Mercedes V-Class
The Mercedes V-Class is simply a fancy name for the Viano, a huge MPV that’s capable of carrying 8 people and is based on the Vito van. The largest car of its kind offered by the supreme German carmaker, it’s simply massive and amazingly comfortable inside. Economical and easy to drive on the whole, it’s a very popular option with transport companies, taxi firms and the largest of families.
Having been released in 1997, the V-Class has seen a plethora of generations, upgrades and facelifts over the years. It comes in short and long wheelbase models, which means there’s a good deal of versatility depending on the needs of the owners. The adjustable seating layouts, including face to face are definitely a highlight. Brilliantly there’s also a ‘camper’ version available known as the Marco Polo which is complete with a kitchen, wardrobe and bed. The Mercedes is quite a big boy, measuring 4-5 meters in length, so driving in towns is a challenge but not impossible.
In terms of design, there’s no escaping from the fact that the V-Class looks like a van. However Mercedes has gone some way to spruce it up a bit with the addition of some nice alloy wheels, a rather aggressive front end and some interesting lines down the bodywork. The inside has acres of space thanks to the boxy shape, and this only improves passenger comfort. With an ergonomic, intuitive and functional cockpit, this is a car that’s easy to get behind the wheel of. Higher spec versions do have a lot of kit, but some of it is quite expensive; there’s a quality feel to everything though as you’d expect.
The sheer size of this beast makes driving it a real experience- you simply dominate the road. As a motorway cruiser, it’s one of the best MPVs around, but tight urban streets could be quite interesting, especially at rush hour. The Merc handles predictably though, and the ride is pretty comfortable too. Armed with some beefy engines, including a V6, it’s reasonably powered but not especially quick due to weighing over 2 tonnes. To drive or to be driven in, the V-Class is top drawer.
With a price tag to match its huge mass, the Mercedes isn’t cheap to buy brand new by any means. You can save a huge amount of money buying second hand though, and there’s really no better place to grab a great deal than here at Motors.co.uk. Thousands of high quality second hand cars for sale give you a lot of food for thought, but if you’re firmly fixated on getting a used Mercedes V-Class, there’s an abundance of choice too. Heavily discounted prices are the icing on the cake.
The simple fact is that whether you prefer to call it the Viano or the V-Class, this car is one of the best MPVs around. The monstrous size means it’s extremely spacious and comfortable inside, and there’s no lack of kit on top level models. A forceful brute to look at, it’s good to drive after a bit of practice and actually quite economical to run. If you need to transport the maximum amount of people with the minimum amount of fuss, this is the best way to do it.