Mercedes-Benz Vito

Mercedes-Benz Vito at a glance

The Vito sits between Mercedes' small Citan van and the large Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. It is sold as a panel van, as the Mixto crew van with a second row of seats, and as the Vito Tourer minibus for up to nine people, while the V-Class, Viano and Marco Polo camper share its body with more luxurious interiors. Mercedes-Benz's wider story is told in the history of Mercedes-Benz, and the range is in the Mercedes-Benz catalogue.

First generation W638 (1996–2003)

The first Vito replaced the MB 100 and went on sale in 1996. It had a transverse engine and front-wheel drive, a layout borrowed from passenger cars that gave a low load floor. Engines ranged from the 2.3 OM601 diesel with 58 kW (78 PS) to the V 280's VR6 petrol with 128 kW (172 PS). From 1999 the CDI common-rail diesels arrived: the 108 CDI with 60 kW (80 PS), the 110 CDI with 75 kW (101 PS) and the 112 CDI with 90 kW (121 PS) and 300 Nm.

In 1996 Mercedes also showed the passenger version as the V-Class at the Geneva Motor Show, with better sound insulation, a higher-quality interior and extra trim panels. An experimental Vito 108 E of 1996 had a 40 kW electric motor and a 35.6 kWh sodium-nickel-chloride battery, giving a claimed range of up to 170 km.

Second generation W639 (2003–2014)

A new layout

The W639 was a completely new design. Mercedes turned the engine lengthways and switched to rear-wheel drive for two reasons: front-drive vans with powerful engines sent vibrations through the steering, and a longitudinal engine slides under the floor in a frontal crash instead of entering the cabin. Rear drive also gives better traction when loaded. 4MATIC all-wheel drive, with a 35:65 front-to-rear torque split, was available with the four-cylinder diesels.

Bodies, lengths and loads

The W639 came in three lengths (Compact, Long and Extra-long), two wheelbases (3,200 and 3,430 mm) and with low, medium (from 2005) and high roofs. The panel van offered up to 6.49 m³ of cargo space and up to 1,140 kg of payload, and the six-seat Mixto combined a crew cabin with a 970-litre load area. Sliding doors on both sides, rear doors opening up to 270° or a lift-up tailgate, and a 1,277 mm load width between the wheel arches made loading easy. Braked towing capacity is 2,500 kg, and the turning circle is 11.8 m (12.5 m for the extra-long version).

Engines and gearboxes

A 6-speed manual was standard, and the 5-speed TouchShift automatic was fitted to the V6 petrols and available with the diesels.

Chassis, cabin and facelift

Suspension is independent all round, with MacPherson struts and an anti-roll bar at the front. All four wheels have disc brakes, ventilated at the front, with Brake Assist. The cabin brought a car-like dashboard with a shelf for an A4 folder, an 11-litre glovebox and storage under the front seats.

In September 2010 the W639 was facelifted with new lights and bumpers, a revised interior and suspension, and Sprinter-derived diesels that met Euro 5. Owners and testers noted weaknesses: thick A-pillars that hinder visibility in turns, instruments that are hard to read in sunlight, and corrosion on older vans. An early electric version, the Vito E-Cell (2010–2012), had a 36 kWh lithium-ion battery, a 60 kW motor and a real range of about 90–100 km.

Third generation W447 (2014 to today)

Launch and layout

The W447 Vito was shown in 2014 and went on sale in Europe in October 2014, following the related V-Class launched earlier that year. It is the first Vito offered with a choice of front-wheel drive (with the small diesel), rear-wheel drive and 4×4, and it borrows styling cues from Mercedes' passenger cars. The drag coefficient is 0.32. It is built in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Alcobendas (Spain) and has also been built in the US (as the Metris), Argentina, Mexico, China and India.

Engines and gearboxes

Gearboxes are a 6-speed manual, the 7G-Tronic Plus automatic and, from 2020, the 9G-Tronic. All diesels meet Euro 6, and start/stop helped reduce consumption by about 20% compared with the W639; the 109 CDI uses around 7 L/100 km in town.

Dimensions and versions

The panel van and Mixto have rails for securing a Euro pallet and lashing points on the floor and sides. The Vito Tourer seats eight or nine, and its second and third rows fold or can be removed. Passenger versions have softer springs and comfort dampers, but noise insulation is below the level of the V-Class.

Safety

In the 2014 test aligned with Euro NCAP, the W447 scored 93% for adult occupants, 87% for child occupants, 67% for pedestrians and 85% for safety assist, falling to 76% for adult protection without side curtain airbags. Equipment includes Crosswind Assist, Attention Assist, a seat-belt warning and, on top versions, blind-spot and lane-keeping assistants. The 2024 versions scored 90% in ANCAP testing.

Facelifts and the eVito

A mild styling update came in 2020. A larger facelift, revealed on 27 July 2023 for the 2024 model year, brought a new front, MBUX infotainment and new assistance systems. The electric eVito panel van arrived in 2018 with 85 kW (116 PS) and a 35 kWh net battery for about 150 km; later batteries of 60 and 66 kWh gave about 260 km, and in March 2025 a 90 kWh battery with a claimed 480 km was added. The eVito Tourer of 2020 has a 150 kW (204 PS) motor and a 90 kWh usable battery, with 421 km of WLTP range; the electric V-Class, the Mercedes-Benz EQV, uses the same drive.

Rivals: how the Vito compares

The Vito competes with the Volkswagen Transporter, Ford Transit Custom, Renault Trafic and its Opel, Nissan and Fiat sisters, and the Toyota Proace family. It stands out with rear-wheel drive and strong diesels for towing, a 4×4 option and the premium badge; it is usually more expensive to buy and maintain. More commercial vehicles are listed among vans.