MERCEDES VANEO RANGE
OLD MERCEDES HAD A VAN E-I-E-I-O (2004-04-27)
Its Not A Van And Its Not Old. Jonathan Crouch Runs The Rule Over The Vaneo, Mercedes Offering In The
mini-MPV Class
Lets get the name-thing out of the way once and for all. Yes, the moniker suggests otherwise but no, Mercedes Vaneo mini-MPV is not based on any kind of commercial vehicle and your local dealer will thank you for not suggesting otherwise.
You could be forgiven for doing so of course, given that the only other MPV Stuttgart offers (the Viano) most certainly is van-based (on the Vito), something that has never seemed quite right for a
Mercedes Benz. True, there are plenty of van-based models at the budget end of the small people-carrying sector (Citroens Berlingo Multispace and Renaults Kangoo to name but two), but these vehicles are simply there to feed customers into more profitable mini-MPVs marketed by each of the two manufacturers concerned. Since Mercedes only has one entrant in this growing sector, you can understand their desire to get the job done right and do it from scratch. Well almost.
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As it happens, the Vaneo does in fact spring from the stretched floorpan of the resolutely sophisticated A-class model with which shares around 40% of its componentry. Unlike the A-class, which Mercedes view as a second or third car for families who already drive one of their larger models, the Vaneo is aimed at bringing new recruits into the Stuttgart fold. Typical customers who would normally opt for a compact estate or a small MPV have traditionally fallen through the Mercedes net. With sales set to grow by 46% over the next few years, the market for compact MPVs of all kinds has by no means peaked.
In real terms, that represents a growth from 486,000 cars to 710,000. Whos going to mop up that extra quarter of a million sales? Mercedes hope the Vaneo can garner a significant share of this market, especially in the UK where research has shown that buyers value a prestige badge. With nearly 100,000
mini-MPVs sold in Britain last year, one shouldnt underestimate this apparently humble model offering.
"It seems Mercedes are playing the lifestyle card with major conviction"
Priced from £14,710, the 4,192 mm long Vaneo sits on a very long wheelbase of 2.9 metres and on rather wide tracks (1,524 mm front and 1,477 mm rear) making for a different footprint to the A-Class. All this is just as well, for to stand any chance of competing with Scenics and Zafiras, this car needs to be a lot larger than Mercedes entry-level model. True enough, a highish roofline of 1830 mm is coupled to an interior height of 1240 mm to give an agreeably airy feel to the cabin.
Remove the rear seats and youve got 1810mm of length in the rear cargo bay. You wont want to repeat this procedure too often, however as they are rather heavy. Remove the front passenger
seat and you can get items up to 3000mm long inside. Socially inept windsurfers may well have found their nirvana.
Load the Vaneo up with people and paraphernalia and it rides very well, but such is the firmness of the springing that when its empty the ride quality deteriorates somewhat and feels slightly commercial. A seven seat option is available for those who run six a side football teams and/or are gifted procreators, but most will be content with the five seat version which is one of the rare offerings in the mini-MPV class that can not only seat five but can also transport the accompanying luggage. Full marks to Mercedes there. The modular seat layout, two wide opening sliding doors and tailgate give easy access to the large interior and an optional pull-out compartment floor makes loading simplicity itself.
The Vaneo is reasonably well equipped, with standard features such as ESP electronic stability control, Brake Assist, twin front and side airbags and the proven sandwich-body construction pioneered by the A-class. Four engines feature in the Vaneo line-up, but most will opt for one of the two 1.6-litre petrol units on offer, respectively developing 82 and 102bhp. Theres also a range-topping 125bhp 1.
9-litre petrol powerplant. As in the A-class, these units are eight, rather than fashionable 16-valve in configuration. The engineers apparently rejected the multivalve approach on the grounds of size and weight and, sure enough, both powerplants are about 25% lighter than equivalent engines, a difference that makes the car feel livelier than their respective power outputs would suggest. The more powerful 102bhp 1.
6, for example, makes sixty in 11.1s on the way to 111mph. As well as the standard manual gearbox, theres also an auto box and something between the two a manual without a clutch. There's no doubting, however, the hi-tech credentials of the 1.7-litre direct injection turbo diesel. This 91bhp engine uses 'common rail' diesel technology to produce an impressive balance between power and economy, averaging nearly 50mpg. Whichever option you choose, in true Mercedes fashion, you can select it in one of three trim packages - Trend, Family and Ambiente. Various lifestyle packages are also available, with names like Carry, Dog, Cycle, Surf and Winter that obviously sounded good after a long marketing lunch. Still, it seems Mercedes are playing the lifestyle card with major conviction.
The interior benefits from the hike in quality the A-class enjoyed in 2000 and feels worthy of the Mercedes badge. In the final analysis, despite the many plus points of the Vaneo, the three-pointed star remains its greatest asset. Such an image boost is something it will need in the face of competition as tough as that posed by established and more practical mini-MPV heavy hitters like the
Vauxhall Zafira, the
Renault Scenic and the
Citroen Xsara Picasso. So it all comes down to car park-cred.
Just like many other Mercedes purchasing decisions.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Mercedes Vaneo range
PRICES: £14,710-£18,710 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-8
CO2 EMISSIONS: 157-197g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.7 CDI] 0-60mph 13.5s / Max Speed 103mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.7 CDI] (urban) 38.2mpg / (extra urban) 55.4mpg / (combined) 47.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS / ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4192 /1742/1830mm
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