In a country dominated by small hatchbacks, the V-Class stands out as a rarity. It is big but not of the SUV variety. And frankly there is nothing that is similar to the V-Class in India. It is being offered as a CBU and so comes with a price premium in India. Mercedes-Benz could however, assemble it in India if there is enough demand. The car that is being sold in India is the previous generation V-Class – the new generation car was launched internationally just a week after the last-gen Mercedes-Benz V-Class was launched here.
The V-Class looks gigantic, no matter how you look at it. The broad nose is complemented by the swept-back LED headlamps. Although the car has the typical MPV shape, Mercedes-Benz designers have worked to ensure that this luxury MPV has a very streamlined face and the rest of the design flows effortlessly towards the back. The design makes a good attempt at masking its sheer size.
“Combined with the sliding doors that can be opened or closed at the press of a button and the supremely comfortable seats, it makes for a great space to be in”
The three-pointed stars on the hood announce the fact that this is no ordinary MPV. As soon as you step foot inside, you are greeted by swathes of space, the kind that you simply can’t expect in any other passenger car in India. Combined with the sliding doors that can be opened or closed at the press of a button and the supremely comfortable seats, it makes for a great space to be in. Add to that, al the trimmings that you’d expect from a luxury badge and we have a cabin that simply stands out. There is loads of space, so much that the centre and rear row seats are mounted on rails and can be moved or adjusted to face each other. All the materials used in the cabin are great to the touch and coupled with the ambient lighting and three-zone climate control it makes for a relaxing place to be in.
“The V-Class has enough punch but the weight and sheer size of the car shows when you push it”
The V-Class is only available with one engine and gearbox combination and is the same as the one on the last gen C 220d. It produces 161bhp of power and 380Nm of torque that can hustle the V-Class in a respectable 10.9 seconds. The V-Class has enough punch but the weight and sheer size of the car shows when you push it. The grunt from the engine is enough for those highway jaunts and the transmission does a good job, too.
“At high speeds, the ride gets better and V-Class displays great ability to cruise at three-digit speeds while cocooning the occupants in absolute luxury”
The ride quality is impeccable and the suspension irons out all imperfections with ease. Only the deepest ruts make their presence felt. At high speeds, the ride gets better and V-Class displays great ability to cruise at three-digit speeds while cocooning the occupants in absolute luxury. NVH levels too are remarkably low. The V-Class handles well enough for a car of its size. But don’t expect it to carve corners. There is a fair amount of body roll and that prevents you from pushing it around corners.
The V-Class ticks most boxes and delivers an experience that no other car in India offers. At its price point, its closest competitors are luxury SUVs, but the V-Class certainly holds an upper hand when it comes to sheer comfort and luxury.