Mercedes-Benz Valente 2012 Review

Based on siblings Vito and Viano, the eight-seat Mercedes-Benz Valente (from $54,490) takes the familiar recipe of placing seats into a commercial van, and adds a touch of class and versatility certain to earn it some well-deserved attention.

Available in a single, highly specified trim level, the Valente comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone (front and rear) climate control, cruise control, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth telephony, multifunction steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, daytime running lamps and iPod/USB/auxiliary audio inputs.

The cockpit is spacious with excellent outward visibility and a commanding driving position that is in equal measure supportive and comfortable. Controls fall to hand easily with the familiar Mercedes-Benz layout proving dated, but nonetheless practical. The soft-touch cabin, leather-bound steering wheel and gearshift knob add a nice tactility to proceedings, also.

In the rear, a voluminous passenger compartment benefits from eight reclining seats, the centre row of which can be faced in a fore or aft configuration depending on preference. Carpeted throughout and with rear privacy glass (from the B-pillar back), the rear cabin’s accommodation is as comfortable as it is generous in proportion.

Ventilation ducts are offered on the outboard edge of each row of seating while the seats themselves are fitted with lap/sash (three-point) seat belts and armrests (outboard positions only). The seat backs can be flipped forward to create an armrest or to allow the through-loading of unusually shaped items.
Under-seat stowage is adequate and with 730 litres of cargo space up back Valente offers considerably more versatility than similarly priced seven-seat SUVs.

Accessed via a large, top-hinged tailgate, our only complaint would be that Valente would possibly be better served by a set of barn doors, the existing arrangement consuming a lot of real estate when loading and unloading the vehicle in close confines.

At the wheel Valente is an impressively strong performer (120kW/360Nm) whose strength is matched only by its fuel economy. Loaded with eight occupants and luggage the sizeable van performed effortlessly in climbing the considerable hills of the Macedon Ranges district, and was equally capable when overtaking on highway stretches.

After a weekend running around Victoria’s Macedon Ranges district, including a highway trip to and from the Mornington Peninsula and three days’ city commuting, the Valente averaged a fuel consumption figure of just 9.8L/100km.

Like most turbodiesel engines, Mercedes-Benz’s 2.2-litre four-cylinder is not without a degree of turbo lag, though it’s worth noting this is negligible thanks to the flexibility offered by the engine’s twin turbo arrangement. Peak torque is offered from as low as 1600rpm and through to 2400rpm meaning the five-speed automatic does not need to shift as often to achieve the desired result.

In spite of its lack of ratios, the transmission is smooth and decisive. It is easily overridden by a lateral -/+ arrangement at the D (Drive) position, though it’s worth pointing out that the only time we used this function was in gaining engine braking to supplement the four-wheel discs on sustained downhills runs.

The all independent suspension arrangement provided a comfortable yet capable ride that did not suffer at all from additional weight of eight occupants and luggage. Even fully loaded Valente retained cornering composure, presenting only a slight chattering from the front end on corrugated gravel driveways.

Parking and low-speed manoeuvring was a cinch thanks to a turning circle of just 11.8 metres (better than some mid-size SUVs), a reversing camera (optional) and front and rear acoustic parking sensors. While at highway speed maintained an unperturbed feel on centre with appropriate weighting, response and feedback in the bends.

With front, window and thorax airbags, as well as anti-lock brakes and stability control, Valente is on par with its competitors where safety is concerned. And while it does not have an ANCAP or EuroNCAP rating of its own, Valente’s twin-under-the-skin Viano scored a four-star EuroNCAP result when last tested in 2008.

Comparing Valente to cheaper rivals is difficult when we’re not afforded the privilege of a back-to-back comparison, but from recollection, we would place the Mercedes-Benz offering as preferable to offerings from Hyundai, Kia and Chrysler -- based primarily on its on-road manners and sizeable passenger compartment -- while levelling it on the quality scale with the slightly smaller Volkswagen counterpart.

For larger families who require the use of seats large enough to accommodate lanky teens on more than a temporary basis, similarly priced seven-seat SUVs just won’t do the job Valente will. It’s practical, comfortable, spacious and, despite its considerable proportions, quite easy to live with. And let’s not forget, easy on the hip pocket.

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