2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter First Drive Review: From 4WD to AWD

STUTTGART, Germany — Mercedes-Benz’s automobiles have come a great distance for the reason that Nineties when it comes to design, efficiency and ergonomics. In that very same time interval, the Sprinter van could as nicely have moved to a unique planet. Like all older apartment-sized vans, early Sprinters have been truck-like and never at all times straightforward to drive. The present mannequin feels extra like a jumbo SUV, and changing the part-time four-wheel-drive system with a full-time all-wheel-drive setup softens up even essentially the most hardcore member of the lineup.

Mechanical cross-pollination

New for the 2023 mannequin 12 months, the Sprinter’s non-compulsory all-wheel-drive system is actually car-like: it’s an evolution of the 4Matic all-wheel-drive expertise we all know from a few of Mercedes-Benz’s SUVs.

“It’s the identical system you discover within the GLE and the GLS,” defined Florian Hofmann, the supervisor of expertise communications for Mercedes-Benz Vans. “The switch case is predicated on the GLE’s however it’s tailored to Sprinter circumstances. We now use the Mercedes-Benz components as a result of the efficiency is healthier and it’s cheaper. And, it’s not so typically that you would be able to have a greater system for a greater value.”

Beginning on the wheels, backtracking the horsepower’s path leads you to a multi-clutch switch case with a torque-on-demand operate, a nine-speed automated transmission (the V6-powered 2022 Sprinter got here with a seven-speed unit), and a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine known as OM654 internally that Mercedes has supplied abroad in a number of fashions (together with the C-Class, E-Class, GLC, and GLE) since 2016. It develops 170 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque in its commonplace state of tune, however patrons who want extra can order a “Excessive Output” evolution of this engine that bumps these figures to 211 and 332, respectively. Considerably, the two.0-liter turbodiesel replaces the three.0-liter turbodiesel V6, which put 188 horses and 325 pound-feet of twist underneath the motive force’s proper foot, for the 2023 mannequin 12 months.

In its most succesful configuration, the turbodiesel-powered Sprinter presents a 6,812-pound payload ranking; that’s nicely into heavy-duty pickup territory. It could actually additionally tow as much as 7,500 kilos. On the gasoline facet of the vary, the one engine choice is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder tuned to 188 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Solely supplied with rear-wheel drive and a nine-speed automated gearbox, this engine offers the Sprinter 4,453-pound payload and the power to tow as much as 5,000 kilos.

Half automobile, half van

Step up – means up – into the cabin and also you’re greeted by an assortment of acquainted components. Mercedes hasn’t put its dashboard-wide Hyperscreen setup into the Sprinter (a minimum of not but) however the three-spoke steering wheel’s shift paddles and touch-sensitive buttons, the air vents and lots of the switches come from the automobile facet of the portfolio. The intuitive, touchscreen-based MBUX infotainment system trickled down from there as nicely. It’s if you sit within the driver’s seat (which was heated in my tester) that you just notice you’re positively not in a automobile: chances are you’ll as nicely be navigating a cargo ship, besides as a substitute of searching on the huge vacancy of the ocean you’ve received a view over an unlimited sea of late-model crossovers.

The all-wheel-drive system’s elements reside underneath the physique so the Sprinter’s cavernous cargo capability stays unchanged. In its largest configuration, the panel van presents as much as 533 cubic toes of cargo area and a 61-inch loading width. Put one other means, you possibly can put a basic Mini within the again with room to spare.

The less complicated option to depart the pavement

From the motive force’s perspective, the all-wheel-drive system’s greatest attribute is its simplicity. It’s at all times on, there’s no must shift into four-wheel-drive when the going will get powerful and it pulls the Sprinter by slippery terrain when you give attention to conserving the entrance finish pointed in the best course. On a brief off-road course on the outskirts of Stuttgart, the all-wheel-drive Sprinter effortlessly carried out a near-360-degree flip in a pit stuffed with mud and had sufficient traction to reverse up a steep, muddy hill.

Hofmann instructed me the brand new drivetrain made the low-range gear redundant. “We don’t want [a low-range gear] anymore due to the nine-speed automated transmission. First gear is about 25% decrease than the outdated seven-speed transmission’s first gear, and the brand new engine makes extra torque,” he stated.

His assertion will undoubtedly increase various eyebrows; many off-road lovers swear by the crawler gear. It’s necessary to needless to say Mercedes didn’t develop the Sprinter as a hardcore off-roader able to maintaining with a triple-locked G-Class on a path in Moab. On this software, all-wheel drive primarily ensures drivers don’t get caught up a snowy hill or on a muddy building website.

Decrease gearing and an additional serving of that butter-smooth turbodiesel torque solely inform a part of the story. Whereas the four-wheel-drive system despatched about 35% of the engine’s output to the entrance wheels and 65% to the rear wheels, the all-wheel-drive system presents a completely variable torque break up. The Sprinter is rear-wheel-drive in regular driving circumstances, like round city and on the freeway, however the system shuffles the torque from entrance to again and even back and forth when it detects {that a} wheel loses traction.

On the pavement, it’s surprisingly straightforward to overlook you’re driving a automobile the scale of a school dorm room. This factor is large — enormous to the purpose the place there’s a step built-in into the entrance bumper to assist your native mechanic entry the engine bay — however ahead visibility is superb due to the excessive seating place, the large windshield, and the comparatively quick entrance finish. For the 2023 mannequin 12 months, Mercedes changed the hydraulic energy steering system with an electrical setup that’s sluggish and light-weight, which is exactly what you need in a Sprinter. The trip is, nicely … van-like. It’s not overly harsh, it feels softer than the Ram ProMaster’s, however nobody will assume Mercedes-Maybach performed a job in tuning the suspension.

Combining the two.0-liter turbodiesel with the nine-speed automated makes this behemoth surprisingly fast. It’s evidently not E63 S-quick, however it will get up to the mark sooner than you may count on because of the low first gear. The 2 additional gears additionally make sure the engine operates close to its peak torque output as typically as doable whereas conserving the revolutions low at increased speeds and in flip bettering gasoline financial system.

What van patrons ordered

The four-wheel drive versus all-wheel drive debate can gasoline pub discuss for nights on finish, and finally there isn’t a proper or incorrect reply. It largely depends upon the automobile and the way it’s used. Within the Sprinter’s case, all-wheel drive makes extra sense: it’s less complicated and cheaper, two attributes prized by van patrons (a various group that ranges from fleet operators to #vanlife converts). The truth that this technique improves traction with out sacrificing drivability on the pavement is a pleasant bonus. Whenever you see a FedEx driver energy up your snowy driveway to ship a parcel to your door, thank the 4Matic system. In lots of components of the nation, the all-wheel-drive Sprinter might be welcomed like a well-stocked Christmas basket.

Pricing for the 2023 Sprinter begins at $45,795 (together with a $2,295 vacation spot cost) for a cargo van powered by the gasoline-burning engine. The turbodiesel-powered cargo van carries a base value of $49,295 with rear-wheel-drive. Including all-wheel-drive requires deciding on the 2500 mannequin and will increase the bottom value by $12,550, that means the most affordable Sprinter variant with 4 pushed wheels prices $58,345 together with vacation spot. It’s not low-cost, however the place else are you going to get an all-wheel-drive storage unit?

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