MPVs have always been a popular segment in the local market, proving their efficiency when it comes to carrying a large number of passengers in comfort and even when it comes to mileage.
The 2021 Mercedes Benz V300 XLWB is currently the most luxurious MPV in the market, that will cost you as much as any other luxury SUV. The Senzati edition will set you back around Tk3 crore thanks to the exorbitant import duty on luxury vehicles.
Customers of the Mercedes V-Class most likely didn't anticipate their new model to look as stunning as the latest sports cars, and it shows. The boxy commercial vehicle form that the V-Class inherited from its van ancestry will stop it from winning any awards for its design.
Personally, I do not mind how it looks as vans are supposed to take on a boxy shape, but if you are looking for a little extra when it comes to exterior appearance, there are always the cheaper alternatives like the Toyota Alphard and the Esquire even though nothing comes close to the Mercedes with its luxurious interior and driving pleasure.
To prevent passengers from mistaking your vehicle for a moving truck, even entry-level models are equipped with large alloy wheels, shiny chrome trim, and a few body creases. More premium AMG line and exclusive variants provide even more opulent styling.
Interior
The interior has a very similar upscale appearance and feel. The well-designed dashboard has many soft plastic accents, and the infotainment system offers more capabilities than the majority of MPVs, despite being somewhat less sophisticated than the ones found in Mercedes SUVs.
The most comfortable place to sit are the back seats. The V-class' enormous sliding doors are easy to enter, and the last row of seats has ample headroom even for somebody who is six feet tall to sit in. The seats, which come in up to six configurations, are well-padded, and the roomy interior of the V-Class allows three persons to sit side-by-side without feeling cramped.
It is unfortunate that the Mercedes V-Class diesel engine makes quite a racket when you accelerate, but at highway speeds, it settles into a pleasant drive. The V-class’ suspension does a decent job of smoothing over bumps without wallowing uncomfortably, and you won't hear too much wind or tire noise either.
Even though the diesel engine makes noise, it does not pass through to the passenger cabin.
If you anticipate taking many lengthy trips in your Mercedes V-Class, you might think about spending extra money for the Driver Assistance pack, which includes integrated lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot detection which comes to great use, especially in a huge vehicle like this one.
The higher-grade Senzati Edition comes with a full-sized apple television at the back that also works as a partisan between the passengers and the driver's cabin.
The passenger cabin oozes luxury with its starlight headliner which can change colour according to your preference, massage and heated seats and even a mini refrigerator hidden inside the hand rest to help keep your drinks icy cool.
Performance
Driving a Mercedes V-Class is simple, although the windscreen pillars are fairly large, you sit up high and have a good view out, and the controls are all light and simple to operate in traffic.
Let’s face it; no one’s going to buy this vehicle to drive themselves, but Mercedes made sure that it lives up to its name and the performance is comparable to any entry-level sports car.
To put things in perspective, the Toyota GT 86 is slightly faster than this van. The V300’s diesel engine produces around 240 horsepower and 500 NM of torque. For any van of its size, the figures are quite unheard of.
The turning radius however can put you or your chauffeur to the test, especially in the narrow streets of Dhaka. It was quite expected as a vehicle of its size is supposed to have a large turning radius.
The vehicle weighs around three ton but the handling is also surprisingly good even at high speeds. The surround camera comes in handy as it comes with a lot of blind spots.
Although the Mercedes V-Class is a spacious, useful, and premium van-based MPV with plenty of room and equipment, there are less expensive options as mentioned above.
If you have a lot of money to spare and do not mind spending exorbitant amounts on import duty, there is simply no comparison to this beast of a vehicle.