Getting behind the wheel, I had a feeling I’ve never had in any of the vehicles I’ve tested over the years … Being so high up, and with the huge windshield and its single wiper, I literally felt like a bus driver. After a few spins around the block, I determined I could drive it without swiping into rows of cars like Keanu Reeves in the movie “Speed”, and started my week in the behemoth.

What’s inside?

There is an insane amount of interior space in this van. I’m 6 feet tall and could walk around in it comfortably, due to the high ceiling (75.5 inches). Behind the 12 seats (Driver, passenger, then rows of 3, 3 and 4) is an area of substantial size for storage of baggage, tools or other materials as needed.

Let’s cut to the Chase of what this is: It’s not the usual souped-up, high-end Benz. This is a utility van that serves a purpose (transporting people, or cargo if you get the version without seats in rear), so few fancy features and touches are to be found.

The drive
Sitting in the van, you get an excellent view of the road ahead, being up so high and having that large window in front of you (and you get a good view of other drivers … hey everyone, stop texting so much when you drive).

After you get used to the size and feel of this vehicle, and its 170-inch wheelbase, you almost forget you’re behind the wheel of such a large ride, though it’s important to keep that in mind as you maneuver through traffic (thankfully, people tend to back away from vehicles like this instinctively, which helps when you are switching lanes).

The Sprinter van features a diesel engine, in four and six cylinder varieties. Ratings are 161 hp and 266 lb.-ft. of torque on the four-cylinder, 188 and 325 on the V6.

Four-wheel drive is offered, a helpful option in areas with inclement weather (rear-wheel drive is standard, but you can upgrade).

If you can name a weak point on this van, it’s the engine performance. If you get up to high speeds, especially on the freeway, it sounds strained.

So while the Sprinter tops its rivals in the overall design and cargo space categories, other vans might give a bit more oomph on the open road (Ford Transit, Nissan NV and Ram Promaster are the key competitors)

A Sprinter 2500 can tow up to 5,000 pounds; and the heavier-duty 3500 van can tow 7500. Payload is 2,973 pounds on the 2500, and up to 5,585 pounds on the 3500.

Storage numbers reach 586 cubic feet on the cargo van (basically, the passenger van without all the seats in back). These numbers beat the competition handily.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

There is not the type of high-tech display you would get in a standard Benz, but there are some simple screens with information, and a steering wheel with controls on it to access that information.
Several airbags come standard, as do stability and traction control, and ABS. You can add more airbags, and other options include rear camera with sensors, forward collision warning, blind spot warning. Rear air conditioning unit (roof mounted) is offered; as are heated front seats; and an electric sliding step to ease entry and exit.

MPG
Fuel economy information is not provided for diesels, but my needle moved down very slowly and had a 26.4 gallon tank. I’ll guesstimate 500 to 600 miles per tank, based on my experience. Not too shabby.

Benz vs. the rest
The Sprinter passenger van starts in the low $40K range and a version with all the options can top $60K, like my tester did. This price is higher than the competition from Ford, Nissan and Dodge -- but the cargo room is also better, even if the engine isn’t.

So when it comes to these kind of vans, it’s really about what’s more important to you and your business (obviously this isn’t a family car); If you’re focused on how the engine will perform at high speeds, you may skip the Sprinter and go with another option.

But if your focus is overall design, comfort, seating capacity and storage/cargo space, the Sprinter will probably get your vote.

Those on a budget may prefer the alternatives, but Benz has a solid reputation and I see a lot of these Sprinters on the road, a sign that many folks are choosing this option over the others, despite the price upgrade.

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