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Expert Review

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Panel Van LCV (2024 - ) Electric review

From humble beginnings and low electric ranges, the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter has undergone a huge upgrade in safety, specification and battery options, but is it enough to beat the Ford E-Transit? Auto Trader’s Tom Roberts reports.

Tom Roberts

Words by: Tom Roberts

Published on 23 January 2025 | 0 min read

The Auto Trader expert verdict:

3.5

Available new from £71,563

Back in 2020, the first Mercedes-Benz eSprinter large vans offered drivers just 96 miles of range, while the latest version can offer up to 272 miles if you opt for the largest 113kWh battery (the smaller 81kWh battery offers up to 163 miles). I start there simply to demonstrate that Mercedes-Benz has listened to the feedback on the initial model and responded accordingly, in more areas than just the range. And quite right too - this van’s primary competition is the Ford E-Transit, an electric large van that needs little introduction. Price will always be a key factor when purchasing a Mercedes-Benz van of any size, and while this new eSprinter ticks a lot of boxes with improved safety tech, specification and equipment, the larger battery versions are more expensive than rival vans. It's a good thing the more affordable smaller battery Pro trim versions come so well-equipped as standard and still offer up good usable ranges and payloads - they're the ones I'd recommend you look at first.

Reasons to buy:

  • tickThe smart Mercedes-Benz interior is spacious and intuitively laid out.
  • tickCavernous 14 cubic metre load volumes with up to 1273kg payloads.
  • tickHugely improved ranges of up to 272 miles (with the biggest batteries).

At a glance:

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Rear Doors
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Rear Doors
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Load Space
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Load Space

Cargo & practicality

The new eSprinter is available in two lengths (L2 and L3) and two heights (normal or high), with those two length options offering up 5.9m or 7m body lengths. In the back, that means a maximum load length of up to 4.4m. The two battery variants - 81 or 113kWh - will affect both range and payloads, with the lowest payload pegged at 497 on the 81kWh L3 314 and 320 models, but the highest of 1,273kg payloads offered on the 81kWh 414 and 420 L2 Pro models. Some models are also capable of towing up to 2,000kg. It’s important to check the spec sheets of whichever model you’re researching for potential purchase to make sure it meets your needs, because the spread of capability can sometimes be tricky to navigate. The load space itself is highly accessible through huge barn doors at the back and an imposing side sliding door on the passenger side. The LED lighting in the back is excellent and incredibly powerful allowing for excellent load visibility. The floor and walls are covered in lashing points and the ply-lining in the loan model I received was high quality and impeccably clean. Competing models, specifically the largest E-Transit, can carry more weight (around 500kg more), which is not to knock the eSprinter but rather position it against other vans in its class so you can compare accordingly. On paper, it competes.
Expert rating: 3/5
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Cabin
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Cabin
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Infotainment System
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Infotainment System

Interior

The trim levels - Pro and Select - are most apparent with their impact in the cabin. At the entry-level Pro trim you get the expected stylish plastics and brushed metals with a multifunction steering wheel, heated driver seat, air con, reversing camera on the 10-inch infotainment screen running the latest version of MBUX, phone integration, charging options and more. Select trim adds leather to the steering wheel, upgrades the driver’s seat with lumbar support and pulls the cup holders down nearer your knees under the central console. I also found the eSprinter’s cabin to be easy to slide back and forth between the passenger bench and driver’s seat - something that other large vans don’t offer because of imposing central console mountings for drive selectors or gear sticks. The door storage is ample with room for a big-ish bottle in each door, and there are four (yes, four) cup holders mounted below the centre console. However, I still find the single stalk for drive selection on the right side of the steering wheel to be an odd setup that does require me to flick a switch in my brain - but at least it now has a smart electric parking brake. What else can I say? It’s a Mercedes-Benz interior through and through, which means quality, space, comfort and storage where it counts.
Expert rating: 4/5
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Charging Port
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Charging Port
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Side View
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Side View

Running costs

Being an electric van, charging costs are dictated by where and how you charge - home charging costs being dependent on your own tariff and public charging costs dictated by the network you use. The up-front cost of the van is easily broken down by finance or a good lease deal, but is higher than some competitors. The entry-level Pro trim with the 81kWh battery feels like the best value for money, because you get all that tech and spec, and still get over 160 miles of range and all the practicality of a Sprinter. If you did step up to Select trim, LED headlights are a notable inclusion but ultimately not a necessity in this day and age - it’s your call on whether you spend the money to upgrade. Also, Mercedes-Benz electric vans are covered with a four-year integrated service package that includes four services - two minor (A service) and two major (B service), which take place in an alternating pattern (A,B,A,B) - a healthy addition to the product.
Expert rating: 3/5
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Rear Badge
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Rear Badge
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Cup Holders
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Cup Holders

Reliability

Service intervals of 40,000 miles and a three-year unlimited mileage warranty is good peace of mind that Mercedes-Benz is confident in its vehicle’s reliability. The batteries are also covered by an industry standard eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty. Scores of these vans are being driven by big fleets, which I always see as a good sign of reliability and maintenance costs being reasonable.
Expert rating: 4/5
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Steel Wheel And Rear Suspension
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Steel Wheel And Rear Suspension
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Side Door Open
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Side Door Open

Performance

As a large electric van, the eSprinter performs very well. Loading and unloading the huge load space is easy through side or rear doors, with ample height allowing a six-foot person to stand up fully inside it (see picture at the bottom of this article). Rapid charging times range from 32 to over 40 mins for a 20-80% charge, home charging on lower power will take several hours. The range readout is reliable, with my 30-mile test loop showing a range drop of nearly 40 miles on a cold and wet day (4 degrees celsius) where I used the heater and heated windscreen. It performs precisely as you’d expect a large electric van to perform - with all of the considerations that need to be factored in because it's an electric van.
Expert rating: 4/5
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Steering Wheel And Cluster
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Steering Wheel And Cluster
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Driver Information Display
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Driver Information Display

Ride and handling

The new suspension on the eSprinter is excellent and improves the already stable driving experience. It feels slightly weightier than the previous eSprinter model thanks to the larger batteries, which adds to the stability. It’s a comfortable drive at all speeds and never feels like it's leaning or wobbling around corners. It’s smooth and quiet to drive, feeling every bit as easy to handle as a vehicle half its size - although it isn’t a small van, so make sure you leave enough space on corners to prevent clipping the back wheels on the pavement. The improved range offered by the batteries is only really compromised by the usual things: payload, temperature and driving habits, and I found the range fluctuated accordingly but not unexpectedly. There are four regeneration modes to choose from (D-, D, D+ and D++) and the van will choose from those itself if you select the D Auto mode with the paddles behind the steering wheel - it's a very clever system that operated very well with no glitches I understand the earliest new models experienced. Overall, it felt like a dignified vehicle to drive, but I’d expect nothing less from a Mercedes-Benz. It's something to do with that three-spoke badge on the front!
Expert rating: 4/5
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Reverse Parking Camera
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Reverse Parking Camera
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Parking Brake And Light Controls
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Parking Brake And Light Controls

Safety

Mercedes-Benz offers a great safety package on commercial vehicles and the eSprinter is no different with systems such as Blind Spot Assist, Crosswind Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Intelligent Speed Assist included as standard on the Pro trim level. As mentioned previously, the step up to Select trim adds LED headlights and some other additions, but doesn’t really offer much more to the impressive entry-level package.
Expert rating: 4/5
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Rear Loading Step
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Rear Loading Step
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Steering Wheel Controls Close-up
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Steering Wheel Controls Close-up

Equipment

Alongside everything else listed in this article, on the outside you get heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, steel wheels, side bumper panels and a rear door step. On the inside you get the items already mentioned in the ‘Interior’ section of this article along with the instrument cluster with colour display, heated driver’s seat, armrest, passenger bench seat, pre-entry climate control, air conditioning, USB sockets and black fabric on the seats. You also get smartphone integration, a rain sensor, an alarm system and double lock function. That this all comes as standard is impressive.
Expert rating: 4/5
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Loadspace Lighting And Standing Room
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Loadspace Lighting And Standing Room
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Door Storage
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Door Storage

Why buy?

If you’re looking for a stylish large van you’d be hard pushed to find one more fitting of that description than the eSprinter. It has a lot to offer at the entry level Pro trim, but that still comes at a price. Its competitors do offer more in some places, such as higher payloads and larger infotainment screens, but the entry-level eSprinters are packed with equipment, spec and safety systems. If you’re set on an eSprinter, I’d recommend one of the Pro trim 81kWh battery models - the range will be usable, but check the payload capacity is what you need and that any other requirements you have are met. Price aside, it competes nicely with the E-Transit in many ways, but the reality is that choosing the eSprinter will often come down to price. That said, Mercedes-Benz has created a great new version of the eSprinter that fixes a lot of the previous version’s problems - that in itself qualifies it for consideration.
Expert rating: 3/5

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