The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo is offered only in one trim which is scarcely equipped and is decently comfortable for the occupants. In terms of features, the Cargo gets extra-wide rear doors, a rear liftgate, automatic engine start/stop, alloy wheels, navigation, roof-rails, body-colored bumpers, and dual sliding doors. Features can be added to the van via the different Packages on offer like the Driver Comfort Package, Driver Efficiency Package, Safety Package, Cold Weather Package, and Cargo Protection Package. 

The Packages add various other features like an upgraded comfort seat with lumbar support, albeit the manual ones. Other features that can be added to the list include fog lamps, cruise control, additional master keys, rear compartment LED lighting, cargo lashing rails, rain sensors, blindspot assist, multifunction steering wheel, a trip computer, and rain sensors. 

What trim of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van do we recommend?

Since the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van is meant to be a Cargo Van, it is best had in a way that maximizes utility and practicality, while also being comfortable enough for both the occupants. If you do want some comfort there, get the Driver Comfort Package for adjustable seats and Cold Weather Package for heated seats. 

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van gets powered by a turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 that churns out a rather impressive 208 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque which is sent to the rear wheels only via the 7-speed automatic transmission. The torque is available at very low RPMs that enables easy hauling and a very strong acceleration while at it. It sprints from 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds and can complete a quarter-mile race in 16.5 seconds. 

The Metris Cargo has a huge advantage over the others given the turbocharging it has under the hood, making it the most powerful and also the quickest off the line. The RAM gets second place in this scenario with a respectable time as well. The other two, the Nissan NV200 and RAM 1500 ProMaster City, are very close to each other both in the quarter-mile and also clock just around 10 seconds during the 0-60 MPH run. 

How well does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van handle?

One thing that the 2020 Metris Cargo does best is feel more like a car than like a van. The interiors are nice and the suspension setup is brilliant and soaks up all the undulations and bumps that there might be on the tarmac. The whole drive becomes very relaxing and brilliant, without being bouncy like the other vans. This composed driving characteristic also means that there are hardly any rattles from the cargo area. The van changes its direction pretty quickly and is dynamic enough to enjoy a drive on a twisty road. 

The engine and gearbox combination of the van is rather impressive and is the only one to reach 60 MPH in under 9 seconds. The gearbox is massively responsive and always has the next cog ready irrespective of the input on the gas pedal. The smoothness of the engine is rather mind-boggling given the fact that the Metris Cargo is meant to haul goods. The handling on the van is fine and decently responsive. 

2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van Braking Performance

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van comes equipped with a decent-sized setup that puts 11.8-inch rotors at the front and 11.0-inch rotors at the rear. The Metris’ heavy weight makes the van stop a bit late, while also giving out a very mushy feeling from the pedal. The van’s brakes are equipped with all the modern safety aids made mandatory by the DOT, and make the van stop at 189 feet from 70 MPH.

The Mercedes is the heaviest of all the vans in the comparison, with the scales touching nearly 5,000 lbs, where the second-heaviest van is 20% lighter on the scales! That said, the heavier weight of the Metris also plays a negative role when it comes to the braking and makes it brake nearly 20 feet later than the Ford Transit Connect, which also boasts of the biggest rotors in the segment. 

The 2020 Metris Cargo comes equipped with a turbocharged inline-4 under the hood which produces good power but is also said to be more efficient than the competition due to the force induction on offer. Practically, the story is the opposite and the Metris’ fuel economy sits the lowest in the segment, with the EPA-rated estimates being 18 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway, for a combined 19 MPG from its rather big 18.5-gallon fuel tank. 

The forced induction technology under the Mercedes’ hood doesn’t give it a significant advantage over its rivals but rather makes it the thirstiest of the lot, racking up fuel bills for the business. The van does have the biggest tank in the comparison that aids with the range, but the RAM one-ups the Merc in terms of both fuel efficiency and range. On the other hand, the Nissan NV 200 might average the highest mileage of 25 MPG, but its smallish tank bestows upon it, the lowest range in the segment. 

The 2020 Metris Cargo is made to have more grit than glam and this is highlighted in the interior. The design of the interior is very basic and there are no fancy lines or creases inside to make the visuals appealing. The door panels and the dashboard barely have any soft-touch areas while the armrest height is the only consoling factor for the comfort inside. 

The seats are positioned high for a very clear view out of the windshield whereas there is manual adjustability on offer as standard. Adding on the Driver’s Comfort Package does upgrade the seats and add more cushioning along with lumbar support, while the Cold Weather Package adds in heated seats. Apart from that, the seats are decently comfortable and supportive for the daily haul and also for some long business-related trips. 

The Metris’ cabin is decently spacious but when compared to the rivals. The headroom falls very short. The shoulder room is the best among the rivals, but the legroom is another parameter where the Merc van could do better since the rival offers more. As for the storage capacity, it is the largest among the rivals, and being a cargo van, this is the most important parameter against which the van is to be judged. While all vans can seat two passengers only, the cargo capacity is a defining factor as competitors like the Ford Transit Connect and Nissan NV200 manage at least 60cu.-ft less space than the Mercedes-Benz. The interior quality of the Metris is better than the other vans and boasts of various features, some of the highlighting ones are:

• Air conditioning
• Cloth upholstery
• Manually-adjustable seats
• Tilt-only steering wheel adjustability 
• Automatic engine stop-start system

What’s there to keep you entertained in the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van?

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van has a 5.8-inch touchscreen system that also comes with a backup camera as standard. The system can also be controlled via physical buttons which are neatly divided into two clusters. The left cluster housing buttons for the radio, navigation, telephone, media toggle, buttons for the navigation system, and call accept/deny. The right cluster houses a physical dialler that can be used to make calls, a knob for adjusting the radio frequencies, and a back button. 

In terms of functionality, there is an SD card slot and some USB inputs near the driver’s side AC vent for music playback. Some of the highlighting features of this system are:

• 5.8-inch color display
• SD card slot
• USB sockets 
• AM/FM radio
• USB Connection
• Navigation System

The 2020 Metris Cargo is designed like a typical van with a good seating posture, impressive seat height, and a big windscreen upfront. The hood slopes downwards which also gives a better view from the inside. The front fascia has a big grille housing the Merc logo. The headlamps are halogen and there’s no option to upgrade them to LEDs but there are LED DRLs to compensate for the same. The front bumper houses some vents and that’s pretty much it. 

The side profile of the Metris Cargo is also very similar to a typical van with big windows and a roof rail for added versatility. The bumpers are body-colored which does increase the visual appeal but that’s about it. The rear is also as uneventful as the overall design with the big bumpers and the wide rear doors. 

The Metris is the heaviest of all vans which lends to the subpar braking performance but aids in the handling, making the van feel sure-footed. The Metris is also the longest van with the most height but does fall behind in the overall width behind the Ford Transit Connect. The lower ground clearance does hamper the overall drive quality but is enough to take the van over most of the undulations and rough patches. That said, the design of the Metris is very common with some highlighting features being:

• Halogen lamps
• 17-inch steel wheels
• Body-colored bumpers
• Dual-sliding doors
• Rear liftgate

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van comes with all the modern features that one expects from a van in this segment. The Metris comes packed with safety aids like multiple airbags, ABS, stability control, etc. The list of active driver-assistance features is a bit scarce though, with the only standard options being Crosswind Assist and hill start assist. Some of the highlighting features here are:

• Crosswind Assist 
• Hill start assist 
• Cruise control
• Optional rain sensors
• Optional blindspot assist
• Optional heated and electrically-adjustable exterior mirrors

2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van Vs. 2020 Ford Transit Connect

The Metris Cargo is physically bigger than the Connect and has a lot of space in its boot for hauling cargo. It is also more driveable than the Ford with a better engine and a smoother gearbox. The Transit gets more features and Ford Co-Pilot360 on offer that adds in a plethora of driver aids to make the drive safe. 

2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van Vs. 2020 Nissan NV200

The Nissan NV200 has more interior space than the Metris and also has a smoother and more fuel-efficient engine that is very good for the city. The acceleration of this engine starts to wear out when driven on the highway. The cabin is also decent at best and uses a lot of hard plastics, but with a lower level of craftsmanship. The Metris has a faster power plant, better space, and also a well-built interior. 

2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van Vs. 2020 RAM ProMaster City

The RAM is very similarly matched to the Metris in terms of hauling capability and driving experience. It also has a well-appointed interior which is as good as the Mercedes, while being more fuel efficient and having a way better range as well. 

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van is a very versatile offering in the space with a lot of cargo area, strong engine, good interior quality, decent levels of interior features and infotainment system, a supportive seat, great handling dynamics, and good fuel range due to a bigger tank.