Mercedes VLE Evaluation: Will It Work For America?

Mercedes-Benz desires to promote a van in the USA—not simply any van, however a fascinating van. For a rustic that sees vans (within the mini selection) as nothing greater than household haulers and (within the full-size selection) utilitarian objects, that is extra than simply courageous. For an automaker as giant as Mercedes, it’s an uncharacteristically giant gamble.

It’s not only one van, both; Mercedes plans to promote three vans in America: the VLE, the upper-class VLS, and the ultra-luxury VLS Maybach. All hitting barely totally different segments of the market, all of them aiming for the premium higher finish. Not solely is Mercedes swinging for the moon right here, however it’s additionally throwing all of its weight behind the trouble.

The large query is: Are Individuals prepared for a $130,000 luxurious van? Mercedes definitely thinks so. I am not as assured.

Van With A Plan

2028 Mercedes-Benz VLE 400

Photograph by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Underneath the Basque solar, it couldn’t be clearer that the VLE is a brand new technology and a special perspective for Mercedes-Benz’s van division. It’s not simply metal panels and onerous plastics—acres of leather-based, suede, and luxurious adorn the within of the VLE. Even for what Mercedes calls its “entry-level” luxurious van, it’s a powerful introduction.

All three vans and the upcoming Sprinter department from the identical brand-new electrical van platform, which was optimized for a extra luxurious expertise relatively than the bare-bones utility-focused Mercedes vans of yore. Metris, this isn’t.

Photographs by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Photographs by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

It’s a ground-up engineering train. In preparation for a luxurious product, Mercedes made particular strikes to quieten down and refine the brand new structure, with intensive structural reinforcements to present its suspension a steady platform to work with.

The suspension itself is a reasonably regular entrance strut, however the rear suspension is unorthodox. Mercedes leaned the rear shock absorber and spring at an aggressive angle to suit it underneath the ground, protecting the ground completely flat. All of it matches a big 115.0 kilowatt-hour battery with a reported 400+ mile vary, which is a lot. The twin-motor VLE 400 makes a strong 415 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of motivation.

Driving (And Driving) In Luxurious

Photograph by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

For my drive, it got here in a number of trim ranges, however I sampled the Unique grade, with rear reclining captain’s chairs and each doable know-how. Although Mercedes is nebulous about what is going to make the robust US market, they are saying there might be quite a lot of trims and configurations obtainable past this ultra-premium stuff. A extra conventional luxurious van with an everyday second row will make it extra accessible to households and on a regular basis use.

However the trick of the VLE lies beneath the floor. No matter you see inside is nearly infinitely configurable, with the rear two rows absolutely detachable. Even the 2 huge recliners inside the Unique are detachable, although it takes a bit extra effort.

Every part is mounted on a intelligent rail system that permits loads of forward-and-back adjustment and ease of elimination. You may theoretically take away one aspect’s price of seats to suit a bicycle, or take away the third row to make extra baggage room, or take away the second row to have a correct cargo maintain.

Photographs by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Photographs by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Up entrance, you get a trio of screens: Two 14.0-inch shows for the middle and passenger, and a ten.3-inch instrument cluster. All of it’s full of the newest technology of the MBUX infotainment system, which is extra intuitive than ever.

Extra controls are simply accessible, and it was much less of a headache to navigate general, with loads of display screen area dedicated to graphics relatively than to fastened controls. All the main stuff is neatly organized on the backside of the UI, and the menu system is far less complicated than earlier than.

High quality has additionally taken the lead contained in the VLE, relatively than the flash and sprint of the final technology of Mercedes. The supplies are beautiful, with an amazing mixture of leather-based textures, suedes, and cozy, supple seats. Fixtures contained in the cabin like the middle console (which has an non-obligatory cooler) really feel rather more substantial than typical, and the plasticky feeling is pretty absent from the inside.

Whereas the ultimate US configurations are removed from determined, Mercedes is agency on providing loads of customary options. It says the panoramic sunroof and Burmester stereo might be customary, as will a lot of the MBUX display screen and software program suite. Even higher, Mercedes is mulling over making the higher-output VLE 400 the bottom trim, because the VLE 300 is kind of sluggish, and the extended-wheelbase model (which we didn’t drive) would be the customary dimension.

Photograph by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Driving the VLE was nearly fully uneventful—it’s a van, even when Mercedes likes to dub it a “grand limousine.” There is no such thing as a denying the van-ness of the driving expertise, with the upright and tall seating place, the pedals mounted nearly parallel to the ground, and the steering column pointing towards the sky.

I’ll say that the steering, brakes, and throttle had a pleasant linearity, making it simple to drive easily. For a six-figure luxurious product, it didn’t really feel all that grand to drive; it was very a lot a van with the kitchen sink’s price of facilities.

You’re forcibly reminded of your house in society as The Driver by the entrance seat recline limits—you can’t encroach upon the room of the rear passenger. It’s simple to grasp that the rear seat is the place to be. Handily, Mercedes had a chauffeur loop available to expertise the help of my driving expertise, so I can say that in each the entrance and rear seats, the VLE rides nearly superbly, and it’s extraordinarily quiet.

Typically, bigger bumps can discomport the VLE, and the van crashes into its rear bump stops, which wouldn’t occur if the dampers have been tuned a shade higher. It’s a really old-school, Cadillac-like trip: Floaty, imprecise, and lazy.

Photographs by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Photographs by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

VLE Verdict: A Robust Promote

The reality to that is that Mercedes could have a tricky time promoting this within the US. Not as a result of it isn’t worthy—I believe it really does precisely what it must do—however due to the inertia within the US towards vans. As a luxurious product, the VLE holds as much as the scrutiny. And in sure trims, just like the Unique with AMG Monoblock-style wheels, it appears to be like cool.

However convincing American patrons {that a} van could be cool is a completely totally different train, particularly when the van will simply command six figures. As examined, my Unique was round $130,000, although US pricing isn’t ultimate.

Sadly, we received’t know for an extended whereas. Mercedes says it received’t introduce its line of luxurious vans to the US till 2028 and can begin on the very prime with the VLS Maybach. So sure, the VLE is fairly nice for passengers, first rate sufficient however very van-ey for drivers, presents an unbelievable sensible luxurious argument, and it will likely be in a category of 1. However will Individuals embrace it? Time will inform.