Pros
- AWD model is really good off-road
- Relaxed, refined driving manners
- Feels extremely well built
Cons
- Can get very pricey
- Slow even without cargo
- Short on modern conveniences
When it comes to Truck of the Year, people generally think of … trucks. But full-size vans can offer the same utility and more. And thus our competition included the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter 2500 cargo van—a compelling electric option for businesses looking for a cleaner fleet—and the updated diesel-powered 2025 Sprinter 2500.
Among more exciting entrants vying for the Golden Calipers, such as the baja-ready 2025 Ram 1500 RHO or the apocalyptic 2024 Tesla Cybertruck, a couple of German cargo boxes might seem bland and destined to watch this competition from the sidelines. However, after hauling and off-roading them with the rest of the crew, it’s clear the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter isn’t just for the nine-to-five or nomadic #vanlife YouTubers. For example, the AWD diesel offered shockingly precise and responsive steering, and even with its 170-inch wheelbase, the eSprinter felt reasonably nimble.
Our diesel example was a short-roof, short-wheelbase AWD version, while the eSprinter arrived as a high-roof, long-wheelbase model with the optional uprated electric motor. Rear drive is standard for both and the only drivetrain option for eSprinter. All-wheel-drive Sprinters all have the high-output version of the 2.0-liter I-4 turbodiesel.
Despite packing the strongest versions of each powerplant, neither van impressed judges in a straight line, each requiring more than 10 seconds to hit 60 mph. Judges noticed the diesel was louder with a 2,500-pound load of horse mats in the back, but it never felt labored from behind the wheel. In the eSprinter, we’d skip the weaker motor—what would life be like with it shouldering a full load? The mind shudders.
Even still, the van is refined and comfortable enough that “I could work at Amazon if I drove one of these every day,” deputy editor Alexander Stoklosa said. We enjoyed imagining Stoklosa slinging stocking stuffers the week before Christmas, but the rest of us weren’t as committed even if the addition of Mercedes’ familiar multifunction steering wheel with capacitive touch controls makes it feel like a modern Benz. Along with the MBUX infotainment system, available 10.3-inch touchscreen, signature round A/C vents, and standard heated driver’s seat, it makes the Sprinter and eSprinter feel more upscale compared to competitors like the Ford Transit and Ram ProMaster. As for interior noise, the cabins were quieter than some of the trucks’, though the optional bulkheads certainly helped.
But there are stumbles. For example, simple necessities like USB charging ports for mobile devices are hard to access. The cargo van has two in the cabin, but one is nearly impossible to access from the driver’s seat, located near the floor on the center console. The new 2025 Ram ProMaster EV wasn’t made available for this year’s competition, but it and the refreshed gas model will offer Stellantis’ Uconnect 5 interface and have an available wireless charging pad. And these vans aren’t cheap, our two Mercedes straddled $90,000 with options, putting a dent in their value proposition. It’s similarly hard to make a case for advancement in design for what is, after all, a box that’s looked largely the same for decades.
Off-road, the Sprinter did acquit itself rather well. We tapped the AWD diesel version for this portion of the proceedings, and judges had far more fun than expected, marveling at how it tackled signature obstacles like the slippery, crater-covered Mt. Magna. Even with open differentials at the front and rear, the Sprinter went nearly everywhere the other trucks did.
We’d happily recommend any Sprinter to a fleet manager or tradesperson looking for a top-shelf van. And we loved its driving refinement and the seemingly infinite enclosed cargo space—so handy for loading and unloading items like hay bales, rolls of insulation, or other large and awkward cargo. Was it enough to recommend the Mercedes for the win against our criteria?
This review was conducted as part of our 2025 Truck of the Year (TOTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.
| 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Cargo Van 2500 Specifications | |
| BASE PRICE/AS TESTED* | $63,475/$93,414 |
| POWER (SAE NET) | 201 hp |
| TORQUE (SAE NET) | 295 lb-ft |
| ACCEL, 0-60 MPH | 11.8 sec |
| QUARTER-MILE | 18.8 sec @ 73.6 mph |
| BRAKING, 60-0 MPH | 136 ft |
| LATERAL ACCELERATION | 0.68 g (avg) |
| MT FIGURE EIGHT | 31.1 sec @ 0.49 g (avg) |
| EPA CITY/HWY/COMB | Not tested |
| RANGE, EPA COMB/MT ROAD-TRIP | 206 miles (mfr est) |
| *2025 Pricing | |
| VEHICLE LAYOUT | Rear-motor, RWD, 2-pass, 3-door van |
| MOTOR, TRANSMISSION | Permanent-magnet electric, 1-speed automatic |
| CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) | 7,036 lb (49/51%) |
| WHEELBASE | 170.0 in |
| LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT | 280.0 x 79.5 x 107.1 in |
| ON SALE | Now |
| 2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van 2500 AWD Specifications | |
| BASE PRICE/AS TESTED | $62,750/$84,328 |
| POWER (SAE NET) | 211 hp @ 3,800 rpm |
| TORQUE (SAE NET) | 332 lb-ft @ 1,400 rpm |
| ACCEL, 0-60 MPH | 10.4 sec |
| QUARTER-MILE | 17.6 sec @ 77.2 mph |
| BRAKING, 60-0 MPH | 130 ft |
| LATERAL ACCELERATION | 0.65 g (avg) |
| MT FIGURE EIGHT | 31.5 sec @ 0.48 g (avg) |
| EPA CITY/HWY/COMB | Not tested |
| EPA RANGE, COMB | Not tested |
| VEHICLE LAYOUT | Front-engine, AWD, 2-pass, 3-door van |
| ENGINE, TRANSMISSION | 2.0L direct-injected turbodiesel DOHC 16-valve I-4, 9-speed automatic |
| CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) | 5,638 lb (59/41%) |
| WHEELBASE | 144.0 in |
| LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT | 233.5 x 79.5 x 111.3 in |
| ON SALE | Now |
