2024 Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van

Lou Ruggieri

When it comes to the idea of work vehicles, more often than not, it is the half-ton pickup truck market that takes up the lion’s share of the marketing budget. Typically, we see them coming and going from construction sites or cattle ranches, but a pickup truck is sometimes just a pickup truck. But, when it comes to actual work, we often forget about the real workhorses of the automotive world. Cargo vans are made to work. The OG of this underappreciated class of vehicles is the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van unequivocally, and for 2024, it is better than ever.

Mercedes-Benz has created such a benchmark in its industry that other vans from Ford or Ram are often referred to as “Sprinter Vans,” which more than likely makes the aforementioned marketing department of the American companies lose their minds. But it is for good reason. The 2024 Passenger Van 2500 comes with a 1.95-liter inline four-cylinder diesel engine as standard issue, making a respectable 170 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That power is routed through MB’s 9-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission onto the rear wheels. As with most trucks, power is a pay-to-play business. An additional three grand will get you the same diesel engine with an upgraded power output of 211 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. An optional bigger 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine is also available, as is all-wheel drive for those more challenging climates and areas.

Mercedes-Benz is so proud and assured of its Sprinter Van that its website allows potential customers to compare their Sprinter van to its rivals from Chevy, Ford, Ram, and/or GMC. Regarding the numbers, it’s hard to argue with MB’s clout. The 2500 Passenger Van comes in with a max available GVWR of 9,050 pounds and a max GCWR of 13,930 pounds. Its max payload is 3,307 pounds, and it can even tow up to 5,000 pounds. Regarding storage, there is a total 70 cubic feet of cargo volume. If customers opt for the larger 170-inch wheelbase (the standard is 144 inches), those numbers jump to even more impressive levels.

The Sprinter Van can be up-fitted to cater to many different jobs. At its peak, the inside of the Sprinter Van can accommodate up to 15 people for those wanting to transport people more than things. Also inside, Mercedes-Benz offers a 7-inch or larger 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by MBUX.

The Sprinter Van also offers many safety features to protect any precious cargo. Active Brake Assist, Blind Spot Assist Mirror, a 360-degree camera, and the often-irritating, but sometimes necessary, Attention Assist feature to ensure drivers are worried more about the road ahead than they are about an incoming text message.

The MB Sprinter Van is not only customizable when it comes to tweaking it to the particular avocation of its owner but also offers plenty of options to personalize the truck to the owner’s personality. There are a total of 22 exterior paint color choices and three different upholstery options… all of which are just different versions and textures of the same black color.

There are literally dozens of options to choose from to make a Sprinter Van your own. Some highlights include a Driver’s Convenience Package consisting of a 12-volt power outlet, electronically folding exterior mirrors, hinged lids for storage compartments, two master keys, and the Attention Assist mentioned earlier. The Passenger Accessibility Package includes an electric sliding right-hand door, an electric sliding step, and optional three-button keys.

There are also many warranty options to sustain peace of mind and ensure owners can keep their minds on their work and not worry about transportation getting to and from said job. Extended warranties of five, six, and up to seven years are available, as are extended maintenance services for up to six years and complete service packages for up to 80,000 miles.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz Passenger Van has a starting price of $55,800. However, if every possible option is chosen, that price can double, so most owners can realistically expect to pay somewhere between those two figures.

So while most people will not even notice a Sprinter Van when it passes by, they will be happy that the owner of the plumbing, roofing, or transport business chose Mercedes-Benz’ dependable unsung hero.