Overview & Reviews

On the surface, a commercial-use Mercedes-Benz van seems like a reckless extravagance. But that's only among folks unaware that Mercedes trucks and vans are sought-after workhorses on European highways, moving goods and hauling freight while its passenger cars ferry the business class. And compared to full-size American competitors, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter actually offers a number of unique design attributes.

For one thing, it's tall. Its load floor is among the lowest for a full-size van, and with the taller of two available roofs, someone 6-foot-3 can walk around upright inside. And in its largest configuration, the Sprinter offers massive storage capacity of 547 cubic feet. In people mover form, the Sprinter can carry up to 15 passengers in five rows in its longest guise.

Yet despite its long and wobbly stance, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter actually feels pretty maneuverable around town thanks to a modern chassis design that feels a lot less trucklike than cargo and passenger vans from Detroit. Its standard turbodiesel V6 also offers better fuel economy than domestic V8s. Horsepower and acceleration, however, are best discussed in relative terms. Despite its name, the Sprinter is better suited to urban and suburban environments rather than the highway.

Current Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a full-size van, available in Cargo, Crew or Passenger configurations. Cargo vans offer two front seats only, while the Crew is essentially a Cargo van with a second-row bench seat. The Passenger van features four rows and can carry 12 passengers. The larger MiniBus model adds a fifth row for a total of 15 passengers.

All models are offered in 2500 styles with two wheelbase lengths (144 and 170 inches). The Cargo is also available as a 3500 model, offering increased payload capacity. Standard features on most Sprinters include 16-inch wheels, a wood cargo floor, 270-degree-opening rear doors, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a two-speaker radio. Stability and traction control come standard, as do front airbags.

A bewildering array of options allows owners to precisely tailor their vans and includes a driver-side rear sliding door, parking sensors, a rearview camera, upgraded front seats, and rear heating and air-conditioning. Cargo and Crew vans can also get a fixed sunroof and roof rack mounting rails.

All Mercedes-Benz Sprinters receive a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel V6 that makes 188 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. A standard five-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels.

You won't find wood trim, leather or actively bolstered seats in this Mercedes-Benz. And because the Sprinter is built for large families and commercial use, you also won't find power liftgates, "magic" seats, innumerable cupholders and other trappings of the modern family minivan or SUV. Instead you'll find notably better build quality and a more modern interior environment than in other full-size vans. The Sprinter's dash and control layout, for example, makes it feel more like a midsize SUV than its utility purpose suggests.

Used Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter debuted in 2010. Prior to that, Mercedes built the van for Dodge to sell under the same name. Neither the Crew nor the 15-passenger stretched-wheelbase "MiniBus" editions were available for 2010.

For more on the preceding Sprinter model sold by Dodge, read our Dodge Sprinter review.

User Reviews:

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  Best 12 passenger van - 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By ehibma - January 20 - 6:15 am

  This is by far the best 12 passenger van on the market! We have put on about 10K miles now. We knew within 5 minutes that we hated the GM/Ford/Dodge vans. Those domestic vans drove horrible and were unsafe. No headrests, kids had to duck under seatbelts. We then found the Sprinter van. This has been wonderful. We get stopped all the time to ask what kind of van we have. The diesel motor has plenty of power and has been smooth up and down hills, with plenty of pickup power. We have found the "lacks power" reviews unfounded. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and we love being able to walk through to the back to help the kids when necessary. A big family delight!

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  High price to pay for annoyance - 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By Gary Lorenzen - January 16 - 6:56 am

  I got this to replace the 3500 express van. I needed a reliable flexible unit. What a joke. You cant take the rear seat out unless you visit the dealer; if you take out the middle seats it requires two people and one of them had better be quite healthy. All the interior panels rattle when chilly outside and reach a horrendous crescendo when cold. The brakes squeal so bad people cover their ears and wince. The transmission has a mind of its own; 25 mph in a small town it wont shift until you speed to get the revs over 3000 then up shifts 3 times and then down shifts to where it should have been in the first place (I was told this was normal...right). DEF issues are normal for this unit - 3 tries and 20 days in the shop before I could travel any distance. Speaking of DEF problems the start countdown can not be trusted for the DEF warning it goes from 13 to 5 or where ever it wants to stop. Dealers recommendation dont shut off the van. Starting issues at times (usually inconvenient) it wont start unless you keep cycling the key (hot-cold- first start- multiple starts just whenever). I paid thousands more for less reliability and only 3 more miles to the gallon. On a plus side the seats, heated mirrors, and cruise control (when not windy) are great. Basically count on this van costing you about $2.25 per mile just to pay for the thing. Got rid of it with only 9500 on the odometer, lost 20k in cash and damaged reputation of not being able to make it. Corporate really doesnt care and one rep kind of chuckled at my dilemma. There is much more like top speed governed, but wont delve into those things now. No wonder FedEx is starting to use Transits.

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  Money pit from hell - 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By Brian Vogt - July 25 - 6:30 pm

  I own a highend transportation business and have a large variety of vehicles from Escalades to big Diesel buses and keep my vehicles inside and go over and beyond with maintenance. I dont have enough time to tell you all the problems with my Sprinter you would be reading for two days. this week I spent 2,800 on exhaust filters and sensors drove it 22 miles took it back and spent 750 for another sensor drove it another 30 miles engine light came on again and still at shop.Do not buy one of there vans I dont care how good a deal you think it is. And remember iam just telling you the problems for one week. If you need something the size of a Sprinter go by a Ford Transit much better vehicle. Oh and on the Sprinter Mercedes says they have the best resale value my ass go try and sell one been trying to sell mine and cant even get to a car lot before the engine light comes on.

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  DTF Light - 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By hothanddd - March 28 - 12:58 am

  DTF light keeps coming on when DTF tank is full has done it in two vans now.

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  m/b now owns my pile of junk Florida Lemon law - 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By william LEE mitton - November 12 - 3:08 am

  vehicle will not operate in any city ,urban , metro environment . DPF will not re-gen and re-gen failiers dumps diesel into crankcase to mix w/ motor oil. My sprinter 2015 after 18000 miles never needed a drop of replacement oil (burn-off) in fact my engine had 17 gallons of fuel mixed with oil , before m/b bought it back 11/17/2016 lemon law case # 2016-0378/stp florida court . Every 600 miles or so high oil level lite and buzzers come on and you have to drain fuel/oil mix 2 or 3 quarts and then go another 600 or so . 47 days of loaner cars then said it was my city driving was the problem . State of fla. asked m/b lawers how could they sell a vehicle to anyone that doesnt live in Montana , cause thats the only place this could possibly work ! this whole DPF system is junk

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  complete electrical power loss - 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By fredtboy - May 30 - 9:58 pm

  After buying this vehicle new off the dealer lot. after only 6 days on the road I experianced a complete power loss to the vechicle. was 200 mi from home. roadside assistance took 4hrs to approve me for 100% $$ towing back to my dealeer in Reading PA. They had the vehicle all day and still could not find the source of the problem..If they can not find the source of the problem do they expect me to take back the vehicle and wonder when and where it will happen again!..I think not. Will update as soon as I find out ..

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  Best Van Available!! - 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By Reggie Hammond - January 12 - 4:39 pm

  The Sprinter is the Best Van Available - bar none! It has a huge volume of space and runs like a top!

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  ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS - 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By James - September 14 - 10:21 am

  I bought a sprinter RV 2011 MB chassis with 14500 miles on it . And on the drive away from buying it the engine light came on got towed and MB replaced EGR valve out of dealer @14608 miles drove 823 miles to next dealer they replaced nox out @15345 miles drove 3454 miles to next dealer they did IQT out @ 18799 miles,..Now I sit at another dealer with about 20689 miles waiting for a engine light problem to be fixed so I got 1890 miles on the last fix ..This is from March 17th 2017 to Oct 5th 2017 I am at my 4th Dealer visit in 6 months and drove only 6189 miles Totally MB needs to fix this issue

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  LLM, Our Sprinter - 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By Moji - July 9 - 4:47 am

  We were comparing the Sprinter with the Transit Van. Both vehicles offer much for the money. We read that if you stay below 65 mph, your mpg would be fine. We purchased our Sprinter from Nelli, she is great, at MB Laguna Niguel. We checked highway mpg at 60 mph from Laguna Niguel to Oceanside, CA and averaged 29.8 mpg...gotta love that. The Transit diesel on an 18 mile loop averaged 23 mpg. The Transit passenger van includes rear hvac and can be ordered for around $900.00 for other style vans. The Sprinter rear hvac is $3600.00. We purchased a crew van and will put a Dometic 15,000 btu Brisk II heat pump on the roof and carry a portable generator for when we may need it. Also installing two MaxxAir vents to help circulate air while driving. Front air conditioning in Sprinter is more than adequate for first two rows of people. When we finish we will have a very nice travel van. Regarding sleeping in the van or camping out, my wife has told me she is happy to continue camping out at the Hilton. The travel van will make our travels much more comfortable and allow us to take our dog with us. Will be able to sleep in Sprinter if in pinch.

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  Best Family Van Ever - 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  By Dave D - August 21 - 5:03 pm

  We purchased our standard height, 144 WB Sprinter to accomodate our family of 8. Let me just say this is an outstanding vehicle. We purchased it based on the SAFETY and comfort features that MB offers. Also, there is a good 2-3 feet behind the 3rd row, which provides ample space for stollers, and groceries, and suitcases without having to remove the 3rd row. Driving is very comfortable and my petite wife doesnt feel lost behind the wheel on the road. It feels like you are driving a car and you get no hint of the size of the van...until you go to park it. The 144WB is big without being too big and still fits in a parking space, although you take ever last inch of it. A great, great van.