By Sala Masindane

According to the BBC, the expression ‘the gift that keeps on giving’ – “is to talk about a thing or situation which has benefits that are repeated over a long period of time”. These are truly the words that define the current generation of V-Class. Just when you think it’s knocked down or the ropes like boxer, it serves more jabs. We spent time with the pioneer of premium MPVs in the Special Edition guise to see if any the above has changed.

What’s different?

The luxury MPV sets itself apart from the standard V300d with black wheels and the aerodynamic AMG roof box for additional cargo space. The striking people mover has certainly aged well and still commands the respect.

Inside, the luxury 7-seater MPV features stylish leather-clad seats, ambient lighting, temperature-controlled cup holders, a 3.2-litre refrigerated compartment, state-of-the-art voice control and a 640 W Burmester surround sound with 15 speakers.

The MPV maintains the same statement of luxury inside as it does outside. Whilst not endowed with the new tablet screen found in the likes of the new S-Class and C-Class, the fairly recently upgraded touchscreen infotainment works well and does not look outdated. The addition of the aerodynamic AMG roof box creates an additional 542-litres of luggage space but is a hustle when empty and should generally be removed for people who drive the car daily. Most office parks and malls become inaccessible otherwise.

Performance and driving impressions

The Special Edition V 300d is powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that produces 174kW and 500Nm. Furthermore, the engine is paired with Mercedes-Benz’s 9G-Tronic automatic transmission.

The 2.0L diesel engine performs effortlessly with no noticeable lag and it moves the 2-ton luxury MPV with no fuss. During its stay with us, we did a stint on the N3 to KZN with six passengers, and the luxury MPV delivered on comfort and practicality (suitcases and cooler boxes not being left behind). We also managed to return fuel consumption of 8.5l/100km, which is commendable as Mercedes-Benz claims 8.0l/100 km.

Verdict

Overall, the people-mover is still elegant and opulent offering a good engine, space and luxury. It is unmatched in the MPV segment.  Do the additions warrant a 200k difference between the Exclusive and the Special EDITION? The answer is relative to your needs.

Pricing for the Mercedes-Benz V300d Special Edition starts from R2, 303,001 and it includes a 7-year/140000 km Premium Drive plan with service intervals are ever 25000 km.