The new 100% electric eVito

30 January 2020

Mercedes-Benz eVito van finally arrives in the UK

Mercedes-Benz hasn’t confirmed when eVito deliveries are scheduled to begin, despite order books opening.

TRIMS AND Prices

As per the non electric Vito range, the eVito kicks off with the Pure grade. Equipment on this model includes hill start assist, heated exterior mirrors, sliding doors on either side, wood flooring, a heated driver’s seat and a four-metre charging cable. Pure L2 model price is £39,895 excluding VAT, whilst the Pure L3 variant commands a £40,415 excluding VAT list price

Building on Pure is the range-topping Progressive trim. This adds body-coloured bumpers, wheel covers, front fog lights, automatic headlights, a 75mph speed limiter, lumbar support and power-folding mirrors. L2 variants are available from £41,600 excluding VAT, while L3 models are £42,120 excluding VAT.

Both versions are eligible for the government's Plug-In Van Grant.

DRIVING RANGE AND CHARGING TIME

With a 41kWh battery onboard, the German van boasts 114bhp and 300Nm of torque, delivered to the front wheels. The eVito will have a range of 93 miles on a single charge with flat-to-full plug-in taking six hours. Mercedes-Benz is open about the fact that the eVito will not suit everyone; however, its driving range is sufficient for urban work – particularly for drivers or companies that complete planned, recurring routes on a regular basis.

There will be various charging options: from a single Mercedes-Benz Wallbox, to a bespoke system for multiple vehicles, with a 4-metre or 8-metre charging cable.

eVito also offers three different driving programs and energy recuperation, allowing you to adapt your driving style to maximise your battery range.

weight and payload

The standard diesel-powered Vito is offered in three lengths, but the eVito drops the smallest van from the range in order to fit the battery pack. As a result eVito will be offered with two different load volumes: 6 or 6.6 cubic metres, known as the L2 and L3 versions respectively. Both have a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 3,200kg and payloads are 923 and 898kg respectively in Pure model and 905-890 in Progressive model. As you can expect, driving around with a full load will see the van's range fall significantly short of the 93-mile official claim.

Key rivals

These include the Citroen Dispatch Electric, Ford Transit Custom PHEV, Peugeot e-Expert, Toyota Proace Electric and Vauxhall Vivaro-e.

comfort and safety

Like the standard van, ride comfort is excellent and the eVito doesn't pitch or roll about under heavy acceleration or braking. You also don't get the traditional bouncy ride when the van is unladen. The additional weight of the batteries (around 300kg) improves ride quality, keeping the van more composed over bumps and potholes. Mounting the batteries low down in the chassis also helps the eVito's stability and centre of gravity.

The eVito might be a little sparse when it comes to luxuries, like alloy wheels and touchscreen infotainment, but it gets plenty of safety kit as standard with crosswind assist and an anti-rollover system. The van will also monitor the drive to detect typical signs of tiredness and issue an alert if it thinks a coffee break is required.

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