I’ve been driving vans since my teenage years. Memories loom large of heavy steering, obstructive gearboxes and most of all that familiar diesel engine clatter. I own a 13-year-old panel van and though far more sophisticated, and therefore much easier to drive with power assisted steering and a turbo boosting the power, that unmistakable background drone from the motor is still ever present.

Manufacturers are now beginning to electrify their ranges of commercial vehicles and some of the versions I have driven so far have been a little lacking. Yes, there’s little mechanical din, but of more concern has been the modest range. One large French panel van I drove last year offered a mere 70-mile range, less if driven with some verve.

It was with these thoughts in my mind that I approached the electrified version of Mercedes-Benz Vito, tested here in Tourer guise. Apart from the badging, there is little to distinguish the eVito from its combustion engine siblings, which is no bad thing. The eagle-eyed may spot the charging flap on the nearside front wing.

Providing the propulsion is a 66kWh battery which gives an official WLTP range of 217 to 221 miles, something I would be testing to the full with a long distance road trip. Certainly, for the more urban operator, 150 miles + of real-world range should be ample for a day’s delivering.

There is a choice of two body lengths, known as L2 and L3, with 24cm the difference. In Tourer form, both models have nine seats as standard, the L3 boasting a more flexible interior and much more room for luggage.
L2 prices start at a smidgen over £60,000, plus VAT of course, for a ‘Pro’ trim model with at least a further £6,000 required for the ‘Premium’ spec. Not cheap, but residual values should be strong and of course low emission zone charges will be avoided. Maintenance should prove to be cheaper too.

Before setting off on my road trip, I fully charged the van and was quite surprised to find a predicted read out range of 246 miles displayed, way over what I have expected. My first leg comprised of 35 miles of twisty cross-country A and B roads, followed by 55 miles of dual carriageway and motorway. I drove in my usual brisk style, with no particular attempt to conserve range. So:


This was probably my best run, but it showed that the quoted range was more than achievable in the real world. Charging away from home though was not with out its challenges. I was staying in a coastal village with newly installed street chargers. I was looking forward to a simple, slow overnight charge, but the operator required an account to be set up, funds to be added and then a series of complicated steps via my mobile phone. Several phone calls later, it did finally work. Simple turn up, plug in and tap a contactless payment card should be standard, but so often isn’t.

With a fast charger, a top up to 80% should be possible in around 40 minutes. On a slow AC supply, around 10 hours will be nearer the mark.

The eVito is simplicity itself to drive once you get into Mercedes-Benz mode. The company likes to do things a little differently, so the gear selector on the right of the steering column makes sense. It can be operated with fingertips.

Rather old school, is the foot operated handbrake, released by a handle on the dash. It disengages with a rather unseemly thud. The company’s passenger cars have moved on from this system.

All models get cruise control, twin sliding doors (with optional electric assistance), heated powered mirrors and a rather basic looking infotainment screen with DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. I found my iPhone would not always connect and the radio reception poor in rural areas.

Premium models get a more adjustable driver’s seat, colour-coded bumpers, more comfortable rear seats, and a clever rail system which allows them to be slid forward and backwards to suit.

The options list is vast and an essential addition would be a rear parking camera (£618), especially with the L3 version. The rear headrests block out much of the rear visibility and as I was travelling mostly solo, I removed the centre ones. No camera was fitted to the test vehicle, and I had no desire to mark the pristine painted bumpers.

There are plenty of storage cubbies, cup holders etc and the door bins are usefully commodious too.

Ride comfort is quite impressive and would likely improve with a full complement of passengers and although quite wide for some of my usual test routes, I found the accurate steering allowed me to place the van precisely on the road and therefore keep up a good average speed. It was quite fun.

Those in need of eking out the maximum range possible could use the steering wheel paddles to alter the level of brake regeneration. Set to the maximum, you can drive with hardly any need to touch the brake pedal. You can also select one of three drive modes, E+ being the most efficient by cutting the power. It did not suit me, and I guess it would struggle if there was a full load on board.

I enjoyed my week with the eVito and I can see the L3 versions being used for airport runs and urban taxi duties. The level of refinement is impressive, the range adequate and the build quality reassuringly good. With continual improvements in battery technology, at last commercial EVs are beginning to look like a viable option.