What do you picture when you hear the word “van”? Maybe you see a soccer mom’s minivan, a hippie’s home, or the Scooby Doo Gang’s Mystery Machine. Although each of these pictures is different in its own right, one thing rings true: Vans are versatile. From hauling kids from school to the soccer field, housing a group of free-thinkers on the beach for weeks, or carrying Scooby and the gang from one mystery to the next, vans are capable and practical.
Many fleet owners have seen the practicality in vans and have built their whole fleet around a van’s storage capacity, towing abilities, and maneuverability. It’s proven, vans can take on many forms, but one of their best is the form of the all-new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
POWER UP
The words “Sprinter” and “power” go together nicely in the same sentence. For the first time, Mercedes-Benz is offering a standard turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine with direct injection, giving 188 hp at 5,000 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 to 3,500 rmp. This gas engine is paired with a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission that features efficient highway driving, rapid response, and smooth transition between gears. A 15,000-mile service interval for the gas engine keeps your Sprinter on the road and in service, increasing productivity.
For diesel lovers, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter offers a 3-L 6-cylinder turbo diesel that pumps 188 hp at 3,800 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 1,400 to 2,400 rpm—that’s just above an idle, giving you peak torque quickly. The 7G-TRONIC Plus 7-speed automatic transmission is paired with the turbo diesel. It features a low first gear and overdrive high gear that helps accelerate from a stop and conserve fuel on the highway. A 20,000-mile service interval for the diesel engine raises your productivity and lowers the total cost of ownership.
You can’t go wrong with your choice of engine in the Sprinter. Either way, your drivers will enjoy the van’s capability.
WORKING CAB
In the Sprinter, capability and functionality go hand-in-hand. Mercedes-Benz places all its Sprinter controls and options in what it calls “functional islands” that are incorporated into the overall cab design of the Sprinter. This helps eliminate driver distractions and increases productivity and efficiency.
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is full of new infotainment features. Charging options are located on the dashboard and include USB-C ports, 12V chargers, and wireless. Smartphone integration includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Bluetooth capability. A highly stable wireless internet connection allows the use of mobile devices in the vehicle. The live traffic information in the Sprinter provides real-time traffic data for more efficient traveling to and from the jobsite. Equipped with the Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call System, the Sprinter sends out an emergency call for faster rescue services in emergencies.
When it comes to a user experience, the all-new Sprinter is up to date. An innovative Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) delivers content from navigation to entertainment. It includes LINGUATRONIC “Hey Mercedes” voice control and what3words—a geocoded map system—as options.
All of these features are controlled on 7-inch and 10.25-inch touchscreens that are activated with a touch, voice control, or touch buttons on the steering wheel, allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road and adding to the driver’s safety.
SAFETY FEATURES
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was already pretty safe with a multitude of existing safety features, but Mercedes-Benz won’t stop at “pretty safe.” New features include Active Brake Assist, Active Distance Assist Distronic®, 360-degree camera, Attention Assist®, and Traffic Sign Assist.
Active Brake Assist senses a collision with a vehicle ahead and sends an audible and visual warning and initiates autonomous braking shortly after. Active Distance Assist Distronic® is an intelligent cruise control system that senses traffic conditions and controls speed to keep vehicles at a safe distance. A 360-degree camera uses four cameras to generate different views of the van’s surroundings. The images are shown in real time on a multimedia display in the cab. Attention Assist® monitors driving patterns and provides warnings in case fatigue is detected. Finally, Traffic Sign Assist gives drivers help with identifying speed restriction signs, No Entry signs, and No Passing Zones.
Existing safety features are: Crosswind Assist to stabilize the Sprinter and boost safety in strong crosswinds to keep your van in its lane; Rescue Assist, which offers a QR code for first responders to easily locate batteries, airbags, and other elements to safely perform a rescue; Load-adaptive Electronic Stability Program (ESP) that helps keep the van under control by automatically braking individual wheels and reducing engine power to stabilize the vehicle in the event of understeer, oversteer, or wheelspin; Hill Start Assist, which briefly stops the vehicle from rolling backward or forward; and Highbeam Assist that automatically adjusts the high- and low-beam headlamps for continuous adaptation to traffic conditions.
Enhanced features include Blind Spot Assist, now featuring Rear Cross-Traffic Alert that automatically applies braking to avoid a collision, and Active Lane Keeping Assist that provides visual and audible warnings when the Sprinter leaves its lane unintentionally.
SPRINT AHEAD
Although vans are versatile, the versatility of the Sprinter kicks it up a notch. The all-new Sprinter allows customers to choose thousands of configurations, upfit solutions, and features to make their van the perfect fit for their application. For applications requiring cargo hauling, the Sprinter is available with self-locking rear doors, LED strip lighting inside the cargo area, and pallet bracing and tie-downs to secure loads.
Whatever the size of your load, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter can accommodate. Two new models were added to the Sprinter lineup: the lighter-duty 1500 and the 4500 for heavier jobs. The 4500 has a payload capacity of 6,735 lbs, a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 lbs, and a GCWR of 12,125 lbs.
No matter which configuration you choose, how you spec your van, or how often its used, Mercedes-Benz has maintenance packages to keep your Sprinter in great shape. VanCARE is the promise that Mercedes-Benz will deliver superior service, genuine parts, and a commitment to put your Sprinter back on the road as soon as possible. After all, this isn’t a family van, a recreational vehicle, or the way a gang of meddling kids gets around. This is your work van—your tool to make a living. And because it’s a Sprinter, it’s in one of the best forms of a van.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Find out more about the all-new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, visit www.mbvans.com.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS: MARCH 2019 ISSUE
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