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Refreshed 2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Launches As Chevy Express, GMC Savana Rival

Mercedes-Benz has launched a refreshed 2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter model, offering direct competition to the Chevy Express and the GMC Savana in the light commercial van market.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter can currently be ordered through dealerships, with dealer sales slated to begin in the second half of 2024, according to the automaker’s recent announcement.

The latest model year of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is offered in four configurations, including Cargo, Crew, and Passenger body styles, plus a Cutaway variant. Available wheelbase lengths include 144 inches and 170 inches, while payload ranges from 3,307 pounds for the Passenger variant to 6,812 pounds for the Cargo van. Cubic feet of cargo space ranges from 111 for the Passenger to 533 for the Cargo.

When it comes to motivation, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter comes standard with a turbo-diesel 2.0L I4 engine developing 168 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. An optional high-output version of the same engine is rated at 208 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. RWD is standard while AWD is optional on certain setups. A 9-speed automatic transmission handles cog swaps.

The 2025 model year offers a refresh and a number of new features. A 7-inch infotainment screen is standard, but a 10.3-inch screen and instrument cluster are included in the Mercedes-Benz User Experience, or MBUX, intelligent multimedia system package offered as an option. Safety systems are improved, with many features that were previously optional now fitted as standard.

Rain-sensing windshield wipers, Active Brake Assist with an intersection function that works at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour, and tire pressure monitoring on dual-wheel vans are among the features now standard for 2025. Blind spot monitoring is better at detecting pedestrians and cyclists, with a 360-degree camera system watching for these hazards in multiple directions.

Pricing for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter starts at $50,900, plus a destination freight charge of $2,295. For comparison, the 2024 Chevy Express and 2024 GMC Savana have a starting price of $42,595 including a $1,895 destination freight charge. The starting MSRP of the most expensive Express variant, $52,390, is slightly lower than the cheapest Mercedes-Benz Sprinter configuration.

Andreas Zygan, chief of van development for Mercedes-Benz, says that “with its versatility, a new generation of infotainment systems and enhanced safety and assistance systems, the Sprinter continues to be the perfect overall system solution” for various commercial needs.

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Comments

  1. Really? A “rival” for the 1990’s era GM vans? It’s time GM committed to the future with a stand up van option, and far more efficient engine/ transmission choices. It’s not rocket science, GM, Mary.

    Reply
    1. In the real world out there, Sprinters and their offspring can be found sitting awaiting repairs for complex systems. Powertrain issues are common enough and year by year changes require constant upgrading of tools, equipment and training

      For anyone tuned in to repairing vehicles, working on Mercedes and their shared badged engineered products, can be an expensive proposition. These things are much more than a simple box on wheels.

      The underlying systems and associated diagnostic tools, equipment and access is far more complex. Therefore, outside of dealerships, those repairing the Mercedes-based product are specialists. I have a friend who provides a dedicated service to customers with these vans and the costs of set up are not inexpensive. It is profitable, since other repair facilities send their customers to him.

      In comparison, the Express/Savana platform is pure and absolute simplicity in comparison and can easily be serviced and repaired when necessary, by most well-equipped independent sector repair facilities. The associated service costs have to be taken into account.

      “Pretty” isn’t necessary for many trades people needing a basic van for work. Functionality and ease of service and affordable maintenance costs, with minimum down time are important factors.

      Having worked on “G” vans since the ’70s, the ’96 up Express/Savana are easy to work on. In comparison, Sprinters and their siblings are more challenging.

      The only thing missing that some would really appreciate is a raised rood version. These vans are often used where access to underground parking prevents access with raised roof vans. It would be nice to have the raised roof as an option.

      Driving the Express/Savana is something that even most can manage, since the driving position and visibility is excellent in any direction. The van may be old in the number of years of production, but it still fits the needs of many trades people and others nicely.

      On has to be very careful when assuming that Mercedes manufactures all of it’s own products, which of course are always at a premium price.

      E.G. In Europe, Renault has enjoyed a long partnership building “People Mover” vans with the Mercedes badge and ventures into large vans. Volkswagen has also been involved with Mercedes van projects.

      Reply
    2. GM can update this van easily. High roof option, update the dashboard, and better engine choices. Why does a bit of extra fuel economy always seem to be such a challenge? The overall van is good. But the rocker panel area is tremendously rust prone. Can’t GM do something to make it better? I guess that’s why it’s not called “VanDura” anymore.

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      1. Apparently according to an engineer they have to redo the whole chassis to increase the roof height.

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    3. It’s a good chance they will kill the full-size vans anyway, instead coming out with something that competes, let alone being better than the competition. Are kidding, it’s not the GM way!

      Reply
  2. Not mentioned is wind gust makes this hard to drive during windy days.

    Reply
    1. If you want a “stand-up” inside van, (high roof) you take the physics (it’s a rectangular box) as a given. However It comes with a stability feature specific for crosswinds. Do the Savana pair ? I honestly don’t know.

      Reply
  3. How is the 20 year old Chevy, with its wheezy V6 and basic construction and suspension so expensive compared with the brand new Mercedes? And options on the Chevy to narrow the equipment gap between the two narrow the cost gap even more. GM must print money on every one of these Flintstone era vans it sells.

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    1. Agreed , but you can still get the 6.6 @401 hp..its a ripper. mileage is better than my 6.0 also.

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  4. MB ruined the interior on these so hard that yes, a gmc savannah is actually nicer inside

    sprinter gen1.. eh ok typical euro thing
    sprinter gen2.. awesomesauce. still a bucket list item for me because why not.
    sprinter gen3.. what am i looking at

    Reply
  5. I don’t know why but my first response was moderated out. Grrr!

    I’ll try again. Mercedes badge engineers with other manufacturers in Europe. Just search for the association between Renault and also VW. Renault has built “People Mover” vans for Mercedes for years and some years ago was looking at the big van venture.

    So those with the “snob” factor, beware of imposters with any brand.

    Anyone who has ever worked on any Sprinter or badge engineered version knows how challenging and complex the power train is, with expensive tooling. My buddy has a sho with a complete separate entity providing service, diagnostics and repairs, catering to other repair shops who are unwilling to tool up since the costs are significant.

    In contrast, having worked on GM vans since the ’70s, the Express and Savana are pure simplicity, serviceable by any capable repair facility with general tools and diagnostics.

    Maintenance and repair costs are important considerations for those without an unlimited budget and the GM van meets those needs very well, requiring minimal down time for even a significant repair, since powertrain components have been shared with GM trucks forever and parts prices are very reasonable.

    Would a raised roof be nice? Yes, for some, but these vans are frequently used by trades people with the need to access underground parking.

    The GM van whether Express or Savana, is so easy to drive with great visibilty and a simple interior. This isn’t primarly intended as a people carrier, while upgraded infotainment is available if desired. Not everyone needs the stand up headroom, which also makes for an interesting ride in windy conditions.

    Reply
    1. That’s why you build two different versions, I think the big point is that the GM vans are ancient and suspension geometry has a lot to do with how any vehicle reacts in windy conditions.

      Reply
  6. I have a 19 Chevy express with a 2.8 diesel for my hvac business and that van comes close to perfection. GM should keep this van production going with a diesel option and a refreshed infotainment system because navigating from service call to service call would be nice with a carplay/ Android auto system.

    Reply
  7. The argument poorly made above sighting mb diesel system or the vehicle overall as complex is complete bs

    I own a 21 sprinter 3500 and a 22 express conversion with the 6.6

    Yes the express is faster but its ride is crap, driving dynamics is crap

    Fuel mileage is crap

    Sure it’s simple to work on assuming you were born back when having to take apart of front interior to access the rear of the engine was common

    I just completed the B Service on my sprinter yesterday, in my driveway.. Super simple

    The Sprinter drives better, rides better even as a 3500,like how is that even possible

    The fact that chevy let this go on for so long is bc boomers keep buying them

    I brought this for one reason, it was cheap(I got a covid steal deal) I use it commercially as a limo, my customers like the conversion setup but I can’t even have a conversation with them on the highway bc it’s so noisy

    I’ll never buy another one

    Ford on the other hand did what mb did, brought over the European one and worked it for the NA market and it’s number one,got one of these too but only in cargo

    It’s quiet on the highway, rides similar to the mb

    GM raising the price on 90s tech is exactly what is wrong with this country today,it cost them no more to build it, the cost so have actually gone down

    Reply
  8. I own 20 of the Chevrolet Express vans. They’re simple, easy to work on. You can change water pump anywhere in the United States in 3 hours. Parts are available everywhere but I do wish they would raise the roof of foot I have a few of them pushing 500,000 mi. 6 l engines are a beast. The transmissions 6l90 has a torque converter problem but that can be fixed if you tune them

    Reply
  9. Sill one of the ugliest vans on the road.

    Reply
  10. It would take Mercedes 5 years of stellar reports before I would take a chance on buying such an unreliable van. Because I need to tow that leaves the Mercedes out. That said, while I bought and love my 2023 GMC van, GM is WAY behind the times and it’s showing in their sales. Hopefully they will come up with a big beefy, hi-roof van in 2026/27 as has been rumored.

    Reply
  11. I’ve owned a GM van and MB sprinter over the past year. Tore down and rebuilt both. Both have their sore spots on repairs, GM parts are cheap and easy to find. However GMs build quality is crap. The rocker panel situation is unbearable, I cannot justify that kind of money to just see body rot in 3-5 years.

    Reply
    1. These do not rust out in 3 to 5 years.

      Reply
      1. I had a 2016 that already had paint bubbling in 2020. Full holes in the cab corners by 2022. Unacceptable by any measure.

        Reply
  12. I have a 2017 3500 express, not one bit of rust anywhere on the body, and i live in the snow belt of NY. I do take very good care of it in the winter

    Reply

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