extra Mercedes, however Renault diesel is weak

Mercedes has discovered from the previous errors of the primary technology Citan. So it continues its partnership with Renault, from whom it takes over the technical foundation for the Citan/T-Class, however the inside/exterior design and supplies are nearer to what we anticipate from a Mercedes. Is it sufficient to beat the competitors? First drive with Mercedes T 180 d.

Photograph: Dragoș Savu/Mercedes

Though a premium producer par excellence, Mercedes has all the time had many sensible fashions within the vary. There was as soon as the Vaneo, derived from the primary technology A-Class, with a sandwich ground. A superb household and commuter automotive, however too costly as a result of it was derived from a passenger automotive. Mercedes then tried to make the phase worthwhile and turned to a partnership with Renault. However the first technology Citan was a failure, as a result of the Swabian model inherited a weak security construction from Renault, and to chop prices, the automotive was nearly equivalent to the Kangoo each in and out.

Now issues have turned out otherwise. Mercedes has been concerned within the automotive’s improvement from the beginning alongside Renault, and the outside and inside design is sort of totally different from the Renault Kangoo, whereas retaining the Germans’ imprint. Mercedes did additionally one thing else: it determined to supply a extra luxurious folks model referred to as the T-Class along with the Citan Tourer, making use of VW’s technique from the previous Caddy technology, which additionally had the extra luxurious Life variant.

5,000 euro than the Citan Tourer. Is it value it? 

Mercedes is asking 5,000 euros extra for the T-Class than the Citan Tourer on the equal engine. It’s an excessive amount of or it’s a truthful positioning?In fact, the extra luxurious model hasn’t been remodeled from a transport car right into a swish swan, it stays a van at coronary heart. However this van additionally has the duty to interchange sooner or later the refined B-Class, which can have no successor.

Nonetheless, regardless of being a van at coronary heart, the T-Class appears to be like just like a Mercedes. The entrance finish bears some resemblance to the A-Class and B-Class, and the headlights shine with Excessive-Efficiency LED lights, commonplace on the Progressive line. Inside, too, along with the spherical air vents, multimedia system (not fairly the most recent technology, however Mercedes) and dashboard instrument cluster with the everyday Mercedes show between dials, the T-Class catches the attention with shiny black inserts on the inside door handles, the multimedia display, the spherical air vents with their particular adjustment, and the dashboard partially clad in a sort of elegant Alcantara that the Germans name Neotex. We anticipated the remainder of the plastic on the dashboard to be tender, however right here we solely discovered the sturdy plastic from the opposite variations.

However now comes the enticing half, occurring vacation. Right here, too, the T-Class has its strengths. Whether or not you could have babies or need to go on an European tour or fishing journey, you may load up the trolley, a big cooler, a tenting desk, luggage of bags and nonetheless have loads of room, as a result of you may fold down the 40/60% backrest if it’s essential, and the 520 litres of the boot expands to 2,120.

The cushion of the rear bench ingeniously folds down as you tilt the backrest providing you with a flat floor. And when you nonetheless want room, you should purchase the unique crossbars (378.42 euros, longitudinal ones exist already), match an additional roof rack or connect a trailer, because the T-Class can tow a load of as much as 1500 kg. And there are two Isofix holders for little one seats on the rear outer seats. It’s Mercedes T-Class particular? Probably not as a result of the identical services are supplied by the Renault Kangoo, too. However Mercedes guarantees extra fashion.

To find this, we examined the T 180 d model with computerized transmission on a really good route. The T 180 d has the acquainted 1.5 dCi engine and produces 116 HP and 270 Nm (with out delicate hybrid system), mated, within the case of the take a look at automotive, to Renault’s seven-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission. It prices 34,962/20 euro (six-speed handbook model, 32,435.39 euro), plus 3,852.03 euro for the Progressive Line.

Higher insulation however the 1.5 dCi has not sufficient energy

After the primary few miles on the freeway, I observed that Mercedes used extra soundproof supplies than Renault, which ought to improve the sense of well-being on board. Properly executed, Mercedes. Nonetheless, at over 110-120 km/h, wind noise across the massive mirrors begins to extend. However by no means just like Mercedes requirements is the dearth of sovereignty of essentially the most highly effective diesel on provide. On the town it’s adequate, however on the motorway it has a number of work to do and for first rate dynamics you want a while and endurance, because the 0-100 km/h acceleration wants 13.2 seconds. However, the WLTP consumption of 5.5 l/100 km is economical. However you may solely obtain it on nationwide roads at speeds of 90-100 km/h. On the motorway at speeds of 120-130 km/h, the massive frontal space, which elevated drag, raises consumption to six.8-7 l/100 km.

Theoretically, a greater dynamic answer could be the 1.33-litre, 131 HP, turbocharged petrol engine with particle filter. At the very least within the case of the A-Class, an A 200 with this engine was rather more vigorous than a Mercedes A 180 d with 1.5 dCi and didn’t devour rather more. And it ought to be the identical with the T-Class.

The gearshift isn’t on the right-hand aspect of the steering wheel column, like in a real Mercedes, however within the traditional place on the centre console. However past that, you may’t fault something, because the EDC, sorry DCT, dual-clutch, seven-speed gearbox shifts as easily and simply as in a passenger automotive. If you wish to shift even quicker, it additionally has a Handbook mode. The usual help methods hold the T-Class on observe, however adaptive cruise management is just not obtainable. However, you get an excellent view of site visitors via the massive home windows, with solely the entrance pillar obstructing it a bit when cornering.

Refined suspension tuning

The second large distinction from the Citan is the suspension tuning. Whereas within the Citan Tourer the rear axle bounces round on bumps when unloaded, the suspension being optimum solely when the automotive is loaded, the examined T-Class outfitted with the optionally available 17-inch wheels doesn’t capitulate to transverse joints and easily dampens longitudinal undulations, even with solely two folks on board. With a harmoniously balanced MacPherson strut development up entrance and a torsion-bar axle within the rear, the 1,811 mm tall van is secure in curves and leans solely reasonably. Steering isn’t incisive just like the A-Class, nevertheless it’s not oblique like a van both, however exact, simple to deal with and with first rate suggestions. Should you don’t have excessive dynamic calls for, an extended drive can solely be gratifying. And entry to the rear is straightforward because of the 2 commonplace sliding doorways, which don’t, nonetheless, have power-assisted closing just like the VW Caddy, and the electrical tailgate isn’t obtainable.

A 7-inch display multimedia system is commonplace, however navigation prices an additional 819.91 euros. After getting used to bigger shows, it’s not precisely essentially the most snug to function a 7-inch touchscreen, however Mercedes has no less than stored the mini-touches on the steering wheel, that are very helpful. I didn’t miss the touchpad from the A-Class household, however I do appear to overlook the previous controller, which might have been sensible on this case.

As a substitute there are two USB-C sockets on the entrance and two traditional USB ports on the again. And I additionally appreciated the traditional local weather controls, which, whereas equivalent to these from low value Dacia model, match very properly in a Mercedes, with massive, pleasant-to-touch buttons with shows inside which are simple to entry and function. Along with the help methods supplied as commonplace, there’s even an optionally available computerized parking system for 852.04 euro.

Lengthy model and electrical model EQT come subsequent yr

In future, those that need much more house or have a household with greater than three kids may even be capable to go for an extended model with seven seats, and for the eco-conscious there will probably be an electrical model, the EQT. Actually, from 2025 onwards, Mercedes will solely launch new vans/industrial autos with electrical propulsion on the brand new VAN.EA platform.