Multi-purpose vehicles are seriously unsexy, but even the most hardened auto man must acknowledge that the high-zoot Toyota-Sienna, Honda Odyssey, or Chrysler City & Country--with reclining leather thrones, more movie displays than the usual Buffalo Wild Wings, and lots of other sybaritic joy--is definately not uneasy. Now comes a Mercedes Benz entry, the newest Metris. Toyota, Honda, and Chrysler: Prepare to be out-pimped!

Actually, y'all are great. The Metris isn't a luxurious minivan. Yes, it is a Mercedes, but when you had been anticipating the Metris to function as the proverbial Mercedes Benz of multi utility vehicles, it is maybe not. At least not the way most of Us understands the business name. Think of it as a shrunken Sprinter, maybe not an s class for soccer moms.

The back-push Metris is fundamentally a rechristened form of the Spanish-constructed Mercedes Benz Vito that's popular in Europe and else where for resort-space shuttle, vanpool, and freight-hauling obligations, and it is likely to be found in substantially exactly the same fashion on those coasts. Mercedes does market a elaborate variant of the Vito known as the Vclass, but understanding how few clients exist for this type of high-dollar matter here (provided the brand's encounter using the R class), there are not any plans to to create that variation here.

Just two major changes were made to create the Vito--er, Metris--palatable to Us customers: The centre cabinet, which could house a manual shifter in the Vito, was dumped in favor of two Large Gulp-sized cupholders, as well as the Vito's diesel engines will stick to another side of the pond while the Metris rather gets a gasoline-run 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and a seven-speed automated.

Drives Just Like a Tremendous Cclass

Although we just could drive Metris freight and passenger versions a few dozen miles each, it took just a couple of hundred yards to collect some opinions. The driving position feels somewhat more like that of A-C-course than the usual Sprinter, using the controls dropping reduced into one's lap instead of high and level, a manhunter buslike wheels located in bigger vans. And external visibility is outstanding.

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder creates a moderate 208 hp and 258 lb-feet of torque, however it does an amazingly good work getting the approximately 4850-pound Metris passenger version going, even with five grown men aboard while trekking through the 8000-to-10,000-foot elevations in Colorado where our preview drive occured.

Better still, with rear-wheel-drive as well as a completely independent suspension--distinctively tuned for freight and passenger uses--the Metris shows astonishingly energetic dynamics, supplying a a tight ride, degree cornering, and clear feel through the steering-wheel as well as the brake pedal, credits we have not felt in a van this dimension, nicely, perhaps ever. And despite our evaluation vehicles being preproduction versions, the Metris is unusually quiet. It is a spectacular accomplishment, especially to get a cargo van.

Infant Sprinter Packaging

Just like the Sprinter, the Metris h AS At-square account which allows the windowless freight variant to be upfitted in nearly countless ways, and its 202.4-inch span and 75.2-inch roof peak make it around as capacious as a van can get while still being able to easily fit into a typical garage. (The span is is at half-an inch of the Odyssey as well as the City & Region, about a foot longer when compared to a long-wheel base Ford Transit Connect. The Benz towers over these vans by three to seven-inches.) Loading bulky or hefty material is eased by accessible 270-degree-opening, barn-type doors in the rear as well as a level load floor which is just higher than one's knees while also being broad enough to adapt a pallet. The Metris cargo van can take up to 2502 lbs, and all Metrises are rated to tow a 4960-pound trailer.

More Seats Than Frills

Simply because the Metris is garage-pleasant does not make the seven- or 8-passenger version suitable for contemporary households, particularly next to the several cushy mini-vans on the market. While the motorist grasps a fantastically contoured tyre and fiddles with stylish controls and switches cribbed in the C class parts-bin, from the b pillar again, the Metris feels feels as though it came from an earlier age when passengers wanted only seats and, properly, seats. And these level, tough second- and third-row seats (using a 2- or a three-passenger second-row) are around as cosseting as these of a town bus. Although they may be removed, they don't recline or fold to the ground. Spend any moment in the next row and you will understand that armrests really are a greatly underappreciated component of any car, as well as the want thereof drives Metris travellers to brace themselves from the tough, plastic-lined sliding doorways during tight corners. Additionally showing the Metris's functional function are its set rear windows, loud back-seat air conditioning, as well as the dearth of an accessible sunroof and leather seats. There is no center-console to support bags or iPads. Need back-seat enjoyment? Look out the window, child.

For its portion, Mercedes has no delusions of its Metris shuttling the off-spring of the well heeled to posh private schools. Mercedes claims that fully half of all Metris vans imported here will be passenger versions, but the majority of those are likely to attend limo businesses, using the remainder planning to cab and shuttle solutions. Mercedes is totally prepared to offer them to personal clients, but that likely will not occur frequently.

Cheapest Way right into a Brand New Mercedes!

No matter setup, all Metris versions can come with load-adaptive equilibrium control and crosswind help, along with various air bags (six in the freight model, 8 in the passenger variant). Discretionary on each one is a handsfree parking program, hill-start aid, Lane-Keeping Support, Crash Prevention Support, Blind Spot Support, parking sensors, a rear-view digicam, and engine-stop-start. A button on the dashboard permits the power-train to be changed among Eco, Relaxation, and manual manner.

Come Oct, the Metris will soon be offered through the exact same dealer network that sells and services Sprinters. Costs will begin at $29,945 for the freight version--making it the most affordable new Mercedes Benz you can purchase--while passenger variants will begin at $33,495. Choices come a la-carte, and you'll find well more than 100 100 of them. Greatly optioned, do not be amazed to find costs rise past $40K, significantly more than some of its rivals. In this regard, as well as in its driving manner, the Metris is quite definitely a Mercedes Benz.