For the 2021 model year, the German automaker has given the eVito a host of upgrades borrowed from its diesel-powered version.
The eVito’s electric motor develops 112 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque and is powered by a 41 kWh (35 kWh usable) battery pack. Mercedes claims that the batteries can be fully charged in 6 hours when connected to an AC fast charger.
The van is offered in two different length configurations and two trim levels. The first is a standard “Progressive” grade, sufficiently equipped with air-conditioning, heated driver’s seat, rear-view camera, and a 7-inch infotainment system.
For added luxury, buyers can opt for the “Plus” pack adding color-matching bumpers, parking sensors, and electric-folding side mirrors, only to name a few.
Electric panel vans are now becoming a common thing, and competition in the segment is increasing rapidly. Mercedes’ offering is better in some parameters than the competition, but the driving range is not one of them.
With just 92 miles on tap, the eVito falls behind other models such as the Peugeot e-Expert, the upcoming 2022 Ford e-Transit, or the Citroen E-Dispatch, all of which offer more than 200 miles of range.
To be fair, though, there may rarely come a time when the claimed 92-miles range may not be enough for an average deliveryman. But range anxiety is real, and when there are cheaper options available with more than double the range, we fail to understand why anyone would choose the eVito.
Having said that, there are also other options with less range than the eVito, such as the Volkswagen ABT e-Transporter 6.1 and the LEVC VN5 van. But we expected better from Mercedes.
In terms of pricing, we are afraid it’s another bad mark for Mercedes. At £49,074 in the UK, the eVito is far from cheap. It indeed sits at the higher end of the segment. The Citroen and the Peugeot are available for around £25,000, considerably less than the eVito. Moreover, in true Mercedes fashion, there are a plethora of optional extras available with the potential of raking the price much higher.
More details on Mercedes-Benz’s website.
