2025 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter

Whether for weekend or commercial ventures, the all-electric Mercedes-Benz eSprinter’s ample capacity, high clearance, and creature comforts raises it above the competition.

In case you haven’t noticed, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans – and variants from other brands – are all rage, especially among outdoor enthusiasts wanting a reliable but refined support vehicle. They’re the modern equivalent of the classic VW vans that provide not only transportation but also gear storage and even a place to sleep, cook, eat and hang out – or in. But Sprinters have much high ceilings and ground clearance than regular vans and part of the pride of ownership is customized “builds” that makes them both personal and practical, while Mercedes-Benz offers a multitude of “upfitting” options from shelving to refrigeration for commercial purposes.

While you can hardly pull up to a popular campground or beach in California without seeing several Sprinters, chances are no one will have an all-electric eSprinter. This battery-powered version of the popular vans is not only limited in production and therefore exclusive but also saves money on gas and the environment from harmful emissions.

Well-Equipped Work Vehicle

The eSprinter starts at $61,180 and comes in three trim levels: a 144-inch wheelbase with a standard or high roof or a 170-inch wheelbase with a high roof. It can also be equipped with either a standard 100-kW/134-horsepower electric motor or a high-output 150-kW/201-hp e-motor. I tested the flagship 170-inch wheelbase high roof version with the $3,500 high-output motor and loaded with more than $10,000 in options including a $1,644 infotainment system with 10.25-inch touchscreen and a $1,142 Navigation Charging Package that adds 110-kW DC fast-charging and an Intelligent Navigation feature that optimizes routes and charging stops based on real-time traffic and topography. With a $1,150 delivery and destination charge the final sticker came to $82,077.

For what’s essentially a work van, the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter comes with a long list of standard creature comforts such as a heated driver's seat and cruise controly. Driving a vehicle this size takes some getting used to, so the $746 Digital Rearview Mirror that was added to my test vehicle and is connected to a rearview camera is a wise option. It also had the Crosswind Assist option that at speeds over 50 mph automatically detects strong and sudden gusts and applies the brakes to individual wheels to help stabilize the big van.

The Drive and Verdict

I’ve owned two VW camper vans and several RVs and was impressed by not only how the Crosswind Assist feature worked and the eSprinter’s highway-driving demeanor but also its nimbleness in city traffic. The electric powertrain with the high-output motor provides plenty of pep, although you can feel the eSprinter’s almost 7,000 pounds of curb weight when accelerating, braking and in sharp turns.

The eSprinter has Mercedes-Benz’s trademark attention to detail and subtle stylishness you won’t find in competitors such as the Ford Transit and Ram Pro Master, but it’s still essentially a cargo van and has a no-frills look and feel inside and out. This will perfectly suit anyone looking to buy an eSprinter for commercial reasons and load its massive 488.1 cu. ft. cargo volume and gives DIY van lifers a huge blank high-end canvas to fill with creativity.

The eSprinter with the standard 81-kWh battery’s 150 miles of range is short compared to most EVs but plenty for around-town trips. My test vehicle with the 113-kWh battery can get up to 206 miles of range, which is more than chief competitors: the Ford E-Transit with 159 miles of range and the Ram ProMaster EV with 174 miles of range. So weekend warriors will want to go with the optional battery, which is just about enough to get from Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe and back on a single charge.

by Doug Newcomb
Doug Newcomb has been writing about cars for more than three decades. He’s served as an editor at Road & Track, Edmunds.com, and Wards Auto and has written for Motor Trend, Automobile, Autoblog, Wired, Rolling Stone, and numerous other publications. He co-founded the C3 Group in 2013, which produced automotive technology events in New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and at SXSW in Austin and was acquired by Wards/Informa in 2018. When not at his computer, he’s usually driving a cool car or riding a surfboard.

Photo of van on bridge and van's navigation screen by Doug Newcomb.