The German manufacturer’s V-Class luxurious people mover, which received a facelift last year, now boasts a new top end model, the V300d. Don’t be fooled by the “300” part of the model range nomenclature. The extra horsepower does not originate from a 3-litre engine but from Merc’s 2-litre, 4-cylinder, oil burner with a whopping 176 kW and 500 Nm torque.

The V300d will take top spot in the range, taking the crown from the V250d with its 140 kW and 440 Nm. There are also two more versions of the same engine with less power (100 kW and 120 kW) lower down the range.

In the acceleration phase, the V300d can deliver another 30 Nm of torque in addition to the 500 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 220 km/h.The 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission is also available for the first time in the V-Class range and is exclusively available as standard for all V300d variants. The Dynamic Select switch allows the driver to switch between "Comfort" and "Sport" drive programs and customise the gear shifting characteristics. The "Manual" mode allows the driver to shift manually using the steering wheel paddles.

"With the introduction of the V-Class five years ago, we showed that a stylish and dynamic presence is also possible in any size. In doing so, we were able to convince families, leisure adventurers and business customers alike that this is the vehicle of choice for both their work and leisure needs. The introduction of the V300d into our market means that we continue our success story as we build on the strengths of our MPV by adding more choice, luxury and individuality to the segment,” said Nadia Trimmel, Vice-President of Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa.

The personalisation and high quality interior and exterior finish with the attractive Avantgarde and AMG Line are carried over into the V300d. The Exclusive Line comes standard with the highly sought-after customisation options such as the panoramic sunroof, rear climatised seats and centre console with a built-in drinks cooler.

To complement the high level on individualisation the V-Class customers enjoy, the Night Package is available exclusively for the V300d. The trim elements are adjusted accordingly and include black exterior mirrors in obsidian black, black anodised beltline trim and AMG front bumper with black trim.

This car comes packed with every little thing you can imagine – from a tailgate that electrically closes the rear door, split window in the tailgate with a raised parcel shelf, 19" (inch) Alloy Wheels, either AMG or black AMG, or 10-spoke light alloy are standard and a Tyre pressure monitoring system.

Competitors: Volkswagen Caravelle and California. The Mercedes-Benz’s less expensive Vito range has more competitors from VW, Hyundai, Toyota and Kia.

​The range and prices (August 2020):

V300d Avantgarde – R1 440 203

V300d Avantgarde plus AMG Line – R1 515 183

V300d Exclusive – R1 645 880