I have come to realise that vans are all too often overlooked. Much like bakkies, vans come in various configurations and sizes, each suited to a specific use case. But with increasingly posh bakkies appearing everywhere, this once-humble segment has largely evolved from a traditional workhorse to more of a lifestyle accessory.
So I got behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz Vito 119 CDI Mixto Crewcab to see if our love for bakkies is blinding us to something the van-loving Brits figured out years ago. Much like a pickup, this crew cab Vito, also known as the Mixto, has five seats with much better legroom for rear passengers compared to a double cab.
The storage area is visibly much larger than that of a typical bakkie, while also adding some luxury up front courtesy of its Mercedes badge.
Getting in, the familiar MBUX infotainment system is immediately obvious, enclosed in a sensible yet sleek black plastic dash. The leather seats are soft and comfortable, and if you didn’t turn around, you might even think you are in a low-spec V-Class. The second row provides a similar feeling with an impressive amount of legroom and surfaces that you would have expected in a previous-generation Mercedes SUV. Though eventually, your peripheral vision will catch a glimpse of the shadowed storage space behind.
There is a large cargo area at the rear, and even with the second-row seats, the sheer cargo capacity doesn’t leave much to be desired. On set, a bakkie is typically the test car we hope for, as lugging set equipment back and forth from the set to the container can be a job in itself. With a bakkie, we might be able to fit everything in one trip if we pack strategically, hang items over the edge, and use the cabin space for smaller items. But with this Vito, not only were we able to fit everything in the back with plenty of room to spare for extra hands.
So, with a cargo area packed to the brim, the incredibly short drive across our racetrack provided a glimpse of just how capable this crew cab is. Its intuitive infotainment and rather impressive sound system provided entertainment, while the rear shocks softened to deliver an impressive ride quality. Even when loaded, the diesel engine retains plenty of enthusiasm, even uphill.
There are two angles to consider when it comes to crew cab vans. One, does it have enough power to remain enjoyable under load, and two, is it comfortable enough to remove the desire for an SUV? Let's start with the power. Under the bonnet sits a robust 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that offers 140kW and 440Nm. The result is a fairly torquey figure, and in practice it delivers exactly that: plenty of low-end torque and enough shunt to keep up with high-speed traffic without breaking a sweat, even under load. Pair that with frugal 7.2-litres/100km fuel consumption, and it's clear that the sealed cargo space provides a sleek and efficient solution for hauling goods.
As for its comfort, well, there are occasional rattles and clanks here and there, which do remind you of the Vito’s commercial DNA, but its ride quality is impressive when unloaded, although it tends to be a touch on the firm side, but I'm being nitpicky. Once three passengers are in the back or a load is placed in the rear, the ride improves and becomes smooth, offering a large sedan-like ride quality.
The only feature that you are always aware of is its size. You sit quite upright, which feels strange for those who rarely sit up front in vans, and the rearview mirror doesn't exactly provide a good view of what's behind. The parking and distance sensors are a great help; however, they are overly sensitive on the sides. I often looked at my mirrors in a panic, trying to lay eyes on what I was about to bump into, only to discover that I still had a metre's clearance to the stationary objects.
Among its competitors, the Vito 119 is the most luxurious option by some margin, offering a taste of premium comfort without compromising on practicality. It does, however, come at a cost. While the Vito competes with the Ford Transit Custom and the VW Transporter in their crew cab configurations, the pricing paints a different picture. The Vito 119 Mixto is priced at R1,264,200, while its competitors' highest-spec 5-seater offerings are more than R250k cheaper. The Ford Transit Custom peaks at R938k, while the VW Transporter crew bus LWB costs R1,000,400.
This price difference is mostly owing to the higher level of luxury found in the Vito 119, with the Vito 116 being a closer competitor at R1,033,735. The Vito 116 provides a more practical experience with cloth seats and a more noticeable use of moulded plastic, which is the leading aesthetic in the Transporter and Transit. So, are the leather seats and suburban interior inspiration worth it? In my opinion, yes. It masks the van DNA well, and it's easy to live with on day-to-day drives.
I have had the pleasure of experiencing several vans over the years, and I have been pleasantly surprised with most. Vans have a much, much larger load capacity than bakkies and offer the added benefit of security. Only the 119 Vito adds more to the equation that very few can compete with. It’s a plush experience that doesn’t neglect practicality. It feels like a Merc with a smooth and frugal engine, leather seats, and modern infotainment wrapped up in a classy aesthetic that effectively masks the extensive use of plastic.
Most vans, even in their crew cab layouts, embrace their utilitarian nature with hard-wearing plastics and bare-bones interiors. Mercedes, though, has taken a different approach with a van that can be plush, family-friendly, and hold its own on the jobsite. Yes, it's a little rough around the edges compared to Merc's SUVs, but it's a practical product that works. The pricing is steep, but it plays in a space of its own, and, in my mind, its premium price tag is well-justified.
Is it better than, say, the old X-Class double cab? In many areas, yes, just don't take it off-road.
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