Living in former industrial buildings is somehow currently in. However, only a few would think of moving their living room into a van. Although: when moving to a V-Class this could even be an improvement depending on the previous life situation. The car variant of the medium-sized van is currently the one with the chicest interior on the market. That even outshines a few small weaknesses.
The exterior design is also one of them. Sure, the space-optimized box geometry could not be escaped due to the main job as an implement. And the competition does not necessarily camouflage the form of utility value more elegantly. But compared to the interior, the outer shell falls off noticeably. So the door opened and swung behind the leather steering wheel. There you look at a cockpit, as it would look good on a C or E class. The gently curved consoles, the round ventilation nozzles and the metallic-looking switches for air conditioning and Co. can also be found there. The touchpad on the rotary pushbutton for the infotainment system is otherwise not available on board a van. Especially in the dim light of the ambient lighting, the V-Class almost looks like a classy sedan. However, like one in which one can stand - at least bent over.
Six seats are always on board, optionally even eight. The customer can choose between three lengths: 4,90 meters, 5,14 meters and 5,37 meters. As a test car, there was the medium model with six comfortable, sliding and removable individual seats and quite spacious trunk, even with full seating. It is loaded either via a large tailgate, or if there is not enough space, the rear window can also be opened separately. The rear passengers get into the interior through large side sliding doors, of which only the right one is standard, the other costs 854 euros extra.
Which brings us to the first disadvantage of the V-Class: the noble bus is extremely expensive. Not just VW Multivan expensive, but really expensive. Even the cheapest short model with the smallest diesel engine (100 kW / 136 hp) costs 43.411 euros. Anyone who chooses the more powerful diesel (140 kW / 190 hp) and the extra-long body is free of 50.539 euros. Without special equipment. And much more than air conditioning, CD radio and a few decorative parts in piano lacquer look are not on board from the factory. If you want to use the premium potential of the V-Class, you have to plan a few thousand euros extra, the 50.000 mark is quickly reached.
Sure, compared to an S-Class, the spacious bus remains a bargain even in luxury trim. However, at its core it is a rather rough commercial vehicle, not a high-end sedan. Even if he can partially overwrite it. The long wheelbase, for example, ensures lush road holding. And only hard edges in the road surface briefly excite the rigid rear axle. In addition, it is pleasantly quiet on board. Beyond the 120 km / h loud noises remind that a bus forehead that is almost two by two meters is tortured by the wind. The 2,1-liter diesel in the test car is powerful and cultivated and has nothing in common with one of the commercial vehicle engines that are otherwise common in buses. However, the seven-speed automatic transmission, which is a bit too sluggish when shifting up, is not completely convincing. The consumption is still okay with a good eight liters.
The V-Class is therefore a good distance from the car perfection of the Mercedes sedans. Nevertheless: there is hardly a bus that is more comfortable and elegant. Or live in. To do this, you only have to check position V9B on the price list: the couch package for 1.003 euros, with which the seats in row two can be converted into a required bed - on request also in leather.