With lockdown leisure travel restrictions eased Mercedes-Benz is hoping to see South Africans bopping down the highways to the sound of a 16-speaker Burmester system in the V-Class V330 d that joins the lineup of luxury cruisers.

First launched in 2015, the V-Class had a facelift in 2019 getting a restyled front-end design, a sporty and streamlined cockpit as well as a new range of alloy wheels and interior trim options.

“With the introduction of the V-Class five years ago, we showed a stylish and dynamic presence is also possible in any size. In doing so, we were able to convince families, leisure adventurers and business customers alike this is the vehicle of choice for both their work and leisure needs. The introduction of the V 300 d into our market means we continue our success story as we build on the strengths of our MPV by adding more choice, luxury and individuality to the segment,” says Nadia Trimmel, Vice President of Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa.

The V 300 d is equipped with the four-cylinder OM 654 engine, with a 2,0-litre displacement and boasts 176 kW of power complimented by 500 Nm of torque making it the new top performer in the segment. In the acceleration phase, the V 300 d can deliver an additional 30 Nm of torque in addition to the 500 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 220 km/h.

The 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission is also available for the first time in the V-Class range and is exclusively available as standard for all V 300 d variants. The Dynamic Select switch allows the driver to switch between ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sport’ drive programs and customise the gear shifting characteristics. The ‘Manual’ mode allows the driver to shift manually using the Direct Select steering wheel paddles.

The personalisation offered by the AVANTGARDE and AMG line is carried over into the V 300 d. The EXCLUSIVE line comes standard with customisation options such as the panoramic sunroof, rear climatised seats and centre console with a built-in drinks cooler.

To complement the high level on individualisation the V-Class customers enjoy, the Night Package is available exclusively for the V 300 d.  The trim elements are adjusted accordingly and include black exterior mirrors in obsidian lack, black anodised beltline trim and AMG front bumper with black trim.

As with all other V-Class models, the V 300 d comes standard in a 7-seat configuration but this can be customised to a 6 or 8-seater, depending on the customer’s needs. Leather seats can be changed from the standard Black Leather, to Tartufo Brown Leather, or Silk Beige Leather at no extra cost.

Safety highlights include the Driver Assist package that features PRE-SAFE, Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist and Active Brake Assist.

In addition to the Driver and Co-Driver crash bags, Thorax bags for driver and co-driver and the front window crash bags from A-B pillar come standard and additional Window bags that extend from the A-D pillar can be ordered as an option. Child locks on the rear doors ensure the little ones do not open the Electric rear sliding doors while on the move.

V 300 d models also feature the Mercedes-Benz User Experience or MBUX and replaces the previous COMAND Online system. This feature will also now be available across the full V-Class model range.

The system includes a 10,25 inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Smartphone integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Mercedes-Benz hard-disk navigation.

The standard Burmester sound system also comes standard on all V 300 d models. The 16 speaker surround sound system brings impressive sound to every seat in the V-Class thanks to the multichannel surround sound technology. The integrated voice amplification system also ensures that the driver and front passenger can converse comfortably with rear passengers, regardless of the distance between them.

V 300 d Variants:

V 300 d AVANTGARDE	V 300 d AVANTGARDE with AMG Line	V 300 d EXCLUSIVE
Carry over specification from V 250 d AVANTGARDE	V 300 d AVANTGARDE specification plus ·        AMG Line with black AMG rim	V 300 d AVANTGARDE with AMG Line specification plus ·        Panoramic Sunroof ·        Distronic ·        360 degree Camera Package ·        Climatised rear seats ·        Refrigerator Centre Console

Pricing

Model Description	Retail Price incl. VAT	CO2 tax incl. VAT	Retail Price incl. VAT and CO2
V 300 d AVANTGARDE	R 1 425 023	R15 180	R1 440 203
V 300 d AVANTGARDE with AMG Line	R 1 500 003	R15 180	R1 515 183
V 300 d EXCLUSIVE	R1 627 250	R18 630	R1 645 880