Mercedes-Benz Vans has introduced the Vito Select in SA as a model aimed at private customers and high end shuttle services.
The facelifted Vito was launched in SA in June 2024 with an updated design, additional comfort equipment and driver-assistance systems. It was initially available in a seven-model range comprising two-seater panel vans, eight-seater Tourer mini buses and five-seater Mixto crew cabs.
The new Vito Select is a more powerful and high-specced model and competes against people carriers such as the Volkswagen Kombi, Toyota Quantum VX, Ford Tourneo Custom and Hyundai Staria. It is available as a Tourer priced at R1,360,000 and a Mixto for R1,264,200, both offering high levels of versatility, comfort and space.
Where the Mercedes V-Class was designed specifically with private customers in mind and is sold as a single luxury V300D Exclusive model for R2.27m, the commercial Vito, Sprinter and eSprinter ranges were created for business applications.
Beate Mey, Mercedes-Benz SA marketing manager, says while the V-Class remains the brand’s ultimate luxury van, the Vito Select provides versatility and a still premium experience at a more affordable price point.
The Vito Select Mixto has space for five passengers and an enormous 4,100l of load space in the back, making it ideal for sports enthusiasts and adventurers who need room to lug items such as bicycles or camping gear.
The Tourer is an eight-seater aimed at large families or shuttle services. Flexible seating allows the first row of seats to be turned to face the rear, and the back row can be removed to increase the size of the 990l boot. The backrests are adjustable for comfort but, unlike in the V-Class, the middle and rear rows cannot slide forward and backward on rails.
The tailgate opens electrically, and other standard features in the Vito Select include electric sliding doors, wireless smartphone charging, heated steering wheel, keyless start and electrically adjustable front seats.
Driver assistance features include a lane keeping assist, cruise control, attention assist and blind spot monitoring. Manoeuvring the big Benz in tight areas is eased by means of a reversing camera and an automatic parking system.
I drove the Vito Select at the media launch held in KwaZulu-Natal this week, with both models moved along by the most powerful engine in the Vito line up, a 2l turbo diesel with outputs of 140kW and 440Nm. Other Vito models are powered by either a 100kW/330Nm engine or a 120kW/380Nm unit.
The Vito Select is a strong, smooth performer with easy cruising ability. Though we were just two aboard, the engine’s hefty low-down torque gave the impression it would comfortably haul a full load of passengers. It has refined gearshifts, with power fed to the rear wheels by a 9G-Tronic automatic transmission with a steering-mounted gear lever supplemented by shift paddles.
It has a refined character with minimal engine or wind noise, and the big van averaged a frugal 9.2l/100km on the mostly open-road drive.
The Vito has a comfortable ride quality, even when its tyres and suspension were torture tested on rippled gravel and pothole-ridden roads in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
At 5,140mm in length with a 3,200mm wheelbase, the Benz offers a generously-sized interior with stretch-out room for all occupants.
The cabin has a modern and high-tech look similar to Mercedes’ passenger car models. An MBUX multimedia system with a 10.25-inch touch screen connects wirelessly with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the driver display is a 5.5-inch colour TFT screen. The multifunction steering wheel features haptic controls.
Metallic and piano black accents help create an upmarket vibe inside the cabin, but the hard plastics on the dashboard and doors reveal the Vito Select’s commercial origins. The door armrests aren’t padded, which is jarring in a vehicle of this price and will cause sore elbows on long journeys. The front seats have fold-down padded armrests on the non-door sides, however.
The Vito Select has aerodynamic styling and LED adaptive headlights with high beam assist to provide maximum illumination without blinding oncoming drivers.
It is available in eight colour options and a choice of 17-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels.
Prices include a standard five-year/100,000km warranty and the option of two Premium Drive maintenance plans: either a five-year/100,000km plan for R48,530 or a seven-year/140,000km plan for R75,038.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.