2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van Review: Refined People Carrier

Mercedes-Benz has been in the van business for over a century and has consistently been at the forefront of the passenger and cargo hauling industry. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has also become an iconic name amongst those in the travel and tourism, as well as logistics, and countless other industries where transporting large numbers of people and their stuff is of paramount importance. The 2022 Sprinter Passenger Van comes in short and long-wheelbase configurations and is powered by either a force-fed four-cylinder gas engine or a pair of turbo diesels - one a four-cylinder and one a V6. It needs all these powertrain and configuration options to keep pace with the versatile Ford Transit Passenger Van. Building refined and premium-feeling cars come naturally to this legendary manufacturer, and the Sprinter looks and feels more upmarket than its rivals.

What's the Price of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van?

The three-pointed star on the front of the Sprinter Passenger Van not only brings with it class-leading quality, but also an increase in asking price. When compared to rivals such as the GMC Savana Passenger Van, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van starts at over $7,000 more. The base model of the Sprinter Passenger range is the 1500 SWB van powered by the 2.0-liter four-pot gas engine. This van starts off with an MSRP of $45,300, which excludes registration, tax, and a destination fee of $1,695. The more capable, higher-payload 2500 increases the price to $46,600. The LWB Sprinter starts at $57,940, and the SWB 4x4 with the six-cylinder diesel tops things off with an asking price of $60,420; add a high roof, and this model costs $63,420.

2022 Sprinter Passenger Van Exterior

Dimensions

2022 Sprinter Passenger Van Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van offers a suitably comfortable ride and behaves itself well on most road surfaces. Cruising around the city, the Sprinter Passenger Van will point and go where the driver wants, and the light steering makes driving through tight city streets a pleasure. On the highway, the Sprinter feels planted despite its height. Passengers in the rear should note that the rear bench sits directly atop the rear axle, and hitting bumps will see heads connect with the roof if seatbelts are not engaged. Going around fast bends reveals a bit of body roll, which is a given when looking at this van's dimensions and weight, but it never feels out of control, and the traction and stability control programs ensure that no serious spills occur.

2022 Sprinter Passenger Van Interior

2022 Sprinter Passenger Van Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is The 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van A Good Van?

Let's be honest here; we don't think that anyone truly gets excited when shopping around for a passenger van. They might get excited about the possibilities the van will unlock for their business, but the physical act of owning and driving one doesn't stir the soul in quite the same way as buying a two-seater sports car does. This, however, does not detract from the fact that the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van is one of the best vehicles in its class for a number of reasons. Firstly, it's one of the better-looking vans out there and makes most American offerings look drab, to say the least. Secondly, its range of gas and diesel engines offer good power and acceptable gas mileage figures. When it comes to the interior, the Sprinter can't be beaten; it is more refined and comfortable than most. It drives well, and there's lots of space inside, so what more could you need?

What Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van Model Should I Buy?

How long is a piece of string? This choice will depend on what you want to use the Sprinter Passenger Van for. If you're only planning on transporting around ten people at a time, get the SWB van. If it's more than ten, then go for the LWB Van. If you're planning on taking 12 or fewer people on an off-road safari, then you should definitely go for the SWB 4x4 option. If we had the money, we would most certainly go for the SWB 4x4 version with the turbo-diesel six-cylinder under the hood.

2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van Comparisons

2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van vs Ford Transit Passenger Van

The 2022 Ford Transit Passenger Van forms part of the fifth generation first introduced in 2013 and has proven to be a wildly popular choice, not only amongst business owners but for large families looking for basic transport as well. The Transit Passenger Van is powered by two powerplant options, a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 and a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine. The Transit is a bare-bones thing in base form, which makes sense when you consider its simple goal of transporting people around. We appreciate the Transit's powerful engines, high levels of customizability, and impressive driving dynamics. Its infotainment system is also one of the better ones we've tested. On the downside, the Transit Passenger Van lacks the more refined feel of the German and is susceptible to strong crosswinds. Get the Merc.

2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van vs GMC Savana Passenger Van

The GMC Savana has been around longer than the Toy Story franchise, and boy does it show it. This ancient but capable platform has seen continuous small improvements, but at the end of the day is still one of the most basic people carriers on the market today. Power is supplied by a wide range of engines, including a 276-horsepower 4.3-liter V6, a 2.8-liter turbo inline-four diesel, and a 6.6-liter V8. On the road, the Savanna feels stable, and that's about it; the Merc offers a far more refined ride. The interior is as basic as they come; you get a few seats, a steering wheel, and windows. Obviously, there's more to the interior, but you get the point. Plus points include its low asking price, tried and trusted platform, and good towing capabilities. If it were up to us, we'd go with the Mercedes-Benz every day of the week.