Mercedes-Benz V-Class | Photo Credit: Yash Gawde

You’ve to be seriously affluent if among your crises for the day involves whether or not to buy the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. It’s a car you can go on a stroll in, to put it into perspective, and its only real rival wears a Toyota badge.

The facelifted V-Class, returning to India after a hiatus, features an extra-long wheelbase, pegged at 3430 mm. Its overall length is 5370 mm, which is 365 mm (about 1.1 feet) longer than that of the Toyota Vellfire — its primary rival. Then again, while the Vellfire is priced lower ( ₹1.19 to ₹1.29 crore), the ₹1.40 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) V-Class gets you the Mercedes-Benz badge. A lot of them, in fact, if you count all the little ones on the grille. What is a rich man to do, then?

Objectively, the V-Class feels every bit like an indulgence. Sure, it’s quite van-like in its appearance, but the upshot is its tremendous road presence; it’ll turn heads all right. The treat here is understandably the cabin, which is enormous. The front seats are typically Merc, well-appointed and comfortable although the driver’s seat is inherently high-set.

That’s not the row that gets to make the decisions anyway. That onus rests on the middle row and here the V-Class properly impresses. Mounted on rails, the middle row of seats can slide all the way to the third row, also mounted on the same rails. In fact, Mercedes-Benz will let you configure the V-Class even just as a four-seater (no third row) or with a pair of rear-facing seats. The middle row of seats can recline fully and features an electric leg-rest, aside from offering seat cooling/heating and even a massage function (vented seats are offered in the third row as well). Though not as old-school plush as on the Vellfire, the V-Class’ tauter seats feel undoubtedly sublime. There are no screens or tray tables at the rear, though, nor a panoramic sunroof to stargaze out of.

Luggage space is practically unlimited (I think the brochure says 5,000 litres!) and there are lots of little stowage spaces, more Type-C charging ports than you’d want and even a space saver mounted on the underside. Practicality? Not a concern at all. To nitpick, none of the four rear windows can be opened and the sunshades for all four are manual. The Burmester speakers are actually fantastic, though, and the cabin on the whole feels monumentally better at night, courtesy Mercedes’ excellent ambient lighting package.

unique finesse

Let’s keep the driving impression short, however, because that really isn’t the point of the V-Class or, for that matter, its rivals. It took me a little while to get used to its dimensions, but in terms of refinement, responsiveness and intuitiveness, it’s no different to driving any other kind of Mercedes. Courtesy its 248-bhp combined output, I wouldn’t call it spirited, but it does hold expressway speeds with a certain finesse that’s quite admirable.

On the downside, the suspension is on the firm side, which translates to a few unpleasant thuds over broken roads. If it gives you some peace of mind, you can raise the ride height by 35 mm. On another note, the tank capacity is 70 litres, which translates to a range of roughly 550 km. Oh, and while the V 300 is only a mild hybrid (the Vellfire is a self-charging strong hybrid), the economy-conscious amongst you can opt for the identically-priced 2.0-litre diesel, which will undoubtedly be more efficient while offering greater range.

Has Mercedes-Benz missed a trick, though — if not the entire bus — with the kind of configuration the V-Class is offered in? I think so. I wish Mercedes had offered an over-the-top Maybach-spec version, which would have given it far a greater edge over the Vellfire. Perhaps that’s something the yet-to-be-launched electric-only VLE is meant to accomplish. Then again, what do I know? Buying a V-Class isn’t on my to-do list for the day.

@TheMotorGram

Published on June 26, 2026