2016 Mercedes-Benz Metris is the middle child you never knew you wanted (photos)

The Metris' wheels-at-the-corner stance facilitates a surprisingly tight turning radius.

While not exactly handsome, the Metris is good-looking by work van standards.

Passenger-model Metris vans are fitted with body-color bumpers.

Cargo-carrying models get charcoal bumpers in order to keep cost down and ease replacement, but body-color pieces cost extra on these models, too.

The Metris is 12.3-inches longer than Ford's Transit Connect and it offers 45 percent more cargo volume and 880 pounds (54 percent) more payload.

It’s also 21.7 inches shorter than a Chevrolet Express 1500, yet it offers 120 pounds more payload and 660 pounds more towing capacity.

There's lots of storage in the lower tiers of the center console. Mercedes redesigned the Metris' cupholders to accommodate America's penchant for Big Gulps.

Mercedes says it expects for 50 percent of US Metris sales to be to taxi, shuttle and limousine services.

The Metris can be had with an optional liftgate as shown here, but split barn doors are standard.

Halogen headlamps are standard, and unfortunately high-intensity-discharge units aren't available.

Vertical taillights are easy to see, and the simple, one-piece design should translate to low-cost replacement parts crucial to commercial usage.

This tester's five-spoke alloys were wrapped in 17-inch Kumho tires.

When a workman shows up with a three-pointed star on his work van, will customers view them as successful and competent, or just overpriced?

Mercedes has borrowed its electronic column shifter from other vehicles, and it looks and feels a bit precious for a work van.

This Becker navigation head unit provides solid, basic functionality, but it's behind the curve graphics and feature-wise, especially compared to passenger cars.

The Metris' backup camera is mounted low, as if it's more concerned about preventing bumper scratches than it is with passing cars.

Power dual sliding doors are available on the Metris' passenger model. This is the seven-seat configuration.

Access to the second and third rows is easy, thanks to the large sliders.

The cargo well is deep, wide and low, and with the seats sitting so upright, you can stack luggage and boxes quite high without further impeding visibility.

The Metris' two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is a hard worker, but it's not particularly photogenic.