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Not so basic: 2019 Mercedes-Benz Vito 111 CDI Tourer PRO

An alternative SUV?

Posted: 1 February 2019
Pics sourced

The numbers:
Price: R646 063 including CO2 tax
Engine: 1598 cc, DOHC 16-valve, four-cylinder turbodiesel
Power: 84 kW at 3800 rpm
Torque: 270 Nm at 1500 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 15.1 seconds
Maximum speed: 169 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 8.3 l/100 km
Tank: 75 litres
ANCAP: four stars
Luggage: 500 litres, all seats up
Turning circle: 11.8 metres
Standard tyre size: 206/65R16
Spare: Full
Maintenance Plan: Six Years, 100 000 km
Servicing at 40 000 km intervals or every two years

Let’s deal with nomenclature first:
•    Vito Tourers are passenger carriers based on panel vans
•    Two specification levels: PRO (basic) and SELECT (smarter)
•    V-Class is built on the C-Class platform and is essentially a C-Class inside
•    Viano is history

Our test vehicle was an entry-level 111 CDI Tourer PRO. It has the smallest engine in the range, a 1600 cc Renault R9M diesel relabelled OM622DE for M-B use. Its only gearbox is a six-speed manual. It is also the only model in the range using front-wheel drive. Mercedes-Benz lists it as a nine-seater, but eight-and-a-half might be more accurate because it would be almost impossible for an adult, sitting front row centre, to get comfortable that close to the gearshift tower.

Other Tourer PRO models, 114 CDI and 116 CDI, use M-B’s 2143 cc diesel in different states of tune - 100- or 120-kilowatt – and rear-wheel drive. Common to all are “rubber” floor covering material; fabric seats; steel wheels with plastic covers; powered mirrors and front windows; automatic, single-channel air conditioning with ducting to the rear; height- and reach adjustable steering wheel without satellite controls; automatic locking on the move; two airbags; a sunspecs box; a pair of illuminated visor mirrors and an Audio 10 radio with music inputs.

The driver’s seat adjusts for reach, height and backrest angle. All others are fixed in all directions but can be removed to allow an impressive range of passenger- and load configurations.

Despite not allowing fore- and aft adjustment, legroom in back rows is brilliant although the fixed rake angle could wear on passengers’ feelings of goodwill after a while. Balancing that, pleasant surprises include four ISOFix mounting sets and an unofficial hiking staff rack behind the front seats.

Although rows two and three boast overhead grab handles for outer chairs, the left front passenger has to do without. That caused a grumble when we loaded the car up with six large adults for an outing to the Mariannhill Monastery and back again. This leads to the jackpot question: “Can a little 84-kW diesel, mounted in such a big body, handle a load like this?”

Short answer: Yes. The 111 CDI Tourer conquered Key Ridge in both directions, in top gear, losing only about 20 km/h (from 120 to 100) at its steepest points. M-B recommends that you opt for one of the bigger engines if planning to run airport shuttles or tour guiding services regularly, but for occasional big loads the 1600 works well.

Buyers wanting steering wheel buttons, alloy wheels, carpeting, roof rails, cruise control, active parking assistance, a smokers’ pack, Comfort seats for those in front, a central console with storage, rain sensing wipers and a smarter Audio 15 radio set will need to find about R200 000 extra for a SELECT 116, or add options as available.

Because it’s based on a panel van the loading deck is easy to reach at 43 cm and suitably wide with a high doorway.  Once the latch has been released, powerful gas struts render the hatch effectively self-opening. An easy to reach pull-strap makes closing simple. Allowing for possible seat removal and other configurations, there are plenty of lashing rings and channels that can be fitted with optional hardware, to secure odd loads like motorbikes or furniture.

Minor complaints include ignition switch and parking brake release on the “wrong” sides of the steering column and a forest of head restraints making rearward vision almost impossible. But that’s what big wing mirrors are for, right?

Vito 111 Tourer PRO is a competent and spacious package – possibly worth considering in place of an “ordinary” SUV. Give it some thought.

Test unit from MBSA press fleet

See the 2015 Launch Report

We drove a 116 CDI Tourer in 2016

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.

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