The new Mercedes-Benz Vito mid-capacity van range – one that they themselves describe as ‘astonishingly versatile’ – has arrived on the market here.

Launched with specifications and market-competitive prices that their commercial vehicles sales manager Fergus Conheady claims ‘will send shockwaves through the mid-size van segment’, the new Vito range encompasses the familiar Vito panel van, the versatile Mixto crew cab unit and a Tourer crew bus with seating for up to 9 occupants.

Compact on the outside, roomy on the inside, the Vito panel van has a cargo volume of up to 6.9 m³, a cargo area of up to 4.76 m² and a loading length of up to 3.061m.

In Mixto crew cab format, it has room inside for up to six persons, a cargo volume of up to 4.1 cubic metres and a load area behind the rear seat row of up to 2.63 sq. metres.

Third model in the range - the Tourer crewbus – has a versatile seating concept with space for up to nine people and 970 litres of luggage all within a model that boasts car-style handling and an impressively tight turning circle of 11.8 metres approximately.

Viewed from the front, the new Vito has been given an altogether more powerful, more confident appearance. Prominent is its more robust fascia with dynamic grille and inset Mercedes-Benz star – all framed by more sharply contoured, wing-shaped headlamps. Inside, drivers occupy a fully redesigned, high-quality cockpit that is even more spacious than before yet clear and uncluttered for maximum operational safety.

Amongst the many features likely to give Vito a market edge is the choice of rear-wheel or front-wheel drive formats. Available in two wheelbases, it is the only model in its class produced in three lengths, all 140 mms longer than its predecessor (4895 mm, 5140 mm and 5370 mm).

It has the highest payload in its class at 1369 kg and up to three permissible gross vehicle weight variants (between 2.8 and 3.2 tonnes). With a Cd value of 0.32, it boasts low wind resistance, reduced fuel consumption, improved performance and a 20 percent lower average diesel consumption than before.

Power comes from two, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engines in five power ratings. In FWD guise - power comes from a transverse-mounted, compact 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine delivering two power ratings – an 88bhp 109 CDI and a 114bhp 111 CDI.
 
Where performance demands are high, the 2.15-litre rear-wheel drive unit is the recommended choice, available with three power outputs - a 136bhp 114 CDI, a 163bhp 116 CDI and a 190bhp 119 BlueTEC version – the first Euro 6 engine in this class.

Six-speed manual transmission is standard, as are long service intervals of up to 40,000 km or two years. Steering is electromechanical power assisted while new safety features include powerful 16" or 17" disc brakes all-round with Adaptive ESP as standard.

Other safety features which are included as standard specification on all models include, Attention Assist to monitor the driver’s condition and Crosswind Assist to eliminate the effects of wind gusts. Tyre pressure monitoring is standard, so too are twin driver and passenger airbags. While a new ‘intelligent’ light system that includes an extensive use of latest LED technology can be fitted as optional.

It is in the Vito price structure that its appeal becomes doubly evident. In panel van format, prices for the range begin at €18,650 (ex taxes & delivery related charges). The Mixto range starts from €37,790 (inc VAT and VRT). The Tourer range starts from €47,950 (inc VAT and VRT).

Signalled to be a strong contender in local and international competitions, the Vito is described by Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle sales manager Fergus Conheady as being the ‘lifeblood’ of the Mercedes-Benz light commercials range.

"Set to build on the success achieved by its predecessor, the new Vito offers owners one of the best price-to-specifications values in the light commercials segment with the prospect of high return on investment thanks to its competitive prices and reduced operational cost” he said.