Mercedes-Benz V 300 d (2020) review: The ultimate luxury people-carrier
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class has established itself as one of the most luxurious people carriers on the market. The range has been bolstered by the addition of a new flagship V 300 d, which features a new engine and gearbox. I got behind the wheel of this people mover recently.
In an era where SUVs rule the roost, the idea of a luxury people mover may be less than appealing to some, however, Mercedes-Benz has gotten rather good at turning vans into luxury forms of transport. The V-Class, formerly the Viano, is a luxurious version of the brand’s Vito van which benefits from many of the refinement and technological advances that Mercedes develops for its SUVs, hatchbacks, and saloon models.
Now in its third generation, the current V-Class has been around since 2014 and since then has been updated, the most recent coming last year when the brand introduced a refreshed V-Class, including the V 300 d, in Europe. The new flagship recently touched down on local shores, AutoTrader was one of the first to receive this updated model for review purposes.
Styling
There is only so much that one can expect Mercedes-Benz to do with what is, by and large, a rectangular shape. Still, the updated model features a new front bumper, an updated grille, and added revised front air intakes. The press vehicle is the flagship Exclusive model, complete with two-tone 19-inch alloy wheels. Overall, the V-Class is rather attractive for a luxurious people-mover and managed to attract quite a bit of attention from fellow road users.
Interior and space
It's inside where the V-Class comes into its own, with the press vehicle offering seating for 7 occupants in leather-clad luxury. The V-Class is also available with the option of either an 8 or 6-seat configuration inside, depending on the requirements of the owner.
In its 7-seat configuration, the V 300 d offers two individual seats in the second row, separated by an island that can provide cup holders and an individual table for both occupants. The third row also offers three individual seats that occupants reported as being supremely comfortable over a long journey.
The boot is also a respectable 542-litres while the braked towing capacity is some 2 000kg. The boot itself features a practical and sturdy partition shelf, allowing more valuable items to be loaded in an area where they will not be seen.
The interior features design elements from previous generation Mercedes models, though, with the previous-generation Mercedes product's steering wheel, instrument cluster and infotainment layout being particularly notable.
In terms of versatility, there are certainly more practical people movers out there, with the V-Class featuring cumbersome seats that will prove difficult to remove while the premium nature of all of the materials may discourage its use as a family car. I certainly cannot image loading my dog inside, his hair all over the plush carpets and his paws forever marking the expensive leather. Perhaps that is where the V-Class is positioned though, as a luxury people mover, with products such as the Volkswagen Caravelle and Hyundai H1 more suited to family life.
Comfort and convenience
As the flagship, the 300 d tester features some luxurious additions such as a fridge, housed within the front centre console as well as heated and cooled second-row seats. There is also an expansive panoramic roof, heated and chilled cup holders, a 360-degree camera that assists when parking and a Burmester sound system, to name a few.
The interior's most notable enhancement is the inclusion of the MBUX infotainment software in place of the previous COMAND Online system which means that the 10.25-inch screen, despite featuring the old look in terms of the way it is mounted, now features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as the Mercedes voice-activated personal assistant.
Related: VW Caravelle vs Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs Ford Tourneo: which one has the lowest running cost?
Performance
The most important addition to the V-Class range comes in the form of the engine fitted to the 300 d models. In place of the well-aged 2.1-litre OM651 turbodiesel engine and 7-speed automatic gearbox from other V-Class models, is the more modern 2.0-litre OM654 turbodiesel engine and 9-speed automatic gearbox. The unit provides a potent 176 kW and 500 Nm of torque on overboost, allowing the two-ton-plus people mover to accelerate with far more vigour than you might imagine.
The 0-100km/h is of little importance, but the availability of torque and the ability of this powertrain to carry weight with less effort is most notable, creating an enhanced sense of effortlessness. The engine and gearbox combined with a respectable amount of refinement and soundproofing make for a relatively silent operation, particularly at highway speeds, with the thrum of the engine note only intrusively audible when accelerating hard.
Safety
The Exclusive model features adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot assist and brake assist as part of the Driver Assist package. These driver aids along with 6 airbags allowed the V-Class range to secure a maximum 5 Stars in the EuroNCAP new car assessment programme. The V-Class was tested back in 2014 and achieved 93% for adult occupant safety, 87% for child occupant safety, 67% for pedestrian safety and 85% for its safety assist systems.
Fuel economy
The new engine and gearbox combination not only makes for a punchy combination but also provides impressive consumption, thanks to the two added ratios and a good spread of torque between 1 600-2 400 r/min. Mercedes claim a consumption figure of 8.8 L/100km, however, I found that around 9.1 L/100km was more realistic when carrying passengers.
Pricing
The press car, sans options, is listed at R1 645 880, which is an eye-watering amount for what is an ageing luxury people mover, even though occupants will certainly not want for luxury when inside.
Verdict
The pricey V 300 d Exclusive demonstrates that there are many ways in which a manufacturer can offer luxurious transportation. The addition of the more modern engine, gearbox and improved connectivity has injected life into a product that many may have otherwise overlooked. Despite its aged design and interior when compared with other Mercedes-Benz products, the V-Class appears to be in a class of its own when it comes to people movers that put premium quality and luxury above all else.
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