2025 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter

Think of a Mercedes-Benz and you’re bound to imagine a luxurious sedan or tech-packed SUV that any executive or upwardly mobile family would be proud to own. But Mercedes-Benz also makes a totally different type of vehicle for a totally different buyer: Commercial vans. In fact, Mercedes makes a lot of them and has done so for decades.

The Sprinter van is a staple on European streets and does big business here in the United States, too. The Sprinter is a full-size commercial van that appeals to everyone from plumbers needing a work van and hotels looking to provide shuttle duty, to van lifers, especially the adventurous ones who appreciate its diesel engine and available 4-wheel drive.

2024 saw the arrival of an all-new variant, the eSprinter, which, like seemingly all other future vehicles, is powered by electricity. It is the first all-electric Sprinter, and it grants Mercedes an entry into the growing field of electric commercial vans that includes the Ford E-Transit and Ram ProMaster EV.

Like those two rivals, the eSprinter, for now, is aimed at doing commercial work. It can seat two up front and leaves the cargo hold in back to the user’s wishes, whether that’s for delivery work or upfitting with shelves, workbenches, and the like.

As one might expect, the eSprinter has some premium touches – it’s still a Mercedes, after all – and comes at a premium price vs. its rivals. But the Mercedes carries a huge advantage in one of the most crucial regards for an electric vehicle (EV): range. The Mercedes eSprinter with the larger battery can travel up to an estimated 249 miles between charges. Moreover, the new smaller battery can go up to an estimated 204 miles on a charge. With either battery, the eSprinter handily beats the Ford’s 126 miles of range and the Ram’s maximum of 162 miles.

Mercedes adds a short (144-inch) wheelbase with a standard roof configuration version for 2025, addressing our major gripe with the 2024 model, which was a serious lack of configuration choices. Furthermore, Mercedes also adds the choice of a smaller battery (81 kWh vs. 113 kWh). Yes, it causes a reduction in the maximum estimated range (204 miles vs. 249 miles); however, it also contributes to a much lower starting price. Tweaking some of the advanced driver-assistance technology, the eSprinter has improved detection of pedestrians and cyclists. Rain-sensing wipers are now standard, too.

At these numbers, the Mercedes eSprinter is priced above its rivals. For example, the Ford E-Transit begins at roughly $10k less.

Before buying a new Mercedes eSprinter electric van, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying.

The most surprising thing we found when testing the new Mercedes eSprinter is how easy it is to drive. We don’t drive full-size commercial vans every day, yet once perched in the van’s high seat, it was pretty easy to get going and get along. This proved true even when navigating busy, narrow streets – just like the kinds a delivery driver will contend with when piloting an eSprinter. In this regard, it felt similar to other combustion-powered Sprinter vans we’ve tested. Like other EVs, a benefit of the electric version is how quiet it is. No engine means no sound or vibration.

Regarding the powertrain, the eSprinter is available with either a smaller or larger battery, both of which offer Standard Output or High Output versions. We tested the larger battery with HO, but not much felt “high output” about it. Even a smaller electric car like a Nissan Leaf can feel snappy off the line, while the eSprinter is tame.

Granted, neck-snapping speed is not what this is about, but with the larger battery, it feels fleetest in Comfort mode, which gives full power output. In the case of the high-output model, that’s 150 kW – 50 kW more than the standard-output model. Switching to Eco throttles that back to 100 kW, while using Maximum range further limits power to 80 kW. In these latter two modes, a stab at the accelerator pedal resulted in hardly anything. We should note there is an override, though, and if you continue to press down, it will allow the van to accelerate more briskly should you need to do so. Regardless of the battery size or output designation, the eSprinter van’s top speed is 75 mph.

The eSprinter Cargo Van’s interior is essentially split into two parts: the cab up front that can seat the driver and a passenger, and the cargo space in back that can fit 488 cubic feet of whatever you want in the long-wheelbase versions. That just edges the 487.3 cubic feet of max space behind the front row of the Ford E-Transit and is below the maximum of 524 cubic feet in the Ram ProMaster EV. With the standard wheelbase (144 inches), the eSprinter’s cargo room drops to 319 cubic feet, which is measurably more than 246.7 cubic feet of the standard-wheelbase E-Transit.

With the high roof, the eSprinter’s interior cargo height comes in at 79.1 inches, meaning even your 6-foot-5 delivery driver shouldn’t be scraping his head. Should you need even a few more inches, however, the Ford and Ram rivals provide it with 81.5 and 86 inches, respectively.

In front, we like that the eSprinter comes standard with a heated driver’s seat and that a heated steering wheel is optional. Drivers in cold-weather states will surely appreciate that. Other options include power-adjustable front seats, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and Mercedes’ voice-controlled assistant, and a digital rearview mirror, which is pretty much essential should you have a partition between the cab and cargo area.

The Mercedes eSprinter comes in two overall lengths determined by the wheelbase. The 144-inch wheelbase translates into about 240 inches of length, while the 170-inch wheelbase stretches to around 280 inches in overall length. Power-adjustable and heated side mirrors come standard, and we think the $55 option of power-folding ones is a good investment (although higher repair costs are a consideration). An electrically assisted right-side sliding door is also optional, as are 270-degree rear doors with a 90-degree stop. We appreciate the variety of exterior paint colors available for the eSprinter, with happy hues like Agua Green and Jupiter Red at no cost or ones like Brilliant Blue and Calcite Yellow for an upcharge, which we think makes sense if a business wants its vehicles to stand out when on the road.

Range
The eSprinter’s ability to travel up to nearly 250 miles between charges is its X factor. Less frequent charging can mean less downtime for fleets and less anxiety for drivers.

Heated front seats
When your job involves sitting and driving all day, an amenity like this can make a big difference. And it’s standard in the eSprinter.

Comfort Front Seats
Speaking of comfort, this option grants well-bolstered and more comfortable front seats. We spent some time in these seats and can tell you, firsthand, they are as advertised. Power-adjustability is another option.

Digital rearview mirror
How do you see what’s behind a windowless work van? With a digital mirror that uses a video feed. This option provided us with all the view needed to see what was behind us.

Rain-sensing wipers
Standard on every eSprinter, these wipers, when engaged, automatically react to moisture on the windshield, coming to life when the drops begin and adjusting speed as the rain intensifies or lessens.

Wireless phone charging
Another nice option for workers. Think of all the time and convenience saved by not having to plug in and unplug a phone to charge it over years of duty.

The Mercedes eSprinter sources its power from an electric motor and either an 81-kWh or a 113-kWh battery pack. No matter the battery size, the eSprinter Standard Output delivers 136 hp, while the High Output version makes 204 hp. The torque remains the same across the board: 295 lb-ft. Motor power goes to the rear wheels.

The eSprinter with the 113 kWh battery has a maximum estimated range of up to 249 miles between charges, while the smaller battery is estimated to travel up to 204 miles. Either battery easily beats the 126 miles of the Ford E-Transit and 162 miles of the Ram ProMaster EV. As for charging times, Mercedes estimates it takes the larger battery array 12.5 hours to go from empty to full charge on a Level 2 wall charger. With DC fast charging, the estimate to charge from 10% to 80% is 42 minutes. The smaller battery needs about 10 hours to fully charge from 0% and about 32 minutes go from 10%-80% charge on a DC fast charger.

Warranty

Mercedes Sprinter vans have a basic warranty of three years/36,000 miles. The eSprinter’s battery is covered for eight years/100,000 miles. This is typical coverage for the segment.

Safety

The eSprinter hasn’t been crash-tested by any U.S. agencies but comes standard with Active Brake Assist collision mitigation and crosswind assist. Options include blind-spot monitoring, a digital rearview mirror, and a driver attention monitor.