Competition certainly improves the breed. Mercedes-Benz entered the Euro-style work van market in the U.S. back in 2001, selling through Freightliner and Dodge commercial dealerships along with its own. Lighter, nimbler, more maneuverable, and more efficient than Express/Savana, E-Series/Econoline, and Ram vans based on heavy-duty pickups from the Big Three, these new-age vans caught on surprisingly well, given their Mercedes-ish pricing. Their popularity drew competition, and now Americans can buy a Fiat Ducato/Peugeot Boxer/Citroën Jumper van rebadged as a Ram ProMaster (unveiled in Chicago three years ago) and produced in Mexico. Or if they’re put off by that one’s front-wheel-drive and hideous face, they can go for a handsome rear-drive Ford Transit van built right here at home outside Kansas City, Missouri. North American manufacture dodges the “chicken tax” on foreign-made trucks, giving FCA and Ford a big price advantage. To chip away at that advantage, Mercedes is rolling out a lower-cost base “Worker” variant of its most popular short-wheelbase, low-roof 2500 series van priced at just $33,490—an impressive $4,000 discount off the previous base Sprinter 2500.
Shop around, and you’ll find that the Ram ProMaster of similar size and gross vehicle-weight rating starts at $31,825 and that the space-equivalent medium-roof Ford Transit starts at $32,760. But tick the box for Ram’s 3.0-liter, turbocharged Ecodiesel I-4 engine, and you’re at $36,970. Ordering Ford’s 3.2-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel I-5 inflates the price to $38,405. Oh, and those engines are bolted to six-speeds (the Ram’s a clunky one-clutch automated manual), but the Sprinter gets a smooth-shifting seven-speed automatic. That $3,480-$4,915 will buy a lot of upfitter shelving or logo-graphic wrapping for your plumbing-business van, and Mercedes claims that the savings compound with use, owing to service intervals (determined by the engine-life computer) that can be as long as 20,000 miles. The company also points to the Sprinter’s strong resale value, which has earned ALG’s Residual Value Award for full-size commercial vans this year.
The price drop comes mostly from radical product simplification by offering only one wheelbase, roof height, color (white), and equipment configuration (power windows, A/C, and a tilting/telescoping steering wheel). There is some modest de-contenting. The sound system is less elaborate, although it still boasts four speakers, an aux input, a USB interface, and Bluetooth connectivity. The wood/plastic panels for the floor and side walls are eliminated, but it’s still prepared for a cabin partition, and of course the safety gear is included: six standard airbags, industry-exclusive crosswind assist, and load-adaptive traction control. The engine is rated for 5,000 pounds of towing, and the maximum payload is just over 3,500 pounds.
The Worker is still assembled in Germany then taken apart and shipped to Ladson, South Carolina, for reassembly (to dodge the 25 percent tax), which ain’t cheap, so the profit margin has to be razor thin; the principal mission of the van is to exert price pressure on the local Euro-van rivals. Just like the air-fare wars, this probably won’t last forever, so upgrade your plumbing-business van while they’re going cheap.
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Worker | |
| BASE PRICE | $33,490 |
| VEHICLE LAYOUT | Front-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 3-door van |
| ENGINE | 2.1L/161-hp/266-lb-ft turbodiesel DOHC 16-valve I-4 |
| TRANSMISSION | 7-speed automatic |
| CURB WEIGHT | 5,050 lb (mfr) |
| WHEELBASE | 144.3 in |
| LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT | 232.5 x 79.7 x 96.3 in |
| 0-60 MPH | 12.6 sec (MT est) |
| EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON | Not rated |
| ON SALE IN U.S. | Currently |
The post 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Worker First Look Review appeared first on Motor Trend.
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