On the road
The Mercedes-Benz 5-cylinder is another gem-of-a-diesel. Torque is the speciality and torque it delivers. Even though the turbo demonstrates only a few nanoseconds of lag (thanks to the variable geometry turbo), the Sprinter literally sprints forward. Do not get me wrong, it will not hit 100 km/h in under 10 seconds but it is surprisingly quick nonetheless. Most impressive are the fuel consumption numbers. DaimlerChrysler estimates that the Sprinter will consume 11.5L per 100 km. In my traffic and load-laden test, I managed exactly 11.6L per 100 km. With a 98 litre tank, the range is remarkable.
The Sprinter's 5-speed 'box does a brilliant job of getting the torque down
to the wheels. Best of all, the Auto/Stick feature works as well if not better than the one found in the remainder of Chrysler's cars. It may seem odd to have a manual mode in a Sprinter however I found it particularly useful when slowing down, especially when going downhill.
The ride is not surprisingly very truck-like. The rear-end, when unloaded, has a tendency to bounce on uneven roads. Curves are best taken at parking lot speeds as this tall vehicle loves to lean. Generally though, the Sprinter is well-behaved.
Fundamentally, the Sprinter is actually easy enough to drive. Obviously, as the wheelbase grows, so does the size of the angle required to turn a corner. The turning radius though is impressively small. At 12.8 meters, by comparison, it is not that much more than the Mitsubishi Galant's 12.2 meters. What really gives away the fact that you are driving a small city bus is the position of the steering wheel (nearly horizontal) and turning this wheel in a hand-over-hand manner.
Safety
This van has standard dual front air bags, ABS brakes, traction and stability control and seatbelt pre-tensionners. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) have not yet crash tested the Sprinter.
Conclusion
One of the principal shortcomings of the Sprinter will be its towing capacity. Rated at 2 268 kg (5 000 lbs), it pails in comparison the Fords or GMs that can tow easily between 6 000 and 10 000 lbs. For delivering parcels or people, it is possibly the most economical choice however it may not be as reliable as the tried, tested and true V8's available in the American choices.
Good stuff:
Fuel consumption
Interior attention to details
Not so good stuff:
Trying to parallel-park
Competitors:
GMC Savana
Chevrolet Express
Ford Econoline
The Mercedes-Benz 5-cylinder is another gem-of-a-diesel. Torque is the speciality and torque it delivers. Even though the turbo demonstrates only a few nanoseconds of lag (thanks to the variable geometry turbo), the Sprinter literally sprints forward. Do not get me wrong, it will not hit 100 km/h in under 10 seconds but it is surprisingly quick nonetheless. Most impressive are the fuel consumption numbers. DaimlerChrysler estimates that the Sprinter will consume 11.5L per 100 km. In my traffic and load-laden test, I managed exactly 11.6L per 100 km. With a 98 litre tank, the range is remarkable.
The Sprinter's 5-speed 'box does a brilliant job of getting the torque down
 |
The ride is not surprisingly very truck-like. The rear-end, when unloaded, has a tendency to bounce on uneven roads. Curves are best taken at parking lot speeds as this tall vehicle loves to lean. Generally though, the Sprinter is well-behaved.
Fundamentally, the Sprinter is actually easy enough to drive. Obviously, as the wheelbase grows, so does the size of the angle required to turn a corner. The turning radius though is impressively small. At 12.8 meters, by comparison, it is not that much more than the Mitsubishi Galant's 12.2 meters. What really gives away the fact that you are driving a small city bus is the position of the steering wheel (nearly horizontal) and turning this wheel in a hand-over-hand manner.
Safety
 |
Conclusion
One of the principal shortcomings of the Sprinter will be its towing capacity. Rated at 2 268 kg (5 000 lbs), it pails in comparison the Fords or GMs that can tow easily between 6 000 and 10 000 lbs. For delivering parcels or people, it is possibly the most economical choice however it may not be as reliable as the tried, tested and true V8's available in the American choices.
Good stuff:
Fuel consumption
Interior attention to details
Not so good stuff:
Trying to parallel-park
 |
Competitors:
GMC Savana
Chevrolet Express
Ford Econoline
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