The vehicle, which counts the Ford E-Transit among its rivals, has upped its game since its initial launch, with improvements in safety, specifications, and battery options.
The eSprinter, which first appeared about five years ago with an electric range of just 96 miles, now boasts a maximum of 272 miles with its largest 113kWh battery option – one of the biggest you can get in a large van.
The smaller 81kWh battery offers up to 163 miles, which is still pretty decent and certainly an improvement over the 2020 model. There is also a choice of two motors, with either 135 or 204PS.
The eSprinter at a charging station The quality feel and premium image of previous Sprinters is very much in evidence throughout the vehicle, with the cabin sharing some of the qualities found on Mercedes-Benz passenger cars.
The new suspension further improves the stability of the driving experience, while electric power ensures the vehicle is quiet and smooth. Indeed, it feels slightly surreal to be driving such a large vehicle up a steep hill in near-silence when convention wisdom tells you that a gruff diesel engine should be providing the soundtrack.
The vehicle also handles well for a large van, helped by the nicely-weighted electrically assisted power steering.
You can choose from three driving programmes, namely Maximum Range, Economic and Comfort. This tailors the engine power, torque and climate control to suit the driver’s mood and requirements at the time. There’s also an automatic function designed to read the situation and vary how much charge it reclaims via regeneration.
To preserve as much range as possible, especially in uphill-downdale conditions, there are four regenerative braking settings, controlled via paddles on the steering wheel. After a day or two behind the wheel of the eSprinter, I felt to have really mastered the resistance levels on the regenerative braking, meaning I rarely needed to use the conventional brake pedal.
An updated MBUX touchscreen multimedia system now integrates with smartphone mirroring via Bluetooth. The10.25-inch colour display is sharp and intuitive to use.
The driving position offers excellent all-round visibility, with 360-degree cameras also available as part of a parking package for those wanting more assistance when manoeuvring.
The range readout is reliable, although it can fluctuate depending on conditions such as temperature and driving habits.
The eSprinter can be charged at alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) charging stations.
With DC fast-charging, it takes about 42 minutes to charge from 10–80 per cent.
As standard, the eSprinter includes a heated seat for the driver with armrest, dual passenger seat, comfort overhead control panel, a full-width partition, height and rake adjustable steering wheel, TEMPMATIC air conditioning, wooden floor, a mode 3 type 2 eight-meter charging cable, headlight assistant, heat-insulating glass, and 270-degree double-wing rear-end doors. In addition to DAB radio, the Mercedes-Benz audio system comes with a Bluetooth interface with hands-free function and a USB port.
It’s a van that oozes quality, but that comes with a hefty price tag. The eSprinter range is available from £58,740 based on an 81kWh 314 L3 PRO version, but a climb up the trim trail will take you to the top side of £70,000 for 113kWh 414 versions. That price might not be too prohibitive though, as many purchases are likely to come via discounted large fleet deals.
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter
BATTERY SIZE: 81-113 kWh
RANGE: 180-271 miles
MAX CHARGE RATE: 115kW
TRANSMISSION: Single-speed gearbox, rear-wheel drive
WEIGHT : 3180kg
PAYLOAD: 1,273kg
PRICE: From
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