Mercedes Benz Viano test drive since 2010 Minivan

Mercedes-Benz Viano 3.2

Perhaps it is precisely such an analogy with aviation that primarily arises in the head when it comes to a comfortable minibus. Indeed, both are intended for the quick and comfortable movement of small groups of people, while on the way business people may well work, negotiate - in a word, do not waste time.

The requirements that are presented to it are also clear from the purpose of the car: it should be a fast, reliable, comfortable machine equipped with everything necessary for business trips. The new Mercedes-Benz Viano looks one of the most real applicants for taking leading positions in this segment, because the representatives of representative and business class with a three-beam star on the hood have been a guide for other manufacturers for more than a dozen years. However, as our tests showed, in the class of minibuses their own orders and their own balance of power.

A wide offer

Viano's claims to leadership in the class are already noticeable at the time of acquaintance. Four engine options are offered to choose from-two diesel and two gasoline, the most powerful of which develops 218 hp, a 5-band automato is installed as standard equipment on versions with gasoline motors, and a 6-speed mechanics are standard for diesel. The most comfortable version provides an air suspension with maintaining a constant clearance, regardless of the load, in addition, capable of lifting the body by several centimeters for moving, for example, through a high border.
Naturally, there are several options for configuration, there are as many as three hatches, rear open windows - with electric drive, the front seats are equipped electro-regulations, rear seats have the ability to long move to fairly large limits, and boxing with folding tables is installed between them, which only adds similarities with a business jet or business class interior in an airline. The system that remains in the cooling system is also interesting. With its help, the heating of the cabin, if necessary, can continue for some time even when the engine is already turned off. In a word, communication promised to be pleasant.

Piano requiring settings

While we got out of the Moscow Center clogged with transport, Viano never forced me to complain about what in something is wrong with him. A powerful elastic engine, a well -tuned machine, a convenient high landing and large spherical mirrors that provide excellent visibility in the city crowding, made it possible to feel quite normal. But as soon as we got out to the expanse of the suburban highway, it turned out that the nature of this relative of the S-Class is dual. On the one hand, the minibus was pleased with excellent controllability and stability, good steering, excellent dynamics - both accelerated and brake. In a word, the work of the driver Viano is by no means called heavy. But his passengers in flight are unlikely to feel like passengers of a business jet. Most likely, the reason for the low sound insulation and the low quality of the assembly of the cabin is that we got one of the pre -production samples for the test, which also managed to run along our roads about 10 thousand km.

And very hard Continental tires, which were installed on the tested car, were also probably made their contributions. They are more suitable for the cargo version of the minibus, for which the main thing is the carrying capacity. And they do not fit into the business performance - they really and clearly convey to the body not only pits, but also small irregularities, even riding on the so -called improved coating (asphalt with crushed gravel) in the cabin and very strong low -frequency hum. The rear seats also bring their touch to the picture of noise and vibrations, because their bases are rigidly fixed in the spaces and crossbars of the frame, therefore, all vibrations are freely transmitted to the frames of the seats. Another remark concerns the location of the passenger seats: in the option that we had on the test, the seats of the second row are too close to each other and it is impossible to squeeze out between them - to get from the front seat into the back of the cabin, you must definitely leave the car.

The final

If you summarize all the impressions of acquaintance with Mercedes-Benz Viano, you should note an excellent chassis, good motor and transmission that make it dynamic and convenient to control. There are also no complaints about the ergonomics of the driver's seat. As for vibro and sound insulation, do not forget that there was a pre-production model on the test. His suspension is clearly configured for smooth European autobahns, in our conditions, some other settings are needed. And if in addition, pick up softer tires and carry out work on the soundproofing of the salon, Viano will really be able to apply for the business jet laurels. Moreover, all these improvements do not require any serious alteration of the car design and were probably carried out when launching in the series. It would be interesting to travel on serial machines and see how different they are from prototypes.

Some technical characteristics of Mercedes-Benz Viano 3.2
(manufacturer data)
Dimensions, mm: 4750x1900x1875
Base, mm: 3200
Front/behind, mm: 1630/1630
Diameter of the turn, m: 11.8
Engine type: gasoline V6 18-valve
Working volume, cubic meter. See: 3199
Max. Power, L.S./rpm: 218/5500
Max. moment, nm/rpm: 305/2800
Transmission: automatic 5-band
Tires: 225/65 R16
Max. Speed, km/h: 191
Acceleration time 0-100 km, s: 8.2
Fuel consumption (EU), l/100 km: 12.5
Top volume, l: 75

Leonid Klimanovich
 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine