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car review

What is it?

Mercedes-Benz has introduced its tweener work van – the Metris – to North America. Branded as the Vito across Europe, it is a mid-size urban hauler available as either a cargo or seven/eight-seat passenger van. While smaller than Benz's Sprinter, it is larger than the Ford Transit Connect, Nissan NV200, Ram ProMaster City and Chevrolet City Express. Its price tag is larger, too. But with the popularity of commercial vehicles – "the Mercedes-Benz Vans business has experienced double-digit growth in Canada over the last few years," says Tim Reuss, Mercedes-Benz Canada's president and CEO – the company wants a bigger slice of the pie.

Signature feature

Class-leading cargo and carrying capacity. The Metris, Benz says, has an average of 46 per cent more cargo room and 52 per cent more payload capacity than other light commercial vans. Oh, and it can tow up to 2,250 kilograms.

What else is new?

Everything. Benz likes to refer to the Metris as "right-sized" and its target markets are the trades, delivery, and hotel shuttle services. It fits easily in underground parking garages – even a regular home garage – and deftly navigates narrow urban alleyways and crowded city streets. Stand technology includes Crosswind Assist (it hinders drifting in windy conditions) and Attention Assist, a drowsy driver alert. Inexplicably, a backup camera is not standard.

Under the hood

Both models feature a 2.0-litre turbo-four producing 208 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive. Benz claims combined fuel consumption of 10.5 litres/100 km for the cargo van and 10.9 for the passenger model, using 91 octane fuel, its preferred grade – although the company says the Metris will run just fine on regular. Maintenance intervals are every 25,000 kilometres.

When can we buy it, and for how much?

The Metris is new to showrooms now. The cargo van starts at $33,900, while the seven seater is $37,900. There's a cornucopia of comfort, convenience and safety packages available as well as dozens of à la carte options.

Cool quotient

3.5 stars (out of five)

What Rogers or Bell contractor wouldn't like to pull up to your house to install Internet while driving a baby work Benz?

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