Mercedes-Benz Vito 2021 review: 116 Crew Cab GVM test

LWB means long wheelbase and it certainly applies here with an expansive 3430mm, underpinning an overall length of more than 5.0 metres and width and height of just under 2.0 metres. So, it’s a sizeable vehicle which is slightly shorter than a Ford Ranger 4x4 dual cab ute, but wider and taller with a much longer wheelbase.

The Vito’s well-proven platform features coil-spring strut-type front suspension, coil-spring semi-trailing arm rear suspension with rubber cones positioned inside the coils to boost spring support under heavy loadings and four-wheel disc brakes.

The Vito is over 5.0 metres long.

There’s good comfort for both driver and front passenger and 930mm sliding-door openings provide easy access to the rear stalls from both sides. When seated, even tall passengers would enjoy the ample knee, foot and headroom on offer and if travelling three-abreast appreciate the generous shoulder room provided by the sspace between the outer seats and sliding doors. The two outer positions also have swing-down armrests, which along with a heater vent at floor level boost passenger comfort.

The moulded plastic bulkhead behind the rear seat, which separates the cabin from the cargo bay and doubles as a cargo barrier, has a large central window. This allows easy internal checking of the load and ample vision for the driver’s central mirror, even though the centre rear passenger’s head/headrest blocks a sizeable portion of this view.

Sliding-door openings provide easy access to the rear stalls from both sides.

Our only criticisms are the antiquated foot-operated parking brake, which makes harsh mechanical noises each time it’s engaged and released and seems out of place in an otherwise modern cabin environment. 

There’s also no side-curtain airbag protection for rear seat passengers, like its eight-seater Valente sibling. That's a glaring omission in a vehicle starting at $60K-plus, given that the $48K HiAce Crew includes this potentially life-saving feature as standard equipment. A crew is not cargo.

We covered just under 300km during our test, which included about one third of that distance with a maximum payload and always with the auto stop-start function switched off.

Mercedes-Benz claims a combined average consumption of 6.8L/100km, which was considerably lower than our figure calculated from tripmeter and fuel bowser readings of 8.8L/100km.

Even so, sub-10L economy is excellent for a large vehicle weighing more than 2.2 tonnes, so based on our figure you could expect a real-world driving range of around 800km from its 70-litre tank. 

The Vito’s 2213kg kerb weight and 3050kg GVM results in a near three-quarter-tonne payload rating of 837kg. Keep in mind, though, that more than half of that could easily be used up by a crew of five adults before you start loading anything else. 

It’s also rated to tow up to 2500kg of braked trailer and with its 5550kg GCM (or how much it can legally carry and tow at the same time) that means it can tow its maximum trailer weight while carrying its maximum payload, which is a useful set of numbers. 

The cargo bay has a huge 4.1 cubic metres of load volume and while the single-lift tailgate provides ample weather protection when loading, it also restricts forklift access. However, there’s a twin rear barn-door option if regular forklift loading is required. There’s also 1265mm between the rear wheel housings, so it can take an 1165mm-square standard Aussie pallet if need be.

The cargo bay has 4.1 cubic metres of load volume.

The cargo bay’s robust wooden floor has flush-fitting tracks on each side to anchor M-B’s adjustable load-securing system, plus there are six recessed D-shackle anchorage points if you prefer. The walls and tailgate are lined to mid-height and there are vents at the base of the bulkhead on each side. Lighting is more than ample with the optional LED light bar.

Cabin storage includes a large-bottle holder and storage bin at the base of each front door, with a smaller second-tier bin above. The dash has a small-bottle/cup holder at each end and three open storage bins in the top of the dash-pad with another at the base of the central dash, plus a large glovebox and overhead eyewear holder.

There's a large-bottle holder and storage bin in each front door.

The rear seat backrests can fold forward and lay flat on their base cushions if more internal cargo space is needed for bulky items and there’s some open storage space below to stow soft items like jackets, sports bags etc.

However, one major shortcoming in the Vito which is common to all crew vans we've tested, is the absence of any storage bins, bottle holders or cup holders for rear seat passengers. Why manufacturers won’t offer optional sliding-door linings specifically for crew vans, with inbuilt storage bins and bottle/cup holders, is beyond us and surely a deal-breaker for some. 

The rear seat backrests can fold forward and lay flat on their base cushions.

The only solution is to strap a pair of aftermarket cabin organisers to the front seat backrests, but that shouldn’t be necessary in a vehicle costing $70K-plus.

We loaded the Vito to its 837kg payload limit, which required rock-hard tyre pressures of 52psi in the fronts and 57psi in the rears that are beyond the usual capabilities of inflators on petrol station forecourts.

Although the rear suspension compressed almost 50mm, the long rubber cones positioned inside the rear coil springs, which are designed to provide a second stage of load support, were fully engaged and assisted in maintaining plenty of rear wheel travel and a plush ride quality. In other words, it didn’t really notice this load.

We loaded the Vito to its 837kg payload limit.

It also easily dismissed our 13 per cent gradient, 2.0km-long set climb at 60km/h, self-shifting down to third at 2750rpm to effortlessly power its way to the top with only light throttle required and plenty in reserve. 

Engine-braking on the way down was equally impressive, as it largely restrained its big payload on overrun with only light brake applications required to maintain the 60km/h speed limit. Overall, the Vito proved to be a consummate load-carrier.

The Vito handled its load without a problem.

The Vito is covered by Mercedes' five years/250,000km warranty with 24-hour roadside assist. Scheduled servicing every 12 months/25,000km whichever occurs first. Capped-price servicing costs total $4265 (!) for the first five scheduled services, or a pricey average of $853 per service.