Mercedes-Benz eSprinter electric van review (2023)

• Smooth and comfortable to drive
• Front-wheel drive only
• Large dimensions could prove a challenge in town

Driving the Mercedes eSprinter is a remarkably easy affair in many ways. It’s a keyless start system, so you hop in, press the button and move the steering-wheel-mounted shifter to D and get going.

You could simply leave it at that, but there are a few settings you could tweak with, and these are pretty much all geared towards improving efficiency.

Three driving modes to help maximise range

There is a choice of three driving modes, which are now called Comfort, Eco and Maximum Range. Comfort is the default and leaves everything untouched with the full array of functions and maximum power available.

Eco dials back the power on offer, while Maximum Range does so to a greater degree while also limiting some of the other features such as the climate control.

There is a noticeable difference between the different modes when it comes to power delivery but it isn’t a drastic step change so you shouldn’t feel too compromised. These are the same modes as before, but with a different name for the most miserly – it was E+ previously. These modes are all adjusted by a little button that sits just underneath the start button – it’s tucked away to the extent that you might miss it, so it is worth looking for.

You can also adjust the level of regenerative braking via the steering-wheel-mounted paddles. These range from D- to D, D+ and D++, with each one reducing the amount of brake regeneration that you get when you lift off the accelerator. In D- you can do a fair amount of driving on one pedal alone but it won’t take you to a complete halt, even if you are only crawling in traffic.

At the other end of the spectrum in D++ the regenerative braking is totally turned off, so the eSprinter will coast if you lift off the accelerator.

If you don’t want to use these then there is a new mode, called D Auto. The theory is that this will automatically increase or decrease the amount of brake regeneration by using various outside signals. It reads the road ahead and detects slower moving traffic and increases the brake regen if you need to slow down, while it will also take inputs from the navigation and increase or decrease if you are going up or downhill.

It might not be to your taste, though – it wasn’t to ours – as it doesn’t pick up on stationary cars for example, and never seems to be in quite the right setting. It’s not overly aggressive, though, as it doesn’t go any further in its regen application as D-.

Easy handling with electric power steering

The eSprinter uses the same electrically-assisted steering as the diesel model, which is light enough to make the van super-nimble through town – just where you want it. On faster roads, it weights up nicely, and though there’s little to no feedback it’s a precise and easy-to-manoeuvre van.

Using electric power steering rather than hydraulic also means the eSprinter has access to safety equipment such as active lane-keeping assist and crosswind assist.

This easy handling and the assured ride quality remain even in this large van that is heavier than most.

• Attractive technology available as standard
• Plenty of storage
• Lots of room and great visibility

The cabin is another area that has improved drastically since the eSprinter first launched. Where it was once a drab and plastic-dominated affair, it is now smart and features a sophisticated touchscreen layout.

This 10.25-inch screen features the latest Mercedes MBUX operating system, wireless connectivity for Apple Carplay and Android Auto and over-the-air updates. It also somewhat dominates the dash, but in a good way as it makes the whole area look somewhat un-van-like.

This extends to the steering wheel, which features several controls at your fingertips – the cruise control. Volume and the settings for the information screen in front of the wheel. The dials there are physical, but you can tweak the display in the middle.

Comfort is top notch

Comfort and visibility levels are above the norm, with seats that offer plenty of adjustment and a driving position that should suit most people. The seats are also designed to be easy to get into and out of, ideal for multi-drop couriers.

The dashboard doesn’t jut out too much, so there is plenty of room for middle passengers if there is seating for three. Without a middle seat there is loads of space between the two front seats for storage or even for walking through to the rear of the van if you have a bulkhead door.

Loads of big-van storage

Storage is good – there are large door bins and a useful slot above the dash for phones that contains the charging sockets, while small items are taken care of with a trio of deep wells in the dashboard. There’s also plenty of under-seat storage for larger items.

Should you wish it, you can specify extra and larger cupholders, although these are really more aimed at the sort of drinks sold in the US, where the large-battery eSprinter is expected to sell well. It doesn’t mean they are not worth having, as they are big enough to act as small storage pots, and they are more accessible than the other cup holders, which are high up on the dash.

• Two trims, lots of kit included
• Low running costs if you can control charging
• High purchase price

As with most electric vehicles, choosing to purchase an eSprinter will come down to whether you’re able to make it pay for itself. With a starting price of more than £73,000 this is truer as of the 2024 facelift than ever before, as this is more than 50% higher than the original starting price.

However, this doesn’t tell the whole story by a long way. First there is that vastly improved battery and range, which means you won’t have to charge as often and the eSprinter is more likely to fit into a wider range of use cases.

Secondly Mercedes has made a concerted effort to boost value, by now offering two trim levels and stacking it with more kit than before.

Mercedes eSprinter range and efficiency

The range is the new eSprinter’s feather in its cap as, at the time of its launch, it promises more miles from 100% to zero than any other large van. The 414 version is theoretically capable of 271 miles, although this reduces slightly to 263 miles for the 420 model. Thankfully, going for the higher trim doesn’t have an impact on the official range.

These improvements come about as a result of various changes that Mercedes has made to the eSprinter, and aren’t all down to the bigger battery. There are tweaks to the aerodynamics and improved tyre performance. Worth bearing in mind if you are looking to save a few pennies when replacing the rubber – it might cost you in other ways.

By taking care and driving parsimoniously it should be possible to eke that much and more out – we managed 3.1miles per kW over an hour-long relatively hilly test route with a small payload on board. The latter is the crucial factor, though, and we haven’t tried it out with anything close to a full payload.

The ability to charge at 115kW is a real boost, too, but the sort of public chargers that offer this sort of speed tend to be expensive to use, to leaving it plugged in overnight back at base might well be the better option on a regular basis.

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter warranty

Like all Mercedes vans, the eSprinter is warranted for three years and unlimited mileage – a boon to those who intend to use it to its maximum capacity most days. Furthermore, the battery pack is warranted for eight years/100,000 miles.

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter service intervals

The Mercedes eSprinter service intervals are set at 12 months or 40,000 miles.

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter standard equipment

The eSprinter is now available with a choice of two trims, which marks a distinct improvement over the first version of the electric van. These are called Pro and Select, and both come with a strong level of equipment.

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Pro standard equipment highlights:

• Multifunction steering wheel with height and reach adjustment
• Instrument cluster with colour display
• Heated driver’s seat with armrest
• Double passenger seat
• Pre-entry climate control
• Air conditioning
• Electrical parking brake
• Full height bulkhead
• Double side-opening rear doors, with 270-degree opening
• Loading bay lining
• MBUX multimedia system with 10.25-inch touchscreen
• DAB digital radio, Bluetooth
• Apple Carplay and Android Auto

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Select standard equipment highlights (in addition to Pro):

• Front and rear mud flaps
• Leather steering wheel
• Comfort driver’s seat with lumbar support and convenience head restraint
• Cup holders in front
• Hinged lid for stowage compartment
• Highbeam Assist
• LED High Performance headlamps

There’s little to say on this front. The diesel Mercedes Sprinter is the most reliable van on sale, according to the latest FN50 van reliability survey and it has remained so for several years in a row. With fewer moving parts to go wrong, the eSprinter should be, if anything, more reliable still.

The diesel Sprinter has had three official recalls, though the last one involved just four vans and being related to transmission fluid wouldn’t have affected the eSprinter anyway. Mercedes also offers its MobiloVan roadside assistance, free for any Mercedes van up to 30 years old as long as it’s last been serviced at a Mercedes-Benz dealer.

• Lots of safety equipment
• Standard alarm and built-in connectivity
• Assistance systems rated fairly well by Euro NCAP

The Mercedes eSprinter packs in a lot of standard safety equipment that you’d have to pay for on other vans, particularly its autonomous emergency braking, active lane-keeping assist, crosswind assist and driver attention alert.

It is only rated as Silver in the Euro NCAP assessment, although this was on a diesel van rather than the electric model.

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter safety equipment

• Active Brake Assist
• Hill-Start Assist
• Blind Spot Assist
• Crosswind Assist
• Active Lane Keeping Assist
• Attention assist
• Sideguard Assist
• Intelligent Speed Assistant
• Cruise control
• Tyre pressure monitoring front and rear
• Breakdown management
• Reversing camera
• Rain sensor