Mercedes' little Metris holds a special place in the hearts of many Roadshow editors. We had one in our long-term fleet for a year -- which we inexplicably/lovingly named the Wu-Tang Van -- and it was a trusty companion for a year's worth of video production work.
The Metris hasn't changed all that much since we said goodbye to the Wu-Tang Van, but I think it's important that we revisit our old long-termers from time to time, just to make sure we aren't just looking back at them with rose-colored glasses. After a few days of hauling things and running errands around Los Angeles, I'm reminded of all the reasons why we liked our long-term Metris as a work vehicle. But I'm reminded of its tech-related weaknesses, too.
The Metris is compact as vans go, but it's not exactly small. It's available with 126-inch and 135-inch wheelbases, the longer of which is what I've got here. Stem to stern, this Metris measures 211.4 inches, which is about 5 inches longer than an S-Class sedan. It's slightly wider than an S-Class and obviously taller, too, so diminutive as it might be compared with something like a Sprinter, the Metris is hardly tiny.
But at the same time, the Metris is easy to maneuver. Its turning circle is about 2 feet smaller than that of an S-Class, so you can easily whip it around tight city streets and it's a cinch to park in crowded lots. The high seating position gives you a great view down the short hood, and the low beltline means side visibility is ample, too. Be sure to order your Metris with rear windows for the best experience.
The Good ~ Powerful 2.0-liter engine ~ More cargo and payload than other small vans ~ Comfortable seats ~ Lots of driver-assistance features
The Bad ~ More expensive than other small vans ~ No adaptive cruise control ~ Laughably old infotainment tech
The Bottom Line With its robust engine and excellent capabilities, the Metris is definitely the Mercedes-Benz of cargo vans.
Customer deliveries will start before the end of this year.
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