SA Road Tests

Welcome

This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

My most recent drive is on the home page. Archived reviews and opinion pieces are in the active menu down the left side. Hover your cursor over a heading or manufacturer's name and follow the drop-down.


We get to grips with M-B’s revitalised Vito range for 2015

Significant technical updates

Pics by Mercedes-Benz A.G
Posted: 16 September 2015

The numbers

Prices range from R372 780 to R744 386. Agility leasing and CharterWay maintenance plans are available.

111 engine: 1598 cc, four cylinder diesel – 84 kW at 3800 rpm and 270 Nm between 1500 and 2500 rpm. Claimed average fuel consumption is 6.2 to 6.4 l/100 km
114 engine: 2143 cc, four cylinder diesel – 100 kW at 3800 rpm and 330 Nm between 1400 and 2400 rpm. Claimed average fuel consumption is 6.3 to 6.5 l/100 km
116 engine: 2143 cc, four cylinder diesel – 120 kW at 3800 rpm and 380 Nm between 1400 and 2400 rpm. Claimed average fuel consumption is 5.9 to 6.1 l/100 km
119 engine: 2143 cc, four cylinder diesel – 140 kW at 3800 rpm and 440 Nm between 1400 and 2400 rpm. Claimed average fuel consumption is 5.8 l/100 km
Warranty: Not stated
Service plan: 5 years / 120 000 km

“Why would anyone in their right minds choose to launch a new panel van at a racetrack?” we wondered.

Mixto is a mix of passenger and cargo vehicle 


If the company concerned is Mercedes-Benz SA there are two simple reasons: First, it has an extremely adequate hospitality and conference venue, called AMG Performance Centre, at Zwartkops Raceway. It’s where you’ll probably go if you can persuade your employer to spring for a day’s high performance driver training, by the way. The second is that the raceway has a skidpan right next door - and MBSA had a point to prove.

Part of the spec’ of even its lowliest commercial vehicle offering is Adaptive ESP. It goes beyond normal electronic stability programs by taking load conditions into account, so rendering your least safety-skilled driver unexpectedly competent.

The skidpan was sprayed in wet and dry patches, a couple of them a few centimetres deep, with orange cones marking out driving routes. There was a short “there and back” slalom (randomly wet and dry) followed by a 180-degree turn and a wicked left-right swerve (both deeply wetted).

“Don’t pussyfoot around,” the instructor urged, “I want you to turn much more tightly than that guy is doing in the slalom. Then when you get to the wet, I want pedal to the metal and throw yourself at those turns.” If you’re more than 21 years old, your built-in survival chip tries to prevent you engaging in such foolishness. Once you’ve bypassed that, however, the result is surprising. There’s much shuddering and thumping as systems switch in and out and braking forces are flung from corner to corner of the vehicle, but nothing bad happens. There’s hardly a twitch as the programming saves your sorry butt.

Warning: Basic physics still applies, so don’t try this on public roads. Electronics can do only so much. After that there WILL be a tree, or the side of a concrete bridge, waiting to welcome you to your personal Valhalla.

Apart from styling changes, there have been significant technical updates. The first concerns new, entry-level versions with a small diesel engine and front-wheel drive. These, although they are rated to carry decent loads, are intended for lighter continuous use. Think florists or couriers rather than industrial pallets full of cargo. Think five-seater family van rather than eight-seat shuttle. That brings us to a change in nomenclature: “Crew bus” is history. They’re called Mixto (five-) and Tourer (eight-place) now.

Traditionalists need not be nervous – for serious work, 2.1-litre diesels and rear-wheel drive still rule.

Briefly, the range consists of ten variants sharing one body length, four engines, two gearboxes, three styles and some impressive basic equipment. This includes, for safety, ABS with BAS Pro, Adaptive ESP, trailer stabilisation, ASR and adaptive brake lights. Other good stuff is attention assist, crosswind assist and fog lights. Suspension is independent front and rear, as are disc brakes. That’s on everything from the cheapest 111 cargo carrier upward.

The first styling is a workhorse panel van available in 1.6 fwd and two versions of the 2.1, offering 100- or 120 kW in rwd. There's a smooth, tough floor, a decent measurement between wheel arches, length for three DIN-size pallets, two side sliders and hinged rear doors. It seats three, with a solid steel panel between people and cargo. Passenger carriers have a lift gate at the rear.

Sadly, radio and air conditioning are only optional. Comment: Have you, as a typical hard-hearted employer, ever stopped to consider that springing for those basic comforts might make your team happier, more productive and less likely to abuse your vehicle? Or that their more cheerful dispositions might filter through into customer service? We tried a basic panel van on the familiarisation drive on a hot, Highveld day - then demanded one with home comforts at the first vehicle change. Think about it. The extra bit spent will repay you later.

Next is Mixto, a mix of van and bus, with seating for five and lots of room for a busy family’s baggage. Engine choices are the 1600 cc, 84 kW, diesel with fwd and the "116" (120 kW), version of the bigger engine. Aircon is still optional although a radio is standard. Six-speed manual transmission is included although the 116 can have a torque converter-equipped 7G-Tronic optionally.
 
Then come eight-seat Tourers in Pro- or Select trim. Pro level offers higher spec’ levels than does Mixto. There are choices of three engines; 1600 cc "111", and "114" (100 kW) or "116" (120 kW) motors. All have radios, aircon and manual ‘boxes although the bigger ones can be ordered with automatic.

A pair of Select versions offer yet more basic equipment and the 116 engine with 120 kilowatts or the "119" (140 kW) motor. The auto ‘box is optional on the 116 but standard fare on 119. While the top version of the Tourer Select comes close, it isn’t yet a V-Class (previously Viano). That’s something else entirely.
 

Information gathered at a manufacturer-sponsored media event.

Interior of Mixto

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. As quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so they can see I do actually exist.

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