2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van

Previous generations of Mercedes vans have plied European roads for more than a century, but the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van traces its roots back to 2015, when it first went on sale in the USA. It is the premium German automaker's take on what a cargo van should be and it does things a bit differently in comparison with competitor vehicles such as the Ram ProMaster City Cargo Van and the Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van. A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 relies on gasoline to produce 208 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, but the Metris's trump card is its rear-wheel-drive nature that affords it a higher towing capacity than compact cargo van rivals. But it comes at a price and the Mercedes' base MSRP is significantly up on said rivals. Its reliability ratings have not always been great either. Still, if you're looking for a compact cargo van that's a cut above the rest, you could do worse than starting with a review of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van.

Only one engine is offered in the 2020 Mercedes Metris Cargo Van, a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission choice is a 7G-Tronic Plus 7-speed automatic and all Metris trim levels are rear-wheel drive. This affords the 2020 Metris Cargo Van a towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs, besting its class rivals.

If you want more prestige, size, and ability in your compact panel van and you don't mind paying more for it, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris van is a good buy. Compared to its aforementioned rivals, it offers much more power and a lot more torque, making it a capable overtaker, even at highway speed. It hauls and tows a lot more than them too, all the while offering a surprisingly refined driving experience. It doesn't do as many miles per gallon as its rivals (fuel economy is 22 MPG combined, compared to the LWB Transit Connect's 25 MPG), but it goes with the territory of being able to shoulder more weight and should not deter buyers. The only downside is the price of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van, which is higher than that of rivals, albeit for a reason.

There are two trim levels in the 2020 model year Mercedes Metris Cargo Van range: Worker and Base. The Worker is as bare-bones as a Mercedes van gets and it also gets access to fewer extras packages, so you can't customize it much. It's quite affordable but we'd opt for the Base and pay a few thousand dollars more, so we can at least spec it up a little with one or two of the available convenience or safety packages, although the Metris has no official safety rating. And for just a few hundred dollars more, take the lanky LWB and really put some distance between you and the smaller haulers.