Since its launch back in 2015, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class has truly made an indelible mark on the people-mover segment. While the Volkswagen Caravelle was, for the longest time, the epitome of large family transportation for upwardly mobile individuals, I think it is safe to say that the V-Class is now the vehicle of choice for discerning buyers.
And the inherent design makes perfect sense. Take a commercial vehicle-based platform, add comfort niceties and safety features, and pitch it to a premium market segment. Voila! You have a winner! It is a brilliant move for Merc’s commercial arm, as demand locally continues to outstrip supply. But is there substance to the V-Class hype? Well, after spending some time with the recently updated model, a few things are apparent.
But first, let us look at the new model and the improvements implemented. Upfront, there’s a new horizontally slatted grille harking back to the classic Merc roots, and so too is the bonnet-mounted, three-star ornament. Making its debut on the V-Class are the AMG monoblock-inspired 19” alloy wheels, which I reckon look excellent when offset by this new Kalahari Gold Metallic hue of our test car. At the rear, the smoked-effect lenses are the latest update.
Interior appointments, meanwhile, have been given a slight once-over with the latest three-spoke steering wheel, an HD camera rearview mirror, and better integration of the latest MBUX infotainment taking centre stage.
The two second-row seats are now proper captain seats with ventilation for warmth or cooling, a reclining facility, and theatre-type lounging functionality. There are new business-class airplane tray tables tucked away on the back of the front seats. Subtle updates to elevate the V-Class to an even higher pedestal of luxury to warrant the slight price hike.
Opening the boot is done by electronic operation, and the aperture is tall enough to load long and cumbersome items. However, be wary of the tall boot lid by ensuring you have enough clearance before opening. Thankfully, for those snug parking situations, like those at the mall, you can use the rear windscreen hatch to gain access to the boot. Sadly, gone is the parcel shelf in the boot, and so too are those collapsible plastic baskets that came in handy for storing things like food items when travelling long distances.
One of the V-Class’s fortes is as a consummate long-distance cruiser, and to prove this, we packed the family, luggage, and groceries and nosed the vehicle north towards Limpopo for a well-deserved family vacation.
The 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine was more than well up to the task, pulling with conviction for both overtaking and cruising abilities, thanks to that 500Nm fat seam of torque. The N1 might be a two-lane dual-carriageway, but thankfully, our travels were slightly outside of the busy holiday season, which meant significantly less traffic. Adaptive cruise control is a boon and ensured that we kept within the speed limit, as the traffic police presence was very much apparent along this stretch of highway.
That Burmester sound system was blaring our favourite tunes and helped to ease the time on the road. The engine settles into a very quiet disposition, spinning at 1,500r/min at the national speed limit, thanks to the 9-speed automatic transmission that was smooth in its operation. There seems to be a camaraderie between V-Class drivers, and we received our fair share of compliments along the way with requisite thumbs up. Some even likened the new spec V-Class to a Maybach, which speaks huge volumes about the model’s cosmetic updates. While the Kalahari Gold Metallic lick of paint looks impressive, it is, sadly, susceptible to stone chips, so I would recommend that a PPF (Paint Protection Film) be applied immediately on the vehicle should you tick that colour option on your specification sheet.
Ride quality remains impressive even on those low-profile tyres, while body control is something that the model manages so well. So much so that the kids fell asleep within an hour of the 3-hour trip. Our final stint of the trip required us to veer off the well-kept bitumen and onto some gravel that was recently awash with summer rains, which meant the rear-wheel drive architecture would not be entirely ideal, and there were some rather deep puddles of water and slushy, muddy sections, too. Thankfully, there was nary any drama, and the V took everything in its stride without breaking traction. Granted, as soon as we arrived at our lodgings, the vehicle was caked in a red curry-resembling film of grit and grime, which was thankfully dealt with at the nearest carwash before we again set sail back to Jozi.
At a princely sum of R2 267 768, the V300d Exclusive has significantly crept up in pricing compared to 9 years ago when the V250d arrived on the scene and was priced around R700k. Yes, sure, there have been some marked improvements over the years, including a new turbo diesel engine and higher specification. However, I feel that the high demand for the model has been the major factor in this huge jump in pricing. For those with the wherewithal to purchase a R2.2m people mover, there is simply no replacement. It is the V-Class or nothing. And I get the subjectivity in the matter.
While the vehicle performed flawlessly on the road, sadly, the automatic sliding doors worked intermittently via the console buttons during our test tenure, which was a tad frustrating. That aside, I fully bonded with the vehicle, and it made a great deal of sense as a well-appointed, stylish people mover that continues to be the choice of discerning buyers. I get why it remains such a popular sight on our roads. And in case you were wondering, would I buy one? The answer, in short, is a resounding yes!
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