THE NEW V-CLASS OFFERS PERFORMANCE AND PRACTICALITY

Mercedes-Benz once again prove they are capable of producing a first-class vehicle in any segment of the market.


We don’t try to hide the fact that MercedesBenz is amongst our most favourite premium motor vehicle brands, and why would we? For many years now we have been enjoying this manufacturer’s outstanding offerings and have had the privilege of test driving several different models over that time. From coupés to sedans, from SUVs to luxury sportscar models, we have revelled in all that Mercedes has had to offer.

We do, however, love it when we get to try something a little different. This month, thanks to the team at Al Haddad Motors, we got behind the wheel of a much larger creation, namely the 2021 Mercedes-Benz V-Class, and were pleasantly surprised by what this van has to offer.

I’m not sure what we expected from the new V-Class but, as the vehicle came into view, we were instantly impressed with what the motorcar masterminds at Mercedes had managed to accomplish. The exterior has integrated some of the wellknown Mercedes-Benz design elements, expressed through the interplay of prominent lines and large, smooth surface areas. The bold front grille, complete with jumbo-sized Mercedes logo, sits perfectly at the front end in between the beautifully crafted LED headlights. At the sides, the forward thrust nature of the design is apparent with the body’s lines rising towards the rear, whilst the 17-inch, five-twin-spoke design, light-alloy wheels, complemented by the pronounced wheel arches, deliver a sporty touch. The attractively designed rear end with large tailgate and contemporary LED taillights, ensured our exterior inspection finished on a strong note.

Once inside, the 5.14-metre length of the new V-Class was even more apparent as the amount of room on offer was substantial, to say the least. Upfront, the two seats were exceptionally comfortable. Both are electronically adjustable and offer great lumbar support. The multifunction leather steering wheel is ideally positioned and felt very comfortable in hand. All the features and controls of the vehicle have been superbly placed making every option and function of the vehicle easily accessible. The exclusive look of the cabin, and indeed the rest of the vehicle, is assured through the use of only premium quality materials and for a moment we felt like we were sitting in a Mercedes S-Class. In fact, we only found one element of the interior to be less than perfect, namely the arm rest next to the driver’s seat. We found it to be a touch narrow and too short, a minor issue, but something we noticed none the less.

The back of the vehicle provides the opportunity for a personal touch. It can fit up to eight people and you can decide if you would like one, two or three rows of seating. A cleverly designed seat rail system not only allows you to choose how many rows of seating you prefer, but also gives the option of placing the seating in a longitudinal direction, meaning two rows of seating facing each other. A further option is to remove the seating completely, instantly transforming this Mercedes into a transport vehicle for goods. In fact, with the new V-Class you will have from 1,030 litres to 4,630 litres of storage space available, depending on your choice of layout.

The V-Class also features the Mercedes-Benz User Experience, MBUX. This exceptional multimedia system comes complete with a 10.25-inch touchscreen through which the driver can access all infotainment, navigation and communication features. Alternatively, these functions can be accessed through the Touch Control buttons on the previously mentioned multifunction steering wheel. Further highlights of this system include smartphone integration and a Bluetooth interface with handsfree function for telephony whilst driving. We found this system to be user-friendly and easy to navigate.

Finally, it was time to see how this luxury van handles out on the road. Our V-Class was the standard model, equipped with a 2.0-litre, turbo engine that can produce up to 211hp at 5,500rpm and 350Nm of torque. This coupled with a sevenspeed dual clutch automatic gearbox, enables it to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 9.4 seconds and to produce a top speed of 210km/h. Not bad for a van weighing in at over two tonnes!

As we made our way around town, we have to admit to thoroughly enjoying the entire driving experience. The V-Class handles much like a normal Mercedes car and often we had to remind ourselves that we were in a van. The vehicle was not only manoeuvrable, but felt smooth, fast and responsive. The braking system effectively handles the weight of the V-Class and the cornering abilities of such a sizable vehicle were impressive. Mercedes have also included a large array of safety and assistance features to ensure the wellbeing of all occupants. ✤

All of the features and controls of the vehicle have been superbly placed making every option and function of the vehicle easily accessible.”

GO: CALL AL HADDAD MOTORS 1778 5454 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK A TEST DRIVE OF YOUR OWN.