With the intention of replicating the success of the V-Class, Mercedes launches the T-Class based on the industrial Citan. Tourism focused on family and recreational use that we have already been able to test and analyze to discover its secrets.
Converting the Vito into the Mercedes V-Class was one of the great ideas of Mercedes in recent years. The large minivan of the house has become one of the best-selling models of the house. With that idea in mind, those from Stuttgart now turn the Citan into the Mercedes T-Class. A model that moves away from the professional to embrace the familiar and recreational. It is not a van, but a multipurpose tourism that is very reminiscent of the Citan Tourer.
Mercedes had been announcing the launch of the T-Class for a long time. With the idea of the V in mind, we all expected a radical transformation, but it has not been like that. I am not saying that it is a disappointment, but it is a small surprise since it is difficult to find the differences, although there are, there are. Outwardly it is like playing seven differences. There are so few changes that there are not even seven. Up to 17-inch wheels, chrome stripes on the grille and rear window, no black bumpers and 10 different body colors. And that’s it, there’s no more.
In the T-Class, as a good multi-purpose family vehicle, form is at the service of function. With its quadratic lines, the entire development is focused on giving passengers as much space as possible. At the moment it will only be available in a five-passenger body, but from next year the unit with seven seats and three rows of seats will be launched. A large model that grows considerably up to 4.9 meters. Extension occurs both in the wheelbase and in the rear overhang.
The idea is that it is a true seven-seater, so it must have space for passengers and their luggage. The growth is so considerable that only the gain in centimeters of the rear door reaches 20 centimeters. The most compact model shows quite contained measures: 4.5 meters long, 1.86 meters wide and 1.81 meters high for a wheelbase of 2.72 meters. To these measures must be added a trunk volume with 520 liters of minimum capacity, extendable to 2,390 liters if the second row of seats is completely folded down.
If few have been the exterior changes, not much more numerous are the interiors. I refer again to the Vito and the Mercedes V-Class. The differences between the two models are so significant that one can speak of completely different vehicles. Trim, insulation, seats, equipment, materials… In the T-Class only a slight improvement can be seen in the finishes of higher models in the range. Some plastic surfaces are covered with a synthetic material that is very pleasant to the touch. It is not a radical change, but it is always welcome.
Better materials also reach the seats. Once again in the highest finishes the Class T can wear a good quality leather upholstery that increases the feeling of comfort. But above all we are talking about a considerable improvement in equipment. While the industrial may lack any comfort or modern element, the compact minivan is offered very complete from the base equipment. Here is the main difference that separates it from the Mercedes Citan Tourer.
Thanks to the CMF-C platform, the T-Class can have modern technologies such as Full LED headlights, keyless entry and start, parking camera, heated front seats, instrumentation with multi-information display, ambient lighting, MBUX system with 7-inch touch panel, connectivity for mobile devices, induction charging, browser and much more. Nothing serious is missing, as an extensive collection of driving assistants is also offered such as lane keeping assistant, blind spot indicator, proximity radar and more.
Passengers will be able to enjoy much more technology than is usual in similar models in the category, where only the Volkswagen Caddy will be able to offer more (albeit at a higher price). As I have already said, for the moment only the five-seater versions will be offered. Two sliding doors give access to a very generous second seating row with three seats and a completely flat floor. With ISOFIX mountings and a very generous width, up to three child seats can be installed, although the one in the middle will only be fixed with the belt. The seven-seater versions will have ISOFIX in the third row, so they will have a total of five child seats.
Although the use is far from professional, the mechanical range in charge of mobilizing the Mercedes T-Class does not change with respect to the industrial, except for the names. The mechanical offer is very short, but balanced: two diesel and two gasoline. Petrol variants are recognized by the names T 160 and T 180, while the diesel units are the T 160 d and T 180 d. The powers range between 95 and 131 horses. All units send power to the front axle by managing a standard six-speed manual transmission or, optionally, a seven-speed automatic 7G-Tronic transmission.
At the wheel of the Mercedes T-Class
In recent years, light industrial vehicles and the family minivans derived from them have greatly improved their driving feel. With a focus more on tourism than industrial, they are capable of transmitting a pleasant feeling behind the wheel. That is the case of the T-Class, which, like the Citan Tourer, shows a touch very similar to that of any other car. Good ride quality, very responsive suspension and more than enough response.
The CMF-C platform allows the entry of a suspension more typical of tourism than industrial. Despite losing load capacity, driving and poise on the road are improved. Nothing to do with the industrial ones of yesteryear where steering wheel corrections were constant and where rolling quality was conspicuous by its absence. In this case, Mercedes has prepared a very comfortable and responsive minivan that, although it does not invite you to run, does not put you in uncomfortable situations either.. It’s actually going better than expected.
Next year the 100% electric unit will be added, which will be called Mercedes EQT
Engineers haven’t made any big changes. The platform is the same, but the rear suspension is not if we take the industrial models as a reference, which is not the Citan Tourer. Thanks to this good setting of the damping, it is able to swallow potholes without problems, becoming quite agile in changes of direction., something in which its weight content helps. As with the equipment, there is nothing that is missing or uncomfortable, bad or harmful. The best that can be said is that it is just like driving any other car. And that’s saying a lot considering the vehicle it is.
During the presentation I was able to test the most powerful version, the T 180 petrol with a seven-speed automatic gearbox.. It is a very balanced set and good response. With 240 Nm of torque we have enough thrust, although we must take things easy. If we are going to drive loaded for a long time, through mountain areas or on roads where it is necessary to constantly overtake, the 95-horsepower T 160 d may fall short. And if we are looking for consumption, nothing better than the T 160 d, either in the manual or automatic version.
The only downside I can put is that the rolling noise gets too high when we exceed the 120 km/h line. During the presentation held in Germany, the T 180 had no problem keeping up with the high traffic rates, although the discomfort of the air and the noise of the tires was noticeable in the passenger compartment. I’m just saying this to make a point, because I really don’t think anyone buys a T-Class with the intention of driving at such high speeds. In any case, you know that yes, it can withstand high rates without problems.
If you are thinking that the T-Class is expensive because it is a Mercedes, I am going to surprise you. It is true that it is slightly more expensive than similar models such as the Renault Kangoo Kombi or the Toyota Proace City Verso, but it is not as expensive as a Caddy. The starting price of the Mercedes T-Class is 28,062 euros. Price that corresponds to a model T 160 of gasoline finished of access. The most expensive of all has a starting price of 35,630 euros, a budget that fits a T 180 d model with superior finish and seven-speed automatic transmission.
Conclusions
I sincerely expected a little more differentiation between the Citan Tourer and the T-Class. The more industrial unit already seems to me to be a very successful bet, and that means that the T-Class is also. Now, I don’t know if the difference of about 1,500 can be justified for some customers, but the fact of having better equipment and higher quality elements can already be more than enough reason to make the leap.. All things considered, it’s a great buy, one of the best in the category, in factand much cheaper than its closest rival, the Caddy.