Mercedes-Benz expands V-Class range
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 16th May 2017
The V220 employs the same 2.1-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine in the V250, but output has dropped from 140kW/440Nm down to 120kW/380Nm – the same output as the Valente.
It is mated exclusively to a seven-speed 7G Distronic Plus dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Standard equipment in the V220 includes 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, 7.0-inch media display with touchpad and Audio 20 sound system, reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, leather upholstery, ambient lighting and multifunction steering wheel with 12 buttons and paddle shifters.
The V220 also comes with a suite of safety technologies including blind spot monitor, lane keep assist, collision prevention assist, active parking assist, crosswind assist and attention assist.
It is also the only vehicle in its segment to offer selectable driving modes, encompassing economical, comfortable, sport and manual, which adjusts throttle and transmission response and suspension damping.
Other comfort features include four-way lumbar support and seat ventilation, automatic climate control with various air flow settings and pre-entry feature, demisting sensor, and dual-opening tailgate with power opening and closing.
Opting for the $87,200 V250, which has seen a marginal increase in price, nets buyers 18-inch alloys, adonised roof rails, Avantgarde Exterior Sports pack, chrome highlights, LED lights all round, tyre pressure monitor, 360-degree Surround View camera and 15-speaker Burmester surround sound system.
“V220 provides a solution for customers who don’t need the same level of power and features provided by the V250 Avantgarde, but still require the combination of seating for up to eight with the exemplary functionality and typical strengths of Mercedes-Benz vehicles – from quality to comfort, efficient driving pleasure and safety,” Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia senior manager product management and marketing Sabine Wagner said.
Mercedes-Benz has sold 178 examples of the V-Class in the first four months of 2017, up 35.9 per cent over the same period last year. It has also moved 115 examples of the Valente, making up 100 per cent of sales in the $60,000-plus people-mover segment.
Sales leaders in the sub-$60,000 people-mover segment in 2017 are the Kia Carnival with 1677 sales, the Honda Odyssey (722), Hyundai iMax (435), Volkswagen Multivan (336) and Toyota Tarago (303).
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz V-Class pricing* | |
| V 220 BlueTec (a) | $74,990 |
| V 250 BlueTec Avantgarde (a) | $87,200 |
