What's the difference?
The latest VS20 Vito range, comprising Vito/eVito light commercials and Tourer/V-Class people movers, brings the first major facelift to Mercedes-Benz’s mid-sized (2.5-3.5-tonne GVM) van since 2015, along with numerous comfort, convenience, technology and safety upgrades.
The workhorse fleet is available in medium wheelbase (MWB) and long wheelbase (LWB) Panel Vans and Crew Cabs, with a variety of drivetrain specifications including the all-electric eVito LWB van.
We were recently handed the keys to one of the latest turbo-diesel variants to see how it measures up from a tradie/business perspective in one of Australia’s most competitive vehicle markets.
Long before Tesla EVs, there were electric golf buggies.
From the first half of last century, they began quietly ferrying birdie and eagle enthusiasts around their favourite courses.
For many, these have been their first (and only) experience of electric vehicles (EVs) at work.
Now, the blue-collared Blue Oval mob has this – the all-new E-Transit Custom.
Designed to take on other electric mid-sized vans such as the LDV eDeliver7, Peugeot E-Expert and the Mercedes-Benz Vito Electric, it is the brand’s second – and more affordable – foray into van electrification.
Does the E-Transit Custom score above par? Let’s dive straight in!
The Vito 119 Panel Van LWB offers excellent performance and driver comfort, with styling and all-round refinement that could make it an appealing business partner. However, the absence of an ANCAP star rating and a sub-one-tonne payload limit could be deal-breakers for some tradies and fleets alike, along with a list price that exceeds its Toyota HiAce LWB equivalent by almost $30K. Therefore, only a potential buyer can decide if its positives outweigh its negatives.
Wow. This is state-of-the-art EV van engineering – complete with sporty handling and an excellent ride – yet it maintains all the usual Transit attributes.
The Tesla of electric vans? Maybe.
The only thing remains is pricing and how the E-Transit Custom behaves and drives on Australian roads… and we’ll have the answer to those by the end of this year.
But as it stands, Ford's European mid-sized van is keeping the innovative spirit of the original alive.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.