By Otsile Kadiege

The Mercedes-Benz V-Class is arguably one of the most popular and sought-after luxury people movers in South Africa. In a bid to spruce up the V-Class range and meet customer needs, the Stuttgart-based automaker revealed a second facelift of the popular luxury mid-size van. Updates include refreshed exterior design, a raft of new interior technologies, new luxury appointments, additional comfort equipment and driver assistance systems as well as more functionality.

Exterior design

The new front design is characterised by a striking radiator grille in different forms and a powerfully drawn bumper. Depending on the equipment, the radiator grille of the EQV, V-Class and V-Class Marco Polo is surrounded by an LED light band. The top-line V-Class Exclusive also has a status-defining, upright Mercedes star on the hood for the first time. The adaptive Multi-beam LED headlights with their elegant design, which are available either as standard or as an option depending on the equipment line, add another stylish touch to all models.

At the rear, the bumper and newly designed LED lights ensure an unmistakable appearance. The contour of the rear lights is darkened. creating a more precise light signature. The EQV, V-Class and V-Class Marco Polo also have a new chrome trim strip with Mercedes-Benz lettering at the rear. The upgraded appearance is rounded off by new light-alloy wheels with an aerodynamically optimised design in 17-, 18- and 19-inch formats as well as large mono-block wheel design and five new paint colours.

Interior design and technologies

The new interior design visually rounds off the upgraded look. It is characterised by digitisation. The cockpit of the new Mercedes-Benz midsize vans is primarily characterised by a redesigned instrument panel with a touchscreen, new stylish air vents and a new generation of steering wheels with capacitive hands-off recognition. For the first time, the EQV, V-Class and V-Class Marco Polo have two 12.3-inch widescreen displays running on the brand’s MBUX infotainment system.

The new centre console supports the wireless charging of smartphones as an option. Other new convenience features, some of which are optional, include the keyless start function, heated steering wheel, a new, dimmed rear lighting for driving at night and a 64 colour ambient lighting. For more convenient access to the rear, the V-Class and EQV now also have a sliding door on the left-hand side of the vehicle as standard.

Driver assistance systems

The update is completed by safety and assistance systems with additional and partially further-developed functions. For example, Active Brake Assist now includes the intersection function and can also warn of vertically crossing or oncoming vehicles and dangerous overtaking manoeuvres and intervene to brake in an emergency and provide support when turning. The standard equipment is extensive: V-Class, EQV and V-Class Marco Polo are equipped with Attention Assist, Headlamp Assist including rain sensor, Active Distance Assist Distronic, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Intelligent Speed Assist and Park Package.

Further driving assistance systems are combined in the new driving assistance package. It contains the Active Distance Assist Distronic with route-based speed adjustment and extended automatic restarting in traffic jams, Active Steering Assist and Active Speed Limit Assist. The new parking package with a 360-degree camera is available for convenient and quick parking. The parking package includes Active Parking Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Pedestrian Emergency Braking and Drive-Away Assist. The parking package with 360° camera also includes a trailer manoeuvring assistant in combination with a trailer hitch and automatic transmission.

Powertrain

Mercedes-Benz hasn’t announced any performance updates to the V-Class range and we doubt there will be any. That said, the current V-Class is powered by a four-cylinder OM 654 engine with 174 kW of power and 500 Nm of torque. The powerplant is paired to a 9G-TRONIC Automatic Transmission.

Mercedes-Benz South Africa is yet to announce local availability. Pricing and local specifications will be announced closer to the local launch date.