up on the market from time to time.
Features of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
As a staple model among Mercedes’ established commercial vehicle range, there are all kinds of features offered across the Sprinter that make it an excellent fit for many businesses. These include:
Space
For the panel van edition of the model, there are four body lengths, two body heights and three different wheelbases alone. That’s before you consider the model’s other variants and converted models, which together mean there are 108 different body style combinations to pick from with the Sprinter. As a result, this is van model where it’s incredibly easy to find the perfect fit for you and your business.
Cabin
The standard of finishes inside the Sprinter’s cabin will depend on which trim you opt for, but there are some excellent features which come as standard across the range. These include a built-in colour screen at the centre of the dashboard, offering an ergonomic control centre and simple to use infotainment system. Meanwhile, the model’s seats are comfortable and designed with daily use of the vehicle in mind.
Safety
As with any of Mercedes’ latest generation of vehicles, the Sprinter comes with an impressive raft of intelligent safety features. These include Attention Assist and Emergency Call as standard. Meanwhile, the Active Braking System can monitor the road ahead and automatically apply the brakes if it detects an obstruction or hazard in the road. The model has been awarded a silver medal by Euro NCAP for 2021.
Engines and performance
The primary engine lineup for the Sprinter includes three four-cylinder diesel options, as well as a particularly powerful V6 diesel. Even the lower rated horsepower and engine choices on the Sprinter are up to the task and pull around cargo with ease, as is this case for both the front or rear-wheel drive setup, though the latter is a little quieter out on the road. The lineup will soon be joined by an all-electric version of the Sprinter, which could prove a rewarding prospect for businesses operating locally and looking to cut down on costs.
Reliability and running costs
Fuel consumption across the Sprinter van lineup ranges from 29.1 to 41.4mpg, which is broadly in line with most of its rivals in the medium and large van segments. However, those looking for the lowest running costs should keep an eye out for the all-electric version of the model which comes to market in the very near future. Servicing requirements for the Mercedes Sprinter depend on whether you go for front or rear-wheel drive, with the latter requiring a service every 37,000 miles and the former every 24,000 miles or two years.
Where can I find a Mercedes Sprinter for my business?
If you think a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van could be ideal for your business, get in touch and see how we could help at Northgate Vehicle Hire. If you’re looking for van hire in my area, our friendly and flexible contracts are designed to work around your changing business needs, allowing you to avoid the upfront investment of buying a van or being stuck with a depreciating asset down the line. Whether you’re set on Mercedes van hire or have specific requirements you’d like to discuss, call in at your nearest centre using our branch finder today, or search our stock online through the van finder.
Looking for further advice on whether hiring or buying is more cost-effective for your business? Arrange a call with one of our expert fleet consultants.
