Benz’s electrical “Grand Limousine” may simply make minivans cool.
The idea of a lounge on wheels is one thing of a contemporary cliché within the automotive world, a imaginative and prescient for a automotive so snug, well-appointed and in the end luxurious that you simply’d be simply as glad to spend hours there as you’d lounging at dwelling.
The issue is that almost all of these ideas, just like the Cadillac InnerSpace or Mini Urbanaut, have trusted the provision of self-driving expertise, one thing that also solely exists within the restricted circles of Waymo, Zoox and their ilk. We’re nonetheless years away from you or I with the ability to purchase a automotive that may drive itself unsupervised, however that is not stopping Mercedes from releasing what may very well be probably the most compelling of the rolling dwelling areas.
It is referred to as the VLE, and whereas it requires a human behind the wheel, passengers within the second row shall be handled to reclining, massaging seats, a 22-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system and a 31.3-inch ultrawide 8K show. It is a tremendous package deal, however is it sufficient to shrug off these minivan preconceptions?
Do not name it a Caravan
Visually, the VLE suits the silhouette of numerous family-friendly minivans which were dealing with kid-hauling duties in the US for the reason that Dodge Caravan planted the seed approach again within the early ’80s. Ask Mercedes, although, they usually’ll let you know it is a completely different beast.
The VLE is what the corporate calls a Grand Limousine, and whereas that sounds pretentious, it is really completely acceptable. At 216 inches, the VLE is 10 inches longer than a GLS SUV. It additionally has an inner ceiling peak of 49 inches, making it simple for me, at six toes tall, to maneuver round.
And it’s definitely not less than as luxurious as your common limousine, with seating to match. The VLE will be configured with room for as much as eight throughout three rows, but it surely’s greatest with fewer, particularly configured with the two-seat captain’s chair association you see right here.
Two powertrains shall be accessible. The VLE 300 gives front-wheel drive and 272 horsepower, whereas the VLE 400 4MATIC steps as much as a dual-motor, all-wheel drive configuration with 416 hp. Each depend on the identical, sizable, 115-kilowatt-hour usable battery pack that spans the ground of the van. Mercedes says it would present sufficient vary to cowl 435 miles on the European WLTP take a look at cycle. On our more difficult EPA take a look at, anticipate a score someplace round 350 miles.It is an 800-volt system that expenses at a most charge of 300 kilowatts. Which means including about 200 miles in quarter-hour.
The media expertise
As a lot as I like to drive, the very best seats within the VLE are within the second row. From there, you possibly can recline and gaze up via the glass ceiling, or deploy the 31.3-inch ultra-wide display and whittle away at your YouTube queue.
It’s also possible to stream Disney+ straight on the show, however sadly these are the one two video streaming companions of word. Neither Chromecast nor AirPlay streaming are supported. There’s an HDMI port if you wish to BYO content material, however operating wires throughout the cabin does not really feel significantly luxurious to me.
It’s also possible to decide from just a few primary video games to play on the system, and if in case you have two youngsters who can by no means agree on something, you possibly can break up the TV into twin, 15-inch 4K shows. The 32:9 ratio implies that after splitting, you are successfully getting a pair of 16:9 shows, which is truthfully higher for viewing most content material anyway. A pair of Bluetooth headsets means a pair of passengers may get their very own devoted audio.
Sitting up entrance? There’s loads of pixels there, too. Particularly, three dashboard-spanning items that make up Benz’s MBUX Superscreen setup. There is a 10.25-inch gauge cluster on the left, a 14-inch most important infotainment display within the center and a 14-inch passenger show on the appropriate that may additionally stream movies and different media.
For the broader aural a part of the media expertise, you have got 22 audio system from a Burmester 3D sound system. It handles Dolby Atmos, so that you will be absolutely immersed in each music and extra theatrical content material. Apparently, the system may dynamically reconfigure itself based mostly on who’s sitting within the van and the place.
Driving solo? The audio system mechanically prioritize you. Have a full van? It’s going to fill all of it with sound. And it’s extremely able to doing that. I cruised via a playlist of Atmos-optimized music, the whole lot from Tay Tay to Axl Rose, and the whole lot sounded unbelievable.
Creature comforts
These two chairs within the center are heated and ventilated and may sit you upright or slide you to an inexpensive diploma of recline. No, they do not go absolutely flat, however you most likely would not like what would occur to you in an accident in the event that they did. They’re truthfully a bit slim and awkward to get out and in of, however I might see myself spending hours again right here with out criticism.
I might keep productive, too, because of built-in USB-C energy in all three rows, and a fold-out laptop computer tray that appears flimsy however was sturdy sufficient to deal with my Lenovo X1 Carbon. A temperature-controlled compartment within the armrest can hold scorching drinks cold and warm drinks cool, and there is a separate chiller in direction of the again for extra.
RGB LEDs run all through all the cabin, so that you may give your experience no matter hue you want, and there is even an built-in nebulizer, making for a bespoke scent, too.
Even the third row is snug. The center seats swing themselves ahead and out of the best way, so entry is simple, and I had ample headroom again there.After which there’s the driving force’s seat, which can also be snug and accommodating ought to it’s a must to drive this machine your self.
Behind the wheel
With as much as 416 horsepower delivered via all 4 wheels, the VLE will be correctly fast when punched as much as sport mode. It additionally rides on adaptive air suspension, which might agency up and make the VLE really feel that rather more responsive within the corners.
However in my time behind the wheel, it by no means felt snug when pushed aggressively. I loved piloting the VLE far more once I dialed it all the way down to Consolation, took a deep breath and simply cruised alongside my route.
On this mode, the air suspension is supple, and the throttle relaxed sufficient that you could ease your approach ahead with out disturbing anybody within the rear seats. The steering has a gradual ratio as nicely, however do not let that make you suppose this is not a nimble van. With seven levels of steering from the rear wheels, the VLE can flip its spectacular bulk in a far tighter circle than you may anticipate.
Drivers get to make the most of a set of lively security techniques as nicely, together with lively lane-keep help on the freeway and a complete computerized parking system that swings this massive beast into tiny parking spots. It’s going to even mechanically again itself out of a decent scenario do you have to make a unsuitable flip down a slim alley.
Wrap-up
About the one factor the VLE is lacking is full autonomy. It might be awfully good to get a machine like this and let it take you to work whilst you bought in just a few rounds of Fortnite on that 8K show. Alas, we’re not there but, however I’ve a sense most individuals who expertise the VLE will accomplish that from the second row. This could be an epic airport and occasion shuttle, however it is going to be a short time earlier than it enters service.
The VLE is not on account of hit the American market till late 2027, and whereas the worth is not set, Andreas Zygan, Head of Growth at Mercedes-Benz Vans, instructed me this: “It won’t be an inexpensive one, for positive.”
