The Sprinter Passenger van only comes in two trims – 1500 and 2500. However, the diesel engines are only available in the 2500 trim. So, we will only talk about the 2500. The 2500 comes with a High Roof configuration, but the diesel engines can be configured with either a 144” wheelbase or 170” wheelbase. Both of these versions come with RWD only. However, there is another version – the 2500 High Roof V6 144”, and it is the only one that comes with a 4WD. The 144” Inline-4 starts at $48,100, while the 170” costs $55,675. The V6 144” comes at $49,900, while the 170” comes at $57,575. Finally, the High Roof V6 144” 4WD comes at $58,175.

*Expected

There are also a lot of packages to choose from. The Comfort Package for $269 adds driver seat lumbar support, co-driver seat lumbar support, passenger comfort head restraint, etc. The Driver Convenience package is pretty useful as it adds Blind Spot Assist, electrically folding exterior mirrors, Attention Assist, etc. for $753. The Premium package for $1,181 adds active distance assist DISTRONIC, instrument cluster w/ color display, MBUX multimedia system, leather steering wheel, etc. The Premium Plus package adds navigation, 10.25” MBUX system, traffic sign assist, etc. There are also other packages which you can check out.

Which trim should you buy?

We would recommend getting the Driver Convenience Package and the Premium Package. We would also get the V6 unless you are on a tight budget and don’t really care about performance. When it comes to which wheelbase to purchase, that would depend on your requirements. If you want to fit more people, get the longer wheelbase, otherwise, the shorter one is just fine.

Release Date

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is expected to hit the showrooms by the end of 2021. 

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van Diesel 2500 has two diesel options to choose from. The new 2.0L turbodiesel Inline-4 is capable of producing 161 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. The other option is the 3.0L turbodiesel V6 that is capable of producing 188 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. The engines are mated to a 9-speed automatic 9G-Tronic transmission, and they come with RWD only. However, as previously mentioned, the V6 also comes with a 4WD version.

The engines offer low-down torque at around 1,400 rpm. The V6 definitely offers much better pull and should be the primary choice for anyone looking to carry passengers on a long trip or a highway. The Inline-4 is only decent enough for city driving. However, neither engine is too powerful. The inline-4 sprints from 0 to 60 MPH in around 11.6 seconds, which is a huge amount of time, but then again, it is quite pointless to measure the acceleration of a passenger van. It reaches the quarter-mile in a yawny 18.3 seconds. The maximum towing capacity is around 5,000 lbs, which is quite a bit less than the other competitors.

Talking about driving capabilities, nobody purchases the Sprinter for its excellent dynamic handling characteristics. The steering on this van is light, and it is not actually a nuisance to drive around twisty roads and bends. Although, its heft can still be felt quite easily. Traction is very good, and Mercedes has done a good job of keeping the big van planted to the ground. Body roll is present but surprisingly well handled for a van of this size.

The power output from the Mercedes is low as compared to the GM vans. They also offer a lot of torque. However, when it comes to performance and acceleration, they are pretty much the same. The difference lies in the towing capacities. The Sprinter can tow a maximum of 5,000 lbs, whereas the GM vans can tow a maximum of 9,600 lbs, and they absolutely blow the Sprinter out of the water. When it comes to the price tag, the Mercedes asks for a price that is around 4-5K more than the GM twins.

The Mercedes Sprinter is classified as a commercial van (obviously), and hence, EPA did not offer any official fuel economy ratings for the German van. As a result of this, there are no official fuel economy ratings. However, independent tests show that the Inline-4 turbodiesel should offer more than 20 MPG for combined driving. Even though it does not sound inspiring, do remember that it is a heavy passenger van. We can expect even lower figures from the more power-hungry V6.

The Inline-4 comes with a 22-gallon fuel tank, whereas the V6 comes with a 24.5-gallon fuel tank. It is shown that you can expect the Sprinter to have a total range of somewhere between 374 miles and 500 miles, depending on the engine that you choose. When comparing the figures with the rivals in the competition, the GM vans come with a much larger fuel tank than the Sprinter. We suspect that the total range in these vans would be higher than the Merc.

The job of a passenger van is literally to carry passengers, and not worry about luxury and opulence. Despite that, the Sprinter actually feels like a quality passenger van. The materials used are durable and feel quite decent too. The design is also quite good for a passenger van, with a large rectangle sticking out of the center of the dashboard with the infotainment system and two circular AC vents. Hard plastic has been used a lot in the interior. As standard, you get cloth upholstery, but you can upgrade to leatherette upholstery.

If you get the 144” Standard Wheelbase version, the Sprinter will be able to accommodate 12 people. If you get the 170” Long Wheelbase version, then you get seating for 15 people. There is a four-seater bench in the third row, which is not as spacious as the front rows, but it still can fit smaller adults and children. There is a sliding door that allows people to go in and out of the vehicle, however, there’s also an option for an electric sliding door.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van Diesel can fit quite a bit of cargo. The Standard Wheelbase version has around 78.6 cubic feet of cargo storage behind the last row. That is actually a pretty large area, and for 12 people and their luggage, it should suffice. The Long Wheelbase version actually extends that to 111.2 cubic feet of cargo storage, which is a pretty big number. The in-cabin storage solutions are also very appreciable. The seats can be flipped up to reveal a small cubby for storing items.

The dimensions of the Sprinter are not known, but we do know that it is pretty spacious and won’t cause any trouble to the occupants inside. The Savana and Express also offer a spacious interior and do as much as they can. The legroom might cause a slight problem for taller people, but it should be fine otherwise. The front row is the most spacious. Also, the GM vans beat the German when it comes to standard cargo capacity. Some of the key interior features are:

• 4-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
• Remote keyless entry
• Manual air conditioning
• Cloth/leatherette upholstery
• Manual tilt steering column
• Urethane gear shifter material

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The van comes with a pretty regular infotainment system. It only features the very bare minimum. There is a small LCD screen, and it only displays what radio station or what song you are playing. That should be enough for a van, but if you want more, you can get the Premium Package. It adds a 7” MBUX infotainment system along with navigation and satellite radio. The Premium Plus package adds a larger 10.25” MBUX system with intelligent navigation, wireless charging, and free map updates for three years. Of course, the MBUX system is very good, responsive, and intuitive. But that is about it. There is not much else to highlight in this infotainment setup. Some of the key features of the infotainment system are:

• Small LCD screen
• AM/FM radio
• MP3 Player
• Satellite radio
• 10.25” MBUX system
• Intelligent navigation
• Wireless charging 
• Free map updates for three years

A passenger van is never designed to look attractive to buyers. The only way to make any van a hit is to make sure that it serves its purpose well, and the Sprinter does that. The Sprinter is not designed to look cool and flashy, and it must be quite tough to add elements of style in this van which might seem to have weird proportions when you first look at it. However, it is probably the best-looking passenger van out there today. It has got the Mercedes factor: the classy design and finish.

The front sees the large windshield and the hood sloping down and giving way to the big grille and headlights. There are halogen DRLs. The high roof has a pretty long roof, and it is quite apparent the moment you look at it. There are electrically sliding doors, which can be taken as an option. There are also front fog lamps. The Sprinter rides on small 16” steel wheels. Overall, it still has a classy Mercedes touch to it, even though it is not the coolest vehicle in the market.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van Diesel looks inherently classier and more well designed and put together than the GM vans. They just look old and very, very outdated. Definitely not a van from the 2020s. Mercedes has done a good job keeping up with time. Dimensionally, the Sprinter is the lightest option despite being having the biggest dimensions in the competition. The one area where the GM twins have an upper hand is the ground clearance as they offer a clearance of 8.6 inches in comparison to 7.9 inches by the Sprinter. Some of the key exterior features include:

• Strut front suspension w/ transverse leaf springs
• Lead rear suspension w/ leaf springs
• Single stainless-steel exhaust
• 16” steel wheels
• Available electrically sliding door
• Aero-composite halogen daytime running lights
• LED brake lights

The Sprinter is exempted from being tested by either NHTSA or IIHS because it is a van. However, we all know how safe Mercedes makes their vehicles. So, the Sprinter must also be pretty safe, as much as a van can be. The van comes with standard longitudinal member reinforcement which keeps the sides of the van safe. There are other standard safety features too. However, most of the modern driver-assistance features are actually available as options, and if you equip those, the Sprinter is nothing less than a regular car in terms of safety. The key safety features include:

• ESP/ crosswind assist
• Back-up camera
• Active distance assist DISTRONIC (optional)
• Active lane-keeping assist (optional)
• Traffic sign assist(optional)
• Blindspot assist (optional) 
• ATTENTION ASSIST (optional)

2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van Diesel vs 2021 GMC Savana Passenger Van Diesel 

There are very few vans out there that come with a diesel engine, and the Savana and Sprinter are two of those. The Sprinter inherently appears to be the better van. It has a roomy and well-built interior, has a classy exterior design, and it also offers tons of optional driver-assistance features. Meanwhile, if you really want to tow with your van, then the Savana is the obvious choice. Otherwise, we would go for the Mercedes as it manages to offer an overall better package for the family's comfort.

2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van Diesel vs 2021 Chevrolet Express Passenger Van Diesel

The Savana and Express are exactly the same vehicle, both of which are completely outdated and out of place with this era. However, the Express, too, can be a worthy alternative to the Sprinter, if you are looking for something a little cheaper. If you want more cargo capacity, then the Express/Savana is the way to go. However, if comfort and some kind of luxury are on your mind while buying a passenger van, then the 2022 Mercedes Sprinter is going to be the better option.

One advantage the diesel engine provides over the gasoline one is the low-down torque and better fuel economy. With the introduction of the new engine, you now have two options to choose from. The Sprinter is definitely a popular van for transporting people. If you somehow require a diesel van, then the Sprinter is excellent. With a large array of driver assistance features and other options along the way, it can really spice up the ride. The 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van Diesel is worth considering.