The V-Class offers Mercedes quality to the super-MPV segment. Jonathan Crouch looks at the revised V220d variant.

Ten Second Review

One thing Mercedes' big V-Class isn't short of is space. As a People Carrier in the truest sense, it's only real competition comes from other large, van-based MPVs - or public transport. This is the usefully revised version of the brand's 'W447'-series model and it features a torquey 2.0-litre diesel engine with 163hp in this volume V220d variant. If you want to take up to eight people and their luggage in a vehicle that makes a very high quality statement, then this Mercedes is still a difficult option to ignore.

Background

There aren't many alternatives open to you if a really sizeable People Carrier is needed that can take seven or eight people plus all their luggage. And if that MPV must make a really sizeable statement of quality, the options reduce to just one: this Mercedes V-Class. Here, we've got a revised version of the successful 'W447'-series model. This V-Class was lightly improved in early 2024 with a slightly smarter look and more significant changes to the cabin, which gains new digital screens. The engineering's much the same though and most customers choose this car's 'OM 654'-series 2.0-litre diesel engine in the base V220d form we're looking at here, where it works with the usual 9G-TRONIC PLUS 9-speed auto gearbox. But are these minor changes enough to allow this V-Class to at last fully justify its premium pricing? Time to find out.

Driving Experience

Of all the super-large MPVs on the market, this is the one that disguises its van-based underpinnings the best. The powerplant on offer is the brand's 'OM 654'-series 2.0-litre diesel engine, available in two states of tune for V-Class buyers. Here, we're looking at the 163hp V220d variant that most will probably choose, but there's also an alternative 239hp V300d derivative that might appeal if you'll regularly be carrying heavy loads. Both powerplants now use a smooth 9G-TRONIC PLUS 9-speed auto gearbox. Mercedes has tried hard to optimise the ride and handling package that its biggest People Carrier can offer. Hence the standard 'Agility Select' system that allows you to tweak throttle response, gearchange timings and feedback from the 'Direct Steer' speed-sensitive steering to suit the way you want your V-Class to respond. Plus there's 'Agility Control' adaptive suspension, a set-up able to tweak the damping to suit road conditions. Ultimately, all these efforts aren't really enough to make the dynamic experience on offer here in any way rewarding, but the overall compromise is decently impressive by the moderate standards of the super-sized MPV class.

Design and Build

This, apparently, is the 'the Mercedes amongst MPVs'. It certainly looks quite a bit grander than anything else on offer in this segment. Especially in this revised form where there's a revised grille and bumper arrangement. As with other Mercedes cars, the front end treatment now differs according to whether you've paid the extra for plusher 'AMG Line' trim or not. Space, Mercedes tells V-Class customers, is the true definition of luxury and on that basis, this MPV must be very luxurious indeed, given its enormous square dimensions, based on huge 'Long' or 'Extra Long' body shapes. Up front, you're treated to an agreeably high and commanding driving position. Look around and you'll be pleased to note that there's nothing particularly LCV-like about the opulently finished cabin, enhanced on this revised model by a fresh dual-screen set-up with two 12.3-inch displays, plus a mouse pad as part of a redesigned centre console. Standard electric sliding doors aid entry to the rear. The way that the back of this car is specified depends of course on the seating configuration you've chosen and how you choose to position the provided chairs within it using the provided floor rails. With a 7-seat model configuration, you get two middle seats separated by a fold-out table, along with three individual seats at the very back. We tested a 8-seat cabin that gives you two rows of three-abreast rear seating.

Market and Model

There's no doubt that this is the premium choice when it comes to the market's largest segment of People Carrying MPV, with V-Class V220d pricing sitting in the £75,000 bracket - which is a quite a bit more than Mercedes was asking when we tested the original version of this 'W447'-series model back in 2015. Think in terms of an increase of around £20,000, which seems to be a bit more than inflationary. Because you can't have top 'Exclusive' trim with the V220d (you have to have the more powerful V300d powerplant for that), there's now just one trim level available ('Premium') but you can pay around £4,000 extra to have a sportier-looking 'AMG Line' package added (why?). There are now just two body shapes available. There's the 'Long' model, which is 5,140mm in length and seats up to eight; or (for around £1,000 more) the 'Extra Long' version that's 5,370mm long and also seats up to eight. Go large, we'd say. A seven-seat cabin configuration's also available, but the six-seater format's limited to the 'Exclusive' trim (so again, you've to specify the V300d engine).

Cost of Ownership

For a vehicle of this V-Class's considerable size and weight, the fuel and CO2 returns on offer from the 'OM654'-series 2.0-litre four cylinder diesel engine aren't at all bad. In this base V220d, expect a WLTP-rated combined cycle fuel return of 47mpg (meaning a decent range from the 70-litre fuel tank), together with 192-193g/km of CO2. For the alternative V300d variant, the respective figures are virtually the same - 47.8mpg and 189g/km. As you'd expect, this Euro 6d-TEMP 'OM654'-series unit meets the stringent 'RDE' ('Real Driving Emissions') standard. A lot of work's been put into this engine to achieve these kinds of returns. For a start, it's 17% lighter than the old 2.1-litre unit, plus the cylinder spacing's shorter and internal friction has been reduced by 25%. Technophobes may also want to know that there's a new stepped recessed combustion process, dynamic multi-way exhaust gas recirculation and a close-coupled exhaust gas after-treatment system.

Summary

This V-Class may occupy something of a forgotten backwater in the Mercedes product range but it's still a model that makes a lot of sense, especially in this V220d guise. In fact, assuming that you can't face budget-brand transport and don't want something that's very obviously a minibus, we'd argue that there aren't too many options to V-Class motoring if you need to transport up to eight people in the kind of style to which they'd doubtless quickly like to become accustomed. What it all boils down to is that if you want a car, buy a car. If though, you need a People Carrier, buy one that can really do the business. The V-Class is part of a small but very select breed of models answering that calling.

Body Glass

Separately opening rear window

Rain sensing windscreen wipers

Window in tailgate with wash and wipe system

Heat-insulating windows all round

Privacy glass

Brakes

Electric parking brake

Electronic Stability Programme

CO2-optimised brake system

Hill start assist

Active brake assist

Anti-lock brake system

Carpets/Rugs

Carpeting in rear passenger compartment

Chassis/Suspension

Absorbed glass mat battery 12 V 92 Ah

Communication

Wireless charging for smartphone

Driver Aids

Sidewind assist system

Cruise control

Direct steer speed sensitive steering

Agility select with a choice of driving modes (Comfort, ECO, Sport, Individual)

Active distance assist DISTRONIC

Active lane keeping assist

Crosswind Assist

Attention assist

Blind spot assist

Intelligent speed assistance

Driver Convenience

Comfort closure incl. boot

ECO start/stop function

Driver Information

e-Call (emergency call)

Mercedes me connect

10.25" media display

MBUX navigation with 2 x 12.3" widescreen cockpit display with touchscreen

Traffic sign assist

Service indicator assist

Status display for rear seat belts in instrument cluster

Driving Mirrors

Heated exterior mirrors, electrically adjustable, with integral indicator lamp

Illuminated mirror for sun visor

Engine

57 litre fuel tank

Entertainment

Frontbass loudspeakers

2 USB ports and one SD card slot centre console

DAB radio

2-way speakers in the front and rear

Exterior Body Features

Illuminated exits

Anodised roof rails

Exterior Lights

Tailgate surround lighting

LED DRL

Automatic lights

Multibeam LED headlights with adaptive highbeam assist plus

LED tail lamps/brake lamps and indicators

Adaptive brake lights

H7 reflection-type headlamps

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Hot air duct to the passenger compartment

Air conditioning - semi-automatic, TEMPMATIC in rear

THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control

Interior Features

Multifunction 3-spoke leather steering wheel with touch controls, adjustable in inclination and height

Armrests for seating in the passenger compartment

Illuminated grab handle with reading light

Folding table in 2nd row between seats

Comfort overhead control panel

Stowage nets behind individual seats

Reach and rake adjustable steering column

Centre console with storage/cupholders

Lugano leather upholstery

Touchpad

Interior Lights

Ambience lighting 64 colours cockpit + rear passenger compartment

Front and rear footwell lighting

Lighting in the rear grab handles

Packs

Aerodynamics package - V class

AMG Line package - V class Premium

Navigation package - V class

Comfort seat package - V class

Parking package with 360 degree camera - V class

Mirror package - V class

Electric package - V class

Winter package - V class

Smartphone integration package - V class

Safety

Window airbags for driver, front passenger and rear passenger

Rear seat belt pretensioners

Seat occupancy sensor

Tyre pressure monitoring system

3 point seatbelts on all seats

Seat belt warning device for front passenger seat and rear seats

Driver and front passenger thorax/pelvis side airbags

Automatic front passenger airbag deactivation

Dual airbags for driver and front passenger

Child safety locks in passenger compartment doors

Pedestrian protection

Centre airbag

Pre safe

Seats

Comfort drivers seat

Lumbar support for driver's and front passengers seat

Single front passenger seat

2 individual seats in 2nd row

3 seat bench in 3rd row

Rear head restraints

Security

Keyless Start

Transmission

9G TRONIC automatic transmission

Wheels

Summer and comfort tyres

Full wheel covers

Emissions - ICE

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium: 190

Noise Level dB(A): N

CO: 0.0144

HC: N

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

CO2 (g/km): N

NOx: 0.0279

HC+NOx: 0.032

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low: 236

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High: 163

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High: 194

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 189

Particles: 0.0002

Engine and Drive Train

Number of Valves: 16

Gears: 9 SPEED

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Compression Ratio: 15.5:1

Engine Layout: NORTH SOUTH

Catalytic Convertor: No

Fuel Delivery: COMMON RAIL

Camshaft: DOHC

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Cylinders: 4

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 82

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 92.3

CC: 1950

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - MPG - Extra High: 38.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium: 7.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low: 9

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 39.2

WLTP - MPG - Low: 31.4

WLTP - MPG - Medium: 39.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High: 6.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High: 7.4

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 7.2

WLTP - MPG - High: 45.6

General

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: 0

Badge Power: 163

Badge Engine CC: 2.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

AdBlue: No

Generation Mark: 3

Based On ID: N

Coin Description: d

Coin Series: Prem AMG Line [L/7]

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 42D

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Order: 0

Special Edition: 0

Performance

Engine Power - BHP: 163

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Power - KW: 120

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Space Saver?: 0

Tyre Size Front: 245/45 R19

Tyre Size Rear: 245/45 R19

Tyre Size Spare: SPACE SAVER

Wheel Type: 19" ALLOY

Wheel Style: AMG 5 TWIN SPOKE LIGHT

Alloys?: No

Vehicle Dimensions

Width: 1928

Wheelbase: 3200

Length: 5140

Width (including mirrors): 2249

Height (including roof rails): 1950

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 57

Max. Loading Weight: 742

Gross Vehicle Weight: 3100

No. of Seats: 7

Minimum Kerbweight: 2358

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Additional solid paint

Packs

Trailer coupling package - V class

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Graphite grey

Metallic - Obsidian black

Metallic - Rock crystal white

Metallic - Hyacinth red

Metallic - Sodalite blue

Metallic - High-tech silver

Paint - Solid

Solid - Arctic white

Solid - Steel blue

Solid - Vintage blue

Additional solid - Alpine grey

Trim - Leather

Lugano leather - Black

Lugano leather - Silk beige