Mercedes-Benz Vito (96-03) - Review

The Mercedes-Benz Vito was always one of the smartest cookies in the panel van box. Even before its relaunch in 2003, it was a dazzling looker and with its three-pointed star on the bonnet, this version still commands high prices on the secondhand market. Mercedes-Benz has always been at the cutting edge of technology and innovation and the Vito was always ahead of the game on both fronts, offering items such as ABS brakes and traction control systems as standard in later models. It has never been the cheapest van to buy or run but then again quality always has to be paid for. The Vito didn’t get a set of common rail diesel engines until 1999, despite the fact that they were offered as standard in its bigger brother the Sprinter from launch in 1995. Pre-1999 Vito models with old-fashioned engines were relatively sluggish and rattly.

As with most German vehicles, the seats in the Vito are slab hard, but turn out on long journeys to be very firm and supportive. All the knobs and switches are quality items, although in this model, standard CD players had not yet been introduced, so drivers will have to make do with a radio/cassette player.

Mercedes-Benz levels of quality extend past build and into road manners, thus the Vito offers crisp handling and a pleasing ride. Post 1999 engines on offer are 2.1-litre units pumping out 82bhp and 147lb-ft of torque, 102bhp and 184lb-ft of torque and 122bhp and 221lb-ft of torque and there was also a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 129bhp, so there is a chance that some models may have been converted to run on LPG. Later models also featured an uprated gearbox and clutch.