2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Cargo Van Review: Quiet, Capable, and Electric

My neighbors are often puzzled by the vehicles parked in my driveway. Sometimes, there are three different cars there in a single week. People even tell me they go out of their way to see what I’m driving. One day it might be a $300,000 luxury car, and the next a Kia Soul. This week, however, caused some confusion; instead of the beautiful 2025 Genesis GV80 that was there just a few days ago, there sat a massive van. Ah, the perks of being a car reviewer and talk radio show host.

Was this vehicle on my radar? No. Would I have sent a special request to Mercedes to get one? No. But when they asked if I’d review it, I said absolutely. I’ve had many beautiful Benzes over the years, and I wasn’t going to say no. After all, I get a fair number of questions on the Car Pro Show about Sprinter vans, just not the electric version. So, here we go. This is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Cargo Van.

This large van is 23-feet long, almost 9-feet high, and has a gross vehicle weight rating of over 11,000 pounds. So, who is the target customer for this vehicle? Companies that use their vans for work and deliveries. For example, Amazon uses a fleet of electric Rivian vans that you’ve probably seen. While the electric Sprinter doesn’t have the same towing or range capabilities as the diesel Sprinter, it is a more environmentally friendly option, and could be more economical to operate over time.

Like its diesel counterpart, it has a total of 488-cubic feet of cargo area behind the driver. The eSprinter is new to the U.S. but has been available in Germany for a while. For now, we’re only getting the long-wheelbase version with the high-top roof. We might see other versions later, like passenger vans, though I’m not sure that will happen due to the current EV climate in America.

Performance

Powering the big van is a usable 113-kWh battery that drives a 150-kWh motor, producing around 201-horsepower and sending power to the rear wheels. There’s also a smaller 100-kWh motor available, but it only produces 134-horses. Regardless of the motor, all eSprinters feature the same peak 295 pound-feet of torque and a 2,624-pound payload capacity, with a 4,277-pound towing capability.

In a first for me, Mercedes loaded the cargo area with a 440-pound box, secured inside. Being the curious type, I was dying to know what was in there! Could it be pure gold, spare parts, or even rocks? I’ll probably never know!

Interior

The cabin, believe it or not, is done in typical Mercedes-Benz style and is very nice, but remember, this is a work van. Lots of durable hard plastics cover the dash and door panels. Storage nooks, pockets, and cupholders near the front windshield reinforce its functional design. A large glove box sits in the center of the dash and houses USB and USB-C ports and a power outlet. Soft armrests add comfort, as do the seats, which offer plenty of adjustments.

A 10.25-inch full-color Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) screen has clear, colorful graphics that are easy to read. Voice commands using “HEY MERCEDES” work well, especially for navigation or when tuning into your favorite radio station or, ahem, automotive talk show. Primary climate controls are buttons and toggle switches, and everything is easy to operate. The MBUX screen is controlled with steering wheel controls, the touchscreen, or voice controls. This is also where you can activate the Mercedes Me connect, a subscription service offering features like remote access to charging data, climate control preconditioning, route adjustments based on battery range, and a prepaid charge card for EV chargers in the network.

The charging page of MBUX shows your battery life remaining as a percentage, the estimated range in miles, and how long a full charge will take. In the screenshot, at 10:31 AM, I had 81% battery capacity left, 149-miles of driving range, and it would take 2 hours and 30-minutes to get a full charge from the Level 2 EV charger in my garage. It also alerted me that the large Mercedes star in the grille, where the charge port is located, was open. The system appeared to be accurate; I checked again 2 hours and 10-minutes later, and the van was at a 98% charge.

The eSprinter has five settings of brake regeneration, controlled by paddles on the steering wheel, providing the driver with options on how much assistance the van offers. In its most aggressive level, Auto, the eSprinter will dynamically react to traffic and road conditions using radar. There are also three drive mode options: Comfort, Eco, and Maximum Range. Comfort provides the full 201-horsepower. Eco mode cuts power to 67%, about 134-horses, and limits climate control use. Maximum Range puts the van in full power-saving mode, dropping power to 53% and limiting you to about 107-horses. I tried Max and got right out of it, but I do enjoy one-pedal driving in the electric vehicles I review. I also discovered, the hard way, that the speed is limited to 75-miles per hour.

Behind the driver is a well-insulated partition. The eSprinter is whisper-quiet inside, a bit of a shock to me. I’ve driven a ton of cargo vans over the years, and typically they are loud and rattly, with a lot of road noise. Not the case with this one.

Safety

Mercedes provides the eSprinter with lots of standard driver-assistance technology, including blind-spot monitoring, crosswind assist, and automated emergency braking. It also warns the driver if it detects signs of drowsiness or inattention.

Options

Available options include: heated and pivoting front seats, a heated windshield, electric folding exterior mirrors, air-conditioning, an electric sliding door and step, heated steering wheel, and a digital rearview camera mirror, which is a must-have. Without it, you’d just be looking at the driver partition. The camera mirror shows what is behind you via a rear-mounted wide-angle camera.

Ride and Drive

I can’t stress how enjoyable the eSprinter is to drive. I expected to fight it when parking or making U-turns, but in reality, it is not cumbersome at all. If you own a business that uses vans, your drivers will thank you for getting the Sprinter. You’ll need to be patient due to the 75-mile per hour speed limit, and 0-to-60 happens sometime tomorrow, but this van isn’t built for speed.

EV vs. Diesel

How does it compare to the Sprinter diesel? As I mentioned, it has less towing and cargo capacity, and the electric version appears to cost about $12,000 more. Diesel fuel is expensive, however, so you might come out ahead over time. But there are still many unknowns.

Range and Charging

The Ford Transit electric van may cost less upfront than this Mercedes. But I’ve heard horror stories from listeners and dealers about the lack of range in the Transit EV.

Some report that with a light load, the range is under 100-miles in the real world. This eSprinter will get you 248-miles of range with an empty cargo area, and my 440-pound cargo box didn’t seem to make a big difference. I’d imagine 2000-pounds probably would, however.

Charging times with a fast charger are good: 42 minutes to 80%. With a Level 2 charger like mine, a full charge from 0-to-100% will take around 12 hours, but you’ll likely never let it get all the way to zero. Forget charging with a 110-volt power cord; it wouldn’t be practical.

Verdict

I am glad for the opportunity to have tested this vehicle, and I thank Mercedes for inviting me to do so. The eSprinter isn’t for everyone, but for some, you’ll enjoy the driving experience, even with its large size. What I liked most: The ride, the quietness, and how easy it is to drive. What I would change: Let me go 80 mph, please.

• MSRP: Exact amount unknown, base price starts at $75,316.
• Fuel Economy: Not rated.
• Odometer reading when tested: 4,200 miles
• Official Color: Arctic White.
• Weight: 9,370 pound GVWR .
• Length-Height: 280” long/107” high.
• Fuel Tank Capacity: N/A-Charging port center grill in front.
• Towing Capacity: 4,277 pounds.
• Final Assembly Point: Charleston, SC.
• 2023 eSprinter in a few words: Best in class range and a joy to drive for those people who need a lot of cargo area.
• Warranty: 4-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance, and 8-year/100,000 mile warranty on the battery pack.
• Manufacturer’s website: www.MBVANS.com