Mercedes-Benz V-Class 2024 Review – International

The heavily upgraded 2024 Mercedes-Benz V-Class isn’t due to touch down in Australia until the third quarter of this year, so full specifications and pricing have yet to be locked down.

However, we expect the most affordable combustion-engined version to cost around $110,000 (before on-road costs), while the most expensive battery-electric EQV is expected to exceed $160,000.

Mercedes-Benz Australia says it will keep the line-up relatively simple, offering the V 250d Avantgarde, the V 300d Avantgarde AMG Line (with Night Pack) and the V 300d Exclusive.

The battery-powered EQV 300 will also be available from launch, with the largest 90kWh battery.

It’s thought that we will miss out on the compact-wheelbase variant and stick with the LWB only. Extra-LWB variants will also be available overseas.

The closest rival for the V-Class in Australia will be the new hybrid-powered Lexus LM, which starts from $160,888 plus ORCs.

The good news is the refreshed 2024 Mercedes-Benz V-Class comes loaded with standard equipment.

Expect a widescreen cockpit with two 12.3-inch displays, a second sliding door, wireless phone charging, leather-wrapped steering wheel, lane keep assist, leather upholstery, powerful Multibeam LED headlights, 64-colour interior ambient lighting, keyless start, satellite navigation with live traffic updates and a 360-degree camera.

The top-of-the-line Exclusive model, meanwhile, gets S-Class-inspired front styling – including a three-pointed star bonnet emblem for the first time – as well as sports suspension, heated Nappa leather steering wheel, electric memory seats, rear window tints, electric sliding rear doors, an electric tailgate and larger 19-inch alloy wheels.

The Mercedes-Benz V-Class is backed by the German manufacturer’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty in Australia, while servicing intervals are 12 months or 25,000km – whichever comes first.

Capped-price servicing will also be offered, with the first five years of maintenance (up to 125,000km) likely to cost around $5500.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz V-Class has yet to be assessed by either Euro NCAP or ANCAP, but if and when it undergoes another round of testing we wouldn’t bet against the MPV scoring an impressive result.

When it was introduced back in 2014, Euro NCAP described the V-Class as one of the safest people-movers money could buy, and while testing protocols have become much tougher since then, upgrades over its lifecycle – including this latest one – keep the model up to date.

Even the most basic V-Class comes with 11 airbags that include a centre-front airbag between the driver and front passenger.

New driver assist systems include blind spot assist, lane keep assist, fatigue assist, cross traffic alert (and braking), plus a 360-degree camera for safer low-speed manoeuvring.

The entire 2024 Mercedes-Benz V-Class range now comes with the car-maker’s Widescreen cockpit, as found on the E-Class, for example.

The introduction of the twin 12.3-inch displays for the digital instrument panel and the infotainment system was a direct response to customer requests.

Sitting behind a single glass cover, the high-definition displays run Benz’s latest MBUX operating system and are claimed to be considerably quicker than before.

As well as including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the crystal-clear screen also includes free satellite navigation with live traffic information, Car-to-X communication and a “Hey Mercedes” voice assistant – although the latter misses out on the brand’s new artificial intelligence-powered assistant that will be soon rolled out.

There’s no head-up display, which is a bit of a shame as the new sat-nav system with augmented reality can be tricky to interpret on the move.

Other new tech includes connectivity services spanning maintenance, accident and breakdown management and useful features like locking and unlocking the doors, and opening and closing of the windows, all controlled using the ‘Mercedes me’ app.

The refreshed 2024 Mercedes-Benz V-Class comes with just three powertrains, with two of them carried over from the current series.

In Australia, the most popular engine will be the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel (OM654).

Some markets will be offered a base 120kW/380Nm variant, but we miss out on that one and get the option of either the V 250d that gets 140kW/440Nm or the more muscular V 300d that pumps out 174kW and 500Nm.

For the first time, there will also be a mild-hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol (M254) that musters 170kW/370Nm, but it’s not expected to be offered in Australia.

Both the petrol and diesels are rear-wheel drive and combine with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In Europe, all-wheel drive remains an option on the diesel versions.

Finally, there’s also the battery-electric EQV that’s powered by a front-mounted electric motor pushing out 150kW/365Nm. It combines with a 90kWh battery.

All combustion engines are configured to be Euro 6e emissions-compliant so should be capable of staying relevant with the introduction of more stringent targets.

The new diesels all come with a large 24-litre AdBlue reservoir.

The manufacturer claims both the 2024 Mercedes-Benz V 250d and V 300d are both capable of averaging a very respectable 7.2L/100km on the WLTP European test cycle, while emitting 189g/km of CO2.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz V-Class has been overhauled to enhance levels of comfort and luxury, but in the chassis department it carries over largely unchanged.

That means it lacks the very latest modern SUV tech like active anti-roll bars, rear-wheel steer and trick torque vectoring.

Not that the V 300d Avantgarde proved to be a dynamics disaster on our launch drive. There’s actually more grip than you’d imagine and the steering isn’t as numb and vague as we might have feared.

However, body roll is excessive and the V-Class can’t quite disguise its considerable mass and feels far less agile than a typical car.

In other words, it drives like a van.

Our V-Class on test featured Mercedes’ Airmatic air suspension and came with a sport tune, but the combination of having to support its 2312kg kerb weight and provide for an impressive near-900kg payload means it’s prone to crashing over the occasional bump.

That said, the ride rarely fidgets over smaller bumps and, generally, the V-Class is a comfortable place to spend time.

The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is also pretty gruff, lacking the refinement you might expect of a vehicle at its price point, although there’s plenty of performance on tap, with 0-100km/h popping up in a brisk 7.4 seconds.

We were also impressed by the all-wheel drive traction and the general smoothness of the nine-speed automatic.

We also had a brief spin in the new mild-hybrid 2.0-litre turbo-petrol that offers the refinement we missed in the diesel and also feels quicker too, although the figures suggest otherwise (0-100km/h in 8.1sec).

As far as towing goes, the revised V-Class can only haul up to 2500kg – some way off the 3500kg something like a LandCruiser 300 Series can drag.

Like before, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz V-Class is one of the most practical and versatile vehicles on the market, with the German brand offering up to eight seats (six seats are standard).

We drove versions with up to six seats, with the second and third rows capable of sliding forward and backwards, or removed altogether.

Impressively, with six seats in place the long-wheelbase V-Class offers 1030 litres of cargo room – a figure that can be expanded to 4630L with seats folded.

It gets better, too, for while SUVs like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 (with fewer seats and less luggage space) have a payload of about 650-730kg, the V-Class can carry much more, with the V 250d rated at 933kg and 300d still outstanding at 893kg.

One engineer even admitted that Mercedes’ payload figures are on the “very conservative” side and that many owners use the people-mover to its full potential, with case studies suggesting some carry a motorbike plus parts and luggage for three for a race weekend in their range-topping leather-lined V-Class.

Others soon give up on towing and abandon roof pods altogether.

When it comes to blending carrying capacity with luxury, the V-Class should be almost unmatched, save perhaps for the Lexus LM. The top-spec version of the incoming Ford Tourneo Custom will also be one to watch.

Other handy features on the V-Class include a reversing camera that incorporates a hatched area on the live feed to ensure you leave enough room to open the large door when you park.

As part of this latest facelift of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz V-Class, designers were said to have been given greater freedom to help tempt buyers away from more traditional choices like large SUVs.

One of the chief reasons to position the V-Class further upmarket is the general trend over the past 10 years of Benz’s business customers choosing the luxury people-mover over a limousine to shuttle VIPs and captains of industry around.

One marketer even pointed out that one member of the British royal family now prefers to use one over a more regal ride.

That explains why the new Exclusive model pinches styling tips from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and even gets a bonnet emblem for the first time, emphasising its status as something far more than a van with windows and seats.

As well as the widescreen cockpit, there’s new finishes like a classy dark aluminium trim and even a reasonably convincing faux open-pore-style grey olive wood joining the usual line-up of piano black and mock carbon-fibre weave. There’s even a set of more stylish turbine vents.

The 64-colour ambient interior lighting and Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel all elevate the cabin, although the best place to sit remains the second row – especially with the new reclining individual captain’s chairs that are cooled, heated, have a massage feature and are combined with leg and foot rests, plus a folding table.

Up front there’s two USB-C ports and a redesigned centre console that also includes an inductive charging pad and removable cup holder.

In the second row there’s a further USB-C charging port and ISOFIX child seat mounting points on the individual seats.

It’s easy to understand the huge appeal of living with a 2024 Mercedes-Benz V-Class, especially if you have more than three kids, or if you need to haul around plenty of gear to sustain your hobby.

The big Benz wagon really feels like it’s a vehicle that can do it all while offering just enough comfort and sophistication to drive every day and delivering efficiency well beyond a large SUV.

We wished it drove and rode a little better – two aspects that will be addressed by an all-new replacement that’s due in a couple of years, when Mercedes-Benz is hoping the typical V-Class owner will be ready and willing to switch to all-electric power.

In the meantime, the V-Class is still one of those rare can-do vehicles.

2024 Mercedes-Benz V 300d Avantgarde AMG Line at a glance:
Price: $140,000 est (plus on-road costs)
Available: Third quarter 2024
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 174kW/500Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.2L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: 189g/km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested