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Our most recent review of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter resulted in a score of 8 out of 10 for that particular example.
Carsguide Contributing Journalist Mark Oastler had this to say at the time: It has its niggling faults like any vehicle but the Sprinter panel van is a well-designed vehicle overall. It’s fit for purpose and worthy of consideration if you’re in the market for a heavy commercial van. That is if you have about $90K to spend, which is around $40K more than its closest competitor - and that one comes from China.
You can read the full review here.
This is what Mark Oastler liked most about this particular version of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter: Performance, Load-hauling ability, GVM and GCM ratings
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is also known as Freightliner Sprinter, Dodge Sprinter in markets outside Australia.
Anything is possible… provided you’re prepared to pay for it. It would certainly be technically possible to convert a Sprinter van to dual rear wheels, but you’d need to source a rear axle that both mounted the dual wheels as well as being compatible with the van’s existing suspension and braking systems. Perhaps there’s a version of the Sprinter (perhaps sold overseas) that would be a donor for such a thing, but you might need to look further afield to find the bits and pieces necessary for the conversion.
But even if you can physically make it all work, there’d be a significant cost in getting the modified vehicle re-engineered (and tested) to ensure that it was still safe to drive on public roads. Until then, the van would not legally be roadworthy. You might also find that your insurance company would take a fairly conservative view of such a conversion, too.
I think you’d need to budget several thousand dollars for such a project. Assuming the conversion was to increase the van’s payload, you might find that simply buying a different vehicle with the payload you require might be the simpler, cheaper route. Also, a Sprinter converted to dual wheels might be more difficult to unload when it’s time to trade up to a new vehicle.
This is an increasingly common problem for people who carry big loads and especially for those who tow heavy trailers. In some cases, as you've discovered, it's very easy to get perilously close to the GVM limit by loading up the vehicle with whatever you're carrying. And that's the catch; the vehicle's GVM includes everything on board including passengers, fuel and whatever accessories you've added to the car, not to mention the actual payload.
Earlier this year, Queensland changed its rules regarding GVM upgrades, but you would need to speak to a specialist workshop that deals with this type of work and is familiar with the QLD regulations which may vary from other states and territories. Companies such as Pedders are qualified to carry-out GVM upgrades on some vehicles and have the engineering experience to offer a package that is certified before it's fitted to your vehicle. Whether the Sprinter's body construction has any bearing on the availability of such a kit is another thing you'd need to check with a specialist.
The problem with exceeding your car's GVM is that it makes its potentially unsafe to drive for both you and other road users. You'll also find yourself in line for a fine and your insurance company is likely to disown you in the case of a crash in an over-loaded vehicle.
Normally it should be about halfway on the scale, but it could go higher than that and not be a problem as long as it doesn’t get close to the top mark.
Standard Sprinter panel van interior features include keyless start, wipe-clean vinyl floor, leather-rimmed and height/reach adjustable steering wheel with paddle-shifters and multiple remote-control functions, driver’s instrument cluster with colour display, adaptive cruise control and a two-speaker infotainment system with 7.0-inch touchscreen with multiple connectivity including Apple and Android devices.
The Sprinter panel van comes standard with adjustable bucket seats for driver and passenger finished in black Caluma fabric trim.
The Sprinter panel van's standard features include an all-weather vinyl cabin floor, 16-inch steel wheels with 235/65R16 tyres and full-size spare, side marker lights and ample dark grey plastic where bumps, scrapes and high wear usually occur including the bumpers, door mirrors/handles and along each flank.
The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel meets the toughest Euro 6 emissions standards using AdBlue. It produces 140kW at 3800rpm and 450Nm between 1400-2400rpm.
There are ten colours to choose from for the Sprinter. These include 'Arctic White,' 'Jupiter Red,' 'Steel Blue,' 'Blue Grey,' 'Jet Black,' 'Cavansite Blue Metallic,' 'Tenorite Grey Metallic,' 'Selenite Grey Metallic,' 'Obsidian Black Metallic' and 'Iridium Silver Metallic.'
The Sprinter 49 LWB panel van offers 14 cubic metres of load volume.
We estimate the Sprinter 419 LWB panel van can accelerate from 0-100km/h in approximately 11-12 secs.
Based on our road test figures, the Sprinter 419 LWB panel van has a 'real world' driving range of around 670km from its standard 71-litre diesel fuel tank.