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.


More work, less flash: 2016 Mercedes-Benz Vito 116 CDI Tourer Select

Real people mover

Posted: 19 April 2016

Interior pic by author

The numbers
Base price: R716 832
Engine: M-B OM651 DE22LA, 2143cc, DOHC, 16-valve, four cylinder turbodiesel
Power: 120 kW at 3800 rpm
Torque: 380 Nm between 1400 and 2400 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 11.5 seconds
Maximum speed: 191 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 8.5 l/100 km
Tank: 75 litres
Service plan: 5 years / 120 000 km; at 40 000 km intervals

After a string of wunderwagens that were more electronic fantasyland than good, honest transport, it was a relief to be back in a real people mover for a change. Imagine this: A simple radio with USB, SD, auxiliary and Bluetooth - almost like one you could buy from your local electronics warehouse?

Admittedly fancier than the one in Tourer Pro, it does all you need it to do but without pretty pictures, reading out incoming messages, calling the mothership, streaming radio broadcasts from around the globe or setting up a mobile wireless network. Who, honestly, needs all that bovine manure that drivers shouldn’t be fiddling with anyway? There is already a cheaper alternative that does it all, and you upgrade it every two years. It’s called a cellphone.

Hard-wearing cloth covered chairs have mechanical adjusters but, because this is the smarter version of the eight-seat bus, they’re heated for those working in colder climates. Dash and door panels are all hard plastic with no pretence at having been borrowed from a gentlemen’s club, but their overall fit and finish still says “Mercedes-Benz,” just not “V-Class.”

There are no pretty little conference tables with storage compartments because this is more tour bus or airport shuttle than mobile booze lounge. Advisory: If we were writing up a V-Class, we would be polite and call it an “executive conference centre” but that’s the nature of the job – we endeavour to imagine ourselves in the minds (and wallets) of prospective buyers of each vehicle we review.

There is no automatic opening or closing of the big back hatch either, although we should mention that it’s easier to do than on some opposition products. Further in keeping with its commercial panel van origins, the air conditioner is only single-channel, with simple controls, although there are repeater vents in the roof and at floor level to serve those in the back.

Other clues to its workhorse origins are the multitude of storage spaces scattered throughout – big door bins and cubby, lots of cup holders, three document stashes on top of the dash, little boxes in door panels, gaps under the seats and an open tray below the six-speed manual shift lever. Then there’s the fact that it’s fitted with reversing beepers (excellent) but no camera (unfortunate, because this ‘van is gigantic).

The old-style Mercedes parking brake that you kicked into operation has returned but, thankfully, it releases by means of a pull tab under the dash. Thank heavens for hill hold. We feel sorry in retrospect for our parents who didn’t have that luxury.

An unfortunate side effect of modern conveniences is the cruise control wand on the left side of the steering column. The Pro version doesn’t have this, so the problem doesn’t arise, but to use the key, you have to sneak your left hand up from below and behind the cruise control stalk to insert, turn or remove it. We understand that this problem is isolated because other Vitos don’t have cruise, but M-B needs to move the key slot to the right hand side of the steering column.

Back to the good things: The loading deck is at knee level so it’s easy to load or for passengers to get in and out; the rear passenger seats move back and forward through a wide range so luggage volume can remain substantial while everyone has plenty of leg room; there’s enough head space for the tallest passengers; one or both rows can be removed completely to expand load area and, for when you do, the makers threw in eight lashing rings. They fit into the seat fixing rails to secure cargo, stand a couple of bicycles upright or carry a motorbike.

There are other seven- and eight-seaters out there, but M-B’s Vito is one of the rarities in which all three rows are actually usable by adults. It’s also affordably priced for a Mercedes - which it is – just not a V-Class.

Test unit from MBSA press fleet

Read our launch report on the Vito range here

We drove a 111 CDI Tourer PRO in 2019

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 you can see I do actually exist.

Comments?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you completely disagree with what I say? If you want advice or have a genuine concern, I will be happy to hear from you. All I ask is that you write something in the subject line so I know which vehicle you're talking about.