2016 Mercedes Benz Metris: The Sprinter’s Little Brother

The Mercedes Benz Sprinter is best known for its high-quality, smooth driving dynamics and utility.

Now, Mercedes is introducing its new and slightly more petite, mid-size Metris. While the Metris may be smaller in size to the Sprinter, it is larger and more capable than rivals like the Ford Transit Connect and Ram ProMaster City.

While 2016 is the first year the Metris has debuted in the United States, it has been a staple in Europe for more than two decades. The Metris carries the trusted Mercedes Benz name, its safety features, impressive 15,000-mile service interval and fantastic towing and payload capacity.

Drivability

The Metris drives more like a crossover SUV striving to have the drivability of a sedan. The Metris provides a 7-speed automatic transmission, which is smooth, and standard paddle shifters allowing manual gear changes when desired. Rear-wheel-drive layout gives the Metris the dynamics desired in a Mercedes Benz.

Interior

The 2016 Metris can serve as a passenger and cargo van. With 186 cubic feet, the Metris’ biggest asset is interior space. Great for rear customization or hauling equipment, the Metris is deceptively spacious.

As a passenger van, the Metris has three rows of seats and can be configured for seven or eight. Extra space in the second row allows for easier entries and exits.

Exterior

Mercedes Benz’s mission is “form follows function.” While basic in appearance, the Metris is the sleeker European cousin to the Ford Transit Connect or Dodge Ram ProMaster. The Cargo Van Metris has sliding doors on the passenger’s side, while Passenger Van Metris has sliding doors on both sides. The Passenger Van model also has rear doors that swing 180 degrees with an upward lifting tailgate option. Cargo Van models have rear doors that open 270 degrees for rear loading.

Standard Equipment

Turbocharged 7-speed automatic transmission, air conditioning, 17-inch wheels, power accessories, audio unit and a 5.8-inch color screen come standard in the Metris. Cargo versions have wood flooring and half a dozen D-rings for securing items. Passenger models come with standard seating for seven. Standard Mercedes passenger vehicles have a multitude of safety features as well.

 Optional Equipment

Some of the optional Mercedes Metris equipment includes power-operated sliding doors, black leatherette seating, heated front seats, rear-view camera, blind-spot monitoring, collision prevention assist and lane-keeping assist. The Active parking assist feature helps in those dreaded parallel parking situations. Automatic climate control is available as well.

 Under the Hood

The Mercedes Metris is powered by a turbocharged, 4-cylinder gasoline engine. With 208 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, this seven speed automatic transmission is hearty! The Metris can tow up to 4,960 pounds, which easily puts to bed the Ford Transit Connect, Nissan NV200 and Ram ProMaster City.

Car and Driver ranks the Mercedes Metris #1 above the Ford Transit Connect, Ram ProMaster City and Chevrolet City Express.

Interested in checking out the 2016 Mercedes Metris? Classic Vans, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, offers a variety of quality conversion vans including the Mercedes Metris, Ford Transit, CMC Savana and Chevrolet Express. Call to ask about taking one of our vans for a test drive or ask about low-cost nationwide delivery.