25 years. That's how long Mercedes-Benz has offered the Vito. While the brand is more commonly associated with luxury sedans and sporty AMG models, their reputation as a builder of reliable and robust commercial vehicles is strong.
The Vito, now in its 25th year, is perhaps the most recognisable offering. To celebrate a quarter of a century in production - and 1.8 million units sold worldwide - the German brand has enhanced the safety features of their commercial van.
Receiving a facelift earlier this year, Mercedes introduced a host of safety and driver assistance systems for their Vito. This included Active Brake Assist, a digital rear-view mirror and Distronic. The Stuttgart-based brand has gone one step further, adding Blind Spot Assist as standard to the commercial vehicle.
"With the Vito’s Blind Spot Assist, drivers receive an audio and visual warning when there is a vehicle or obstruction in their blind spot. Warning signals and a red triangle appear on the exterior mirror, allowing time to avoid a collision or accident."
But that's not all. Active Brake Assist is also standard, the system capable of detecting a collision with a vehicle up front, alerting the driver with both a visual and acoustic warning. If the driver responds, brake pressure is built up to help avoid the situation. However, if the driver does not respond, the system assists with braking manoeuvres, says Mercedes. "In urban traffic, Active Brake Assist also reacts to stationary obstacles or crossing pedestrians."
Also worth a look: the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Celebrates 140 Years with an Epic Glob and the Mercedes-Benz Gla.
FAQ
Q: What does the Mercedes-Benz Vito cost in South Africa?
The Mercedes-Benz Vito starts from around R680,000 for the base panel van model, with crew cab and tourer variants pushing well past R800,000 depending on specification and safety features.
Q: Is the Mercedes-Benz Vito worth buying for commercial use?
Absolutely, the Vito offers excellent build quality, strong resale value, and now comes packed with safety tech like Blind Spot Assist and Active Brake Assist as standard, making it a solid investment for businesses.
Q: What safety features does the new Mercedes-Benz Vito include?
The updated Vito comes standard with Blind Spot Assist, Active Brake Assist, digital rear-view mirror, and Distronic cruise control, putting it ahead of most commercial van competitors in the safety department.
Q: How reliable is the Mercedes-Benz Vito compared to other commercial vans?
With 25 years in production and 1.8 million units sold worldwide, the Vito has proven its reliability credentials, typically outlasting competitors like the VW Crafter and Iveco Daily with proper maintenance.
Should You Buy It?
The best premium commercial van under R900,000 in South Africa is definitely the Mercedes-Benz Vito. Yes, you should buy it if you need a reliable workhorse that won't embarrass you pulling up to client meetings. At around R680,000 for the base model, it's pricier than a Toyota Hiace or Nissan NV200, but you're getting 25 years of proven engineering, class-leading safety tech, and that three-pointed star badge that actually means something in the commercial vehicle world. The new standard safety features like Blind Spot Assist and Active Brake Assist could literally save lives and insurance claims, making the premium worthwhile for serious businesses.
