Mercedes-Benz India has launched the V-Class luxury MPV for a sticker price starting at Rs 68.4 lakh(ex-showroom, India). This marks Mercedes-Benz’s entry into the luxury MPV segment in India. The V-Class will be imported as a Completely Built Unit (CBU) from Spain and thus the high price.
Available internationally in three wheelbase configurations, the V-Class will only be sold in India in the long and extra-long wheelbase options. It is being offered in two seating configurations. The six-seater configuration, Exclusive(extra-long wheelbase), will retail for Rs. 68.4 lakhs and the seven seated configurations, Expression(long wheelbase), will retail for Rs. 81.9 lakhs, both prices ex-showroom, India. The Expression variant has a wheelbase of 3200mm with a total length of 5140mm, while the Exclusive variant has a wheelbase of 3430mm and a total length of 5370mm.
The V-Class gets a 2 litre, four-cylinder, BS6 compliant engine producing 160bhp of power and 380Nm of torque to propel the MPV to 100kmph in 10.9 seconds. It is the same engine as the updated C-Class and comes mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. The MPV that has been launched has been available in international markets since 2014.
The V-Class gets a host of creature comforts like Nappa leather upholstery, mid row seats with rails, airline-like trays for the mid and rear seat passengers, two-zone climate control and ambient lighting. The interiors can be had in three different shades of Nappa leather: black, beige and maroon. A 15-speaker Burmester surround sound system is an optional extra. The V-Class gets sliding doors with anti-pinch function and a rear windshield which can be opened. The V-Class is available in four exterior paint options: Brilliant Silver Metallic, Obsidian Black Metallic, cavansite blue metallic and mountain crystal white metallic.
With the V-Class, Mercedes-Benz India has pioneered the luxury MPV segment in India. As of now, no direct competitors exist in the market and the V-Class could gain from that. Mercedes-Benz is looking to target the burgeoning luxury SUV market with this launch.