Test drive Mercedes Benz Vaneo W414 2002 - 2006 Minivan

New trend

Mikrovenins, minivans, single -combatants, universals of increased capacity - as soon as motorists and professionals from auto business do not call this class of cars, which appeared recently and has become incredibly popular. The legendary Renault Scenic, created in the mid -nineties, became the ancestor of this class and at the same time his name became a household man characterizing a whole group of different -caliber models of a similar plan.

However, almost no one knows how to call them correctly, because, having appeared in the guise of one or two models, the class of passenger universities has acquired so many subspecies and modifications in several years that for this category of cars you sometimes have to build a whole genealogical tree so that it is precise Determine its location in the ranks. And although the Mikrovenians and such cars are only six years old, if the date of their appearance is considered to be Scenic's debut, the propagation process in them is a frantic pace. During this short period, for which some domestic automakers do not even have time to develop a new model, cars of this class managed not only to grow in a family of different -caliber and varied models, but even to divide into several subclasses, with their advantages and disadvantages inherent in them.

However, we will not get into these technical jungle, if only because the exact and detailed description of at least the main subclasses indicating the secondary sexual characteristics can take the most huge volume of the newspaper strip. Let's just say: Mercedes Vaneo, the debutant of the recent motor show, is a normal minivan, which is based on the structure of the passenger platform and is, as it were, a transitional model between the Mercedes A-class and a very commercial V-class minibus.

It is the location of the model in the Mercedes hierarchy that allows you to clearly and without unnecessary clarifications to explain the whole essence of this model: a family single -combat, with the dimensions of a passenger car and appropriate maneuverability, with comfort at the level of the best analogues, which has an unusually spacious salon and the possibility of transforming the internal space.

If you look for analogues among competitors, they may well be considered the famous VW Sharan and the equally popular Opel Zafira: both cars are slightly longer than Vaneo, but lose it in height. These cars are similar even in design: front -wheel drive, a single -combed body, a five -seater salon in the standard and the seven -seater in the custom version.

About the design of Mercedes can be argued, because Vaneo does not look like a passenger car, and its appearance causes obvious associations with commercial models of this brand, while both of the aforementioned competitors have demand precisely because of their almost passenger appearance. However, calling Vaneo a minibus or Wan would also be wrong, because By the sum of its qualities, the Mercedes product is closer to passenger models. If you do not take into account its appearance, then I think this car will be more correctly called a universal of increased capacity, because it clearly does not reach the full minivan, and it can no longer be considered a passenger model. To make it clear to you, I will explain with specific examples. In the VANEO movement, it is felt a little more passenger if you compare it with VW Sharan, but at the same time it cannot directly compete with such iconic models in this class as Renault Scenic or Mazda Premacy. The dimensions are a little not of those, and the running qualities of this Mers do not allow us to talk about him as an alternative to an ordinary car. As in the Mercedes gamut, among competitors Vaneo, it is also like between classes.

Well, the classification classification, and cars such as Mercedes Vaneo are bought primarily by those who have the need for increased salon space and a large luggage compartment, but do not want to pay in addition for these advantages. Moreover, such a buyer has an unwillingness to pay not only literally, buying a completely unnecessary and not always convenient commercial van or its cargo -passenger modification, but also overpay for additional convenience and functional capabilities with a low level of comfort or controllability as a truck. And it is for such fastidious buyers that Vaneo is best suited: the car was simply created in order to carry and please the incredibly demanding owner. Are additional passenger seats required? You are welcome. In addition to the five chairs that are in the Vaneo salon, two more are offered, installed in the luggage compartment. In terms of comfort, they are not much different from the chairs of the first or second row, although, of course, they have fewer adjustments. If you travel as part of no more than five people, then your Vaneo passengers have nothing to complain about: in terms of the supply of internal space, this car is significantly superior to most competitors.

Here in this Vaneo really looks like a minibus: sitting in the rear chair, you can get to the back of the front only with your hand completely, and even then not always. The rear sofa is made in the form of three separate chairs, each of which can be folded separately, and under extreme seats there are special plastic pockets that allow you to store a different trifle, hiding it from curious eyes. Under the front seats, there are also such containers, but the glove compartment itself, like most modern cars, can only contain small gloves or a small -sized bar. True, to some extent, pockets in the front doors can also compensate for such a small volume of the glove box, which also have a niche-compan, but they, unfortunately, are not locked, and therefore cannot ensure the safety of the cargo.

By the way, if the family has small children, they are especially for them a children's package that is part of the standard equipment of the Family version. It consists of several original options intended for caring parents traveling with their always restless children. Everything begins with a small mirror that clings to the inner mirror of the rear view - it can be adjusted so that the passenger sitting at the wheel or just on the front chair always sees what is happening in the back seat. A huge number of toys, without which any self -respecting child will simply not go anywhere, will easily fit in the original folding box, which is in the unfolded form is a mat for a luggage compartment. Well, all the rampages necessary in such family travels can be folded in a bag with the symbols of Vaneo, which is hung on the back of the front chair.

The departure of the whole family on a picnic also does not threaten to turn into a kind of trip to the moon: for example, you will not have to take a folding table with you. Its functions are easily replaced by ... gender of the luggage compartment. More precisely, this is not a floor, but a special sliding pallet that extends almost by a meter. This table withstands a load of 120 kilograms, so you can even sit on it. True, for more complete compliance with their functions, folding legs would not have prevented this table. It is far from the fact that this design with runners in the luggage compartment can withstand constant pressure and in the future this pallet will not have to be driven back with a sledgehammer. Again, runners and some iron structures on the floor of the luggage compartment are not the best move for the family model.

But if most of these benefits of civilization most owners of multifunctional cars use it infrequently, then everything related to the work of the governing bodies and generally ergonomics of the governing bodies is under the close attention of owners and potential buyers, and any significant drawback will be instantly revealed. However, all these bricks, carefully looking for flaws in the latest models, may not worry about Vaneo: even with the most thorough inspection, they probably will not be able to find something that is not appropriate to the status of the brand. Ergonomics, visibility, ease of use of the main governing bodies - in all these Vaneo parameters, if not a round excellent student, then at least from hard good. Personally, during the test, I managed to find only one drawback regarding the ergonomics of the salon-the steering column has an insufficient range of height adjustments, which is why the leg constantly rests on the lower part of the steering wheel at the entrance and exit. This is at least strange, especially if you recall how high this car is, and the landing is vertical enough to avoid this nuance. As for the running qualities of a given car, I can’t say anything definite about them, since the part of the test called Drive passed only on the territory of the official dealer, and for this reason the running qualities of the model remained behind the scenes.

However, even without long punch, one could note many positive qualities inherent in this model. Firstly, a fairly convenient landing: the driver sits high, but at the same time not too vertical. Secondly, the settings of suspensions and steering do not provoke a driver into an excessively aggressive driving style, as some chickens do. A turbodiesel installed on a tested car is really perfect for a family model, and relatively small fuel consumption only adds pluses to its piggy bank. But as for the unsurpassed quality of Mercedes, especially in relation to this model, I would still argue. Upon closer examination, the car did not leave behind the impression of an expensive and quality product. At least some points related to the quality of the assembly of individual interior details caused strong surprise: there are no such mistakes even in a more affordable A-class. There was nothing criminal, but poorly opening glove compartment under the seat and the ignition castle with the backlash that were clearly not provided for by the design are poorly combined with the Mercedes Star. Although you can write off these flaws on the account of childhood diseases that inevitably occur in each model designed from a clean sheet. If these shortcomings in the near future are eliminated, then the question can be considered closed.

Mercedes Vaneo is a unique product, because with a whole gamma of commercial models, the legendary German automaker has never previously been engaged in the production of family models. This is the first attempt by the company to produce the initially non -commercial single -volume models, although Vaneo versions intended for small businessmen and courier services will probably appear soon. And the model could well be considered revolutionary, if not for the younger brother that had not appeared several years ago, an even more unique Mercedes A -class who turned all the ideas about this manufacturer in the minds of buyers.

We are used to the fact that the Merce-DES brand has always been associated with prestigious limousines and SUVs, but the emergence of a compact and single-volume A-class model led to the fact that the debutant of this year Vaneo is no longer surprising. On the one hand, this is even good: the car turned out to be solid, relatively inexpensive, traditionally high-quality, but its price does not go wild. And on the other hand, probably, the model still initially had to be presented as a commercial, and only then offer customers passenger, passenger versions. So it would be easier and from the point of view of the prestige of the brand, and it would be more pleasant to customers: it is better to buy a commercial passenger model with a driving qualities of a car than a la minivan with a character of a commercial van ...

(+) A large supply of space in the cabin, a huge trunk, comfortable sliding side doors, original design.

(-) The high price of well-equipped versions, not a very high assembly quality of individual interior elements, an invisible front overhang.

Text: Pavel Kozlovsky
 

Source: Auto -Gazeta / N 19 (365) dated 29.05.02