Mercedes-Benz Vito Review (2015-present)
Mercedes-Benz Vito cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
Wide choice of body lengths and drivetrains
Premium image
Comfortable and relaxing to drive
Cons
All-electric version is expensive
Lacks a high-roof variant
The Ford Transit Custom has a greater load area and payload
The CarGurus verdict
The Mercedes-Benz Vito is a flexible, customisable van that drives well and is comfortable. Its appeal is increased further by its upmarket appearance and equipment, particularly in higher grades, while variants such as the eVito are ideal for operators who want a zero-emissions urban delivery solution, although the all-electric offering is expensive and its range could admittedly be better.
Otherwise, aside from some ergonomic and capacity gripes, the only prominent issue with the Vito is the lack of a high-roof variant. This might prove restrictive for some buyers, who will otherwise need to look at alternatives such as the Ford Transit Custom, which can be had in three different lengths and two different heights. If that’s not an issue, and you want a mid-sized van with some premium appeal that’s easy and good to drive, then the Mercedes-Benz Vito is a worthwhile option.
What is the Mercedes-Benz Vito?
If you want a medium-sized van then you’re in luck, because there is a variety of capable options on offer, including the popular Ford Transit Custom, Volkswagen Transporter, Renault Trafic, Peugeot Expert and Vauxhall Vivaro.
Buyers wanting something with a bit more cachet and premium appeal, however, may well be considering the Mercedes-Benz Vito. It’s a medium-sized van that sits between the smaller Citan and the larger Sprinter in the Mercedes line-up, and its flexible configurations and options means that it can suit lots of different applications.
How practical is it?
The Mercedes Vito has been around for a while now but this, the third-generation model, was unveiled in 2014 and subsequently offered to UK buyers in 2015. The range initially consisted of the practical panel van, the crew van and the people-carrying tourer, and options often included three wheelbase/body lengths and three weight variants, which made for quite a variation in terms of load length and load space, all key factors in a van's level of practicality.
Customers could also pick from a choice of two turbo diesel engines in five power outputs, and also from front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive in some models (later models were rear-drive only).
The standard 1.6-litre diesel Vito, in 2.8-tonne gross vehicle weight (GVW) configuration and with front-wheel drive, could carry a payload of 955kg. The rear-wheel-drive, 2.1-litre diesel Vito, however, offered a maximum payload of 1255kg in 3.2-tonne GVW configuration.
During a facelift in 2024, the range was slimmed down to include only Vitos with a three-tonne GVW, and only two body lengths. One of the major criticisms some have of the Vito is that while rivals offer a variety of body heights, the Vito offers only one. Load capacity isn't as vast as it is in some rival vans, too, and payload figures trail behind the best, too. Still, in the area of practicality, the Vito is still competitive, if not class-leading.
What's it like to drive?
In early Vitos, customers could pick from a choice of two turbo diesel engines - a 1.6 and a 2.1 - in five power outputs, and also from front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive in some models (later models were rear-drive only). The entry-level ones could struggle a bit, especially when loaded up to the nines, but the more powerful ones made for rather easier progress.
Later on, these were ditched in favour of new 2.0-litre units, offered in three outputs of 134bhp, 161bhp and 187bhp. The first one comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the others get a nine-speed automatic. Of these, we've only tried the most powerful one, and it does a good job, feeling brawny and eager from low down in the rev range and remaining settled and unstrained at higher speeds.
The automatic gearbox shifts gears smoothly, too, but it could be a little more responsive in the way it does so. Push the accelerator for more pace, and the gearbox is hesitant to kick down a gear, whereupon you push the pedal a little further to provoke the gearchange. And so, when the gearbox finally does respond, the engine is made to work harder than it needs to.
Otherwise, the Vito is calm and competent on the road. The ride is a little firmer than some will be expecting, but never to the point of being uncomfortable, and it's generally a van that feels stable and assured at all times. The steering is light enough to make low-speed manoeuvres a doddle, and it's even pretty quick, so your arms don't have to work too hard in the process.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
On early versions of the Vito, equipment included standard-fit features such as cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity, while every Vito included a range of safety equipment including hill-start assist, crosswind assist, tyre pressure monitoring, ESP stability control and daytime running lights. However, only two front airbags are standard on all models; you have to pay extra if you want side- or curtain 'bags.
Mercedes subsequently introduced a better-equipped Vito Sport model, as well as a Vito Taxi variant, and in January 2019 the trim lines were overhauled to improve the array of standard kit. Entry-level Pure models, for example, would benefit from parking sensors, parking assistance and heated electric exterior mirrors, an update which made them better value and more appealing. The Sport meanwhile, got built-in satnav and alloy wheels.
Like with most vans, various facelifts and updates are applied periodically to keep things competitive over the vehicles typically long shelf-life, and a major one took place in 2024. One of the biggest changes was the new infotainment system, a version of the MBUX system found in Merc's passenger cars. It operates through a 10.25-inch central touchscreen, and supports functions like Bluetooth, DAB radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. If you want native satnav, though, it’s an optional extra across the board, as is wireless phone charging. The system is pretty easy to find your way around, although some of the more peripheral functions can be a little difficult to locate within the menu structure, and the voice control system isn’t as good as it is in other applications of MBUX.
The facelift also saw the existing trim levels replaced with two new ones, Pro and Select. The precise level of kit you get with each varies depending on whether you’re talking about the panel van or the crew van.
On the former, the Pro gets air-conditioning, cruise control, a multi-function steering wheel, and a reversing camera. Select versions look a little sharper from the outside with alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, metallic paint and some additional chrome trim, while you also get power folding door mirrors, and LED headlights with automatic high beam. The interior also gets a leather steering wheel and interior ambient lighting.
Crew van models are broadly similar, except for the fact that Pro models get alloy wheels and body-coloured bumpers for a slightly smarter look from the outside, while they also get a tailgate on the rear instead of the twin rear doors (twin sliding side doors are standard on all Vitos), and the interior trim is also smarter, with the loadbay being finished in plastic rather than wood.
Mercedes-Benz Vito running costs
The Mercedes-Benz Vito is a premium van but that doesn’t necessarily entail it commanding a premium when it comes to servicing. The on-board ASSYST system will indicate when a service is required, for example, but a Vito’s service intervals can stretch up to 25,000 miles or two years.
Pricing for Mercedes-Benz servicing is also transparent, which should help you get a quick and accurate picture of what to expect in terms of running costs. Customers can also check out common servicing prices on the Mercedes-Benz website, so it’s easy to estimate what you might have to pay over time.
Mercedes additionally offers a range of servicing options. You can go for pay-as-you-go servicing, on an ad-hoc basis, or go for the ServiceCare Maintenance scheme. This spreads the cost of up to six services over a monthly basis and reputedly works out as being less expensive than booking individual services.
Opting for this approach means you fix the cost of future servicing, too, which could help keep your operating expenses in check later down the line. There’s a fleet-focused ServiceCare Flex scheme, too, which allows business owners to spread the costs of up to 100 services over twelve months.
Getting your Vito serviced by Mercedes-Benz from new is a good idea, in any case, because it’ll grant you access to the MobiloVan service, which provides roadside assistance, in lots of different scenarios, for up to 30 years.
One additional advantage of sticking to dealer servicing is that it will help maintain the residual values of the Vito. While it isn’t an inexpensive van, it does hold its value well, which, in conjunction with sensible servicing costs and decent fuel consumption, should help keep your overall outlay down.
Mercedes-Benz Vito reliability
A new Mercedes-Benz Vito will come with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. A Ford Transit, for comparison, comes with a three-year warranty that’s only valid up to 100,000 miles; similarly, a Volkswagen Transporter gets a three-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Mercedes-Benz also includes its MobiloVan service with all new vans, which – if your van is serviced by Mercedes according to its intervals – can last for up to 30 years. This assistance package covers situations such as misfuelling, lost keys and vandalism as well. This comprehensive scheme, coupled with the unlimited-mileage warranty, could prove ideal for those looking to minimise downtime and hassle.
Problems should be few and far between, however, as Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles perform well in both reliability and customer satisfaction surveys. The company offers a range of easy-to-use servicing schemes and tools, too, which further eases Vito ownership.
Because major problems are uncommon, you just need to look out for obvious issues when considering a used Mercedes-Benz Vito. The process is simplified further if you go for a Mercedes-Benz Approved Used Van, too; these dealer-offered vans are up to six years old, have fewer than 150,000 miles on the clock, full service history and a minimum of 24 months’ warranty. Other benefits include 12 months’ MOT, a 10-day exchange period and complimentary seven-day insurance coverage.
- The Vito was launched in 2015 and offered in three lengths, three weights, in a range of trims, a variety of payload ratings and load volumes, and with a choice of two diesel engines in a selection of power outputs. Both front-wheel-drive Vitos and rear-wheel-drive models were also offered, but these days, the Vito is rear-drive only.
- Customers can currently opt for the Vito in panel van, crew van, and tourer specifications. The panel van has three seats up front, while the crew van has six, with an additional row behind. Both have been offered in three lengths and three trim levels, while later on, the offering was reduced to two lengths and two trim levels. The nine-seat Vito tourer is a passenger-carrying version: if you picture a V-Class MPV, but quite a bit less posh, then you're about right.
- Panel van versions of the Vito get a pair of side-hinged doors at the back that can open up to 180 degrees for better access to the loadspace. Crew van versions, meanwhile, get a massive top-hinged tailgate instead, which could prove more tricky to get open if your work is taking place in a tight space. In addition, all Vitos get a pair of sliding side doors, but on crew van variants, these are more for access to the rear seats than they are for access to the loadbay.
- The cheapest used option: You’ll want a Vito 110 CDI Progressive L1 if keeping costs to a minimum is key. Its diesel engine produces 101bhp and 270Nm and Mercedes claims an average of mpg of 37.7 on the WLTP test cycle. Standard equipment includes cruise control, heated mirrors, a reversing camera, double locks and the Mercedes Attention Assist system.
- The cheapest new option: You'll want a 114 L2 in Pro trim. This has a 134bhp version on Mercedes' 2.0-litre diesel engine and comes with a six-speed manual gearbox. Standard equipment is generous enough to be getting on with, and crucially, air-conditioning is provided as standard.
- For zero-emissions haulage: Customers have been able to opt for an all-electric version of the Vito, called the eVito, since early 2020. Its electric motor puts out 114bhp and 295Nm, which is sent to the front wheels. Early versions had a claimed range of up to 93 miles, while later iterations upped that to 164 miles.
