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.
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van lineup for the US market goes mechanically unchanged for the new decade, and while its interior features list also goes untouched, Mercedes-Benz did think it good to add its Mercedes PRO connect system, which is basically a digital assistant that helps to connect owners with their fleets. This system offers improved navigation and maintenance planning, and can digitally log trips. Five new exterior colors and new alloy wheels have been added for the new model year, too.
See trim levels and configurations:
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo Van |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
7-Speed Automatic
|
Rear-Wheel Drive
|
$31,390 |
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.
NHTSA safety ratings are not available at this time.
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.
The most popular competitors of 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van:
Acura
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Bollinger
BrightDrop
Bugatti
Buick
Cadillac
Caterham
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fisker
Ford
Genesis
GMC
Gordon Murray Automotive
Hennessey
Honda
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Karma
Kia
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lordstown
Lotus
Lucid Motors
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pagani
Polestar
Porsche
Ram
Rimac
Rivian
Rolls-Royce
Spyker
Subaru
Tesla
Toyota
VinFast
Volkswagen
Volvo