My neighbors are often confused by what I have sitting in my driveway. Sometimes there are three different vehicles there in just a week. I have people who tell me they go out of the way to drive by and see what I am driving. One day it might be a $300,000 luxury car, the next a Kia Soul. However, there was mass confusion this week as people saw a massive van sitting where a beautiful 2025 Lexus TX sat just a few days ago. Oh, the life of a car reviewer and talk radio show host.
Was this vehicle on my radar? No. Would I have sent a special request to the Mercedes press people begging to get one? No. However, when they asked if I would, I said absolutely. I’ve had many beautiful Benz’s through the years, most recently the EQS 450 sedan, and I wasn’t going to say no. After all, I get a fair number of questions on the Car Pro Show about Sprinter vans, usually for work applications, but this is the people-mover version.
This is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passenger van with the raised roof option. The big van is 19 1/2-feet long, almost 9-feet high, and has a gross vehicle weight rating of over 9,000 pounds. My tester is a rear-wheel drive version, but you can also get it in an all-wheel drive.
This one is a 12-passenger with the front captain’s chairs, two rows of three seats, and one back row of 4 seats. Each of the 12 seats has its own headrest and seat belts.
If you need seating for 15-passengers, you have to go to the extended version. Get this, people 6-feet 6-inches tall can stand up straight with the optional raised roof like this one has.
Performance
Powering the big van is a High Output 2-liter 4-cylinder turbo diesel that has 211-horses, and 332 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to 9-speed automatic transmission. It will tow 5,000 pounds and it is rated as a 2500, meaning it is a ¾ ton chassis.
Interior
The cabin, believe it or not, is done in normal Mercedes-Benz style and is very nice, I recognize many of the controls from my personal Mercedes AMG S63 SUV. Soft armrests add additional comfort, as do the seats, which offer a lot of adjustments.
A 10.25” colorful Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) screen has clear and colorful graphics that are easy to read. Audible prompts by saying HEY MERCEDES work well, especially during navigation or when tuning into your favorite radio station or automotive talk show.
Primary controls for temperature and fan speeds are buttons and toggle switches and everything is easy to operate. There is cloth high-end captain’s chair in front, and they were surprisingly comfortable with pull-out thigh supports.
The MBUX screen is operated with the steering wheel controls, the touchscreen, or voice controls. Under it are shortcuts for the screen and a large volume bar. Under the screen are the controls for the air conditioning system that will absolutely freeze you out.
There is an auxiliary air conditioning unit mounted in the ceiling for the rear passengers that is also controlled there. Just under that are 4 cup holders and a button to open the sliding door on the passenger side, where a pop out step appears when you open the sliding door. There are USB-C ports in front also.
Safety
Mercedes provides the Sprinter with a lot of standard driver-assistance technology, including Active Brake Assist, Attention Assist, Crosswind Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, a rearview camera, and multiple airbags for front and side-impact protection.
Standard Equipment and Options
Unfortunately, this vehicle did not come with a Monroney sticker (window sticker showing everything on it, etc.) but one of my CarPro Sprinter dealers was able to give me a printout of what it has, and an accurate dollar amount. I just can’t see what each option costs.
Notable options include: The raised roof, a leather heated tilt steering wheel with controls, power mirrors, high-performance air conditioning on the roof, navigation system, adaptive cruise control, dual power heated front seats, a 360-degree backup camera, parking assist, Comfort Package 2 (comfort overhead control panel, upgraded head restraints, and 4-way power lumbar support for both front seats), a wireless charger, digital rearview mirror, and traffic sign recognition.
Ride and Drive
I got hung up in Dallas traffic several times while driving the Sprinter, and I had some time on express lanes when I could really test it out at around 80-miles per hour. I was surprised how quiet it was inside, I didn’t expect that. The little diesel engine accelerates with determination, and it is so quiet, I wasn’t sure it wasn’t a gasoline engine.
I also drove it in neighborhoods and a couple of shopping centers. I expected to fight it when parking or making U-turns, but reality is it is not cumbersome in the least. The turning radius was incredibly short. All-in-all, my expectations of the big van being cumbersome did not come to be reality. For many, a van like this will be a daily driver, and make no mistake, this is a Mercedes-Benz right down to the smallest details. Sprinter has a huge 78.6-cubic feet of storage behind the 4th-row seat. Visibility is exceptional with windows all around and there is an emergency exit on the driver’s side, right behind where the driver sits.
What You'll Pay and MPG
Total MSRP on what appears to be a loaded passenger van is $67,563 with transportation. Being a ¾ ton, it is not rated for fuel economy, but it seems to be doing incredibly well, even in mixed driving, pushing it pretty hard. The dash shows an average of around 20 MPG which I thought was good considering its size and weight.
Verdict
I am glad to have had the opportunity to test this vehicle, and I thank the Mercedes folks for inviting me to do so. If you are looking for a people mover with as much luxury as you can get, this is the van for you.
2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van
- What I liked most: The ride, quietness, and overall ease of driving it.
- What I would change: Honestly, nothing I can think of.
- MSRP: $67,563 with transportation but before some generous factory incentives.
- Fuel Economy: Not rated.
- Odometer reading when tested: 2,200 miles.
- Official Color: Brilliant Blue.
- Weight: Curb weight 6,030 pounds, and a 9,050 pound GVWR.
- Spare: Full-sized spare mounted underneath the rear area.
- Length-Height: 233.5” long/107.1” high, 79.5” wide with power mirrors folded in.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 24.5 gallons of diesel fuel with filler accessible after opening the driver’s door.
- Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds.
- Final Assembly Point: North Charleston, SC.
- 2025 Sprinter Passenger in a few words: If you need lots of seating and want to get there in luxury, the Sprinter passenger is the pinnacle. If you are looking for a luxury airport livery vehicle, the Sprinter comes from the factory ready to go.
- Warranty: 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, a 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain and corrosion warranty, and 3 years of roadside assistance.
- Manufacturer’s website: www.MBVANS.com
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