The steep, unpaved driveway was so loose and covered in mud from recent rains that I could feel the ground slipping ever so slightly under the tires, even after we pulled to a stop.
I was instructed by my guide in the passenger seat of a 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD large van, in the muddy off-road park near Stuttgart, to back up and back up the small hill, and it didn’t seem like not the least bit worried about the concrete wall a foot or two away.
Without engaging any special modes or following any special tactics to accelerate, I lightly then moderately pressed the accelerator. The Sprinter, mounted on Continental VanContact Winter tires, wasted no power at the rear wheels. Instead, it gently worked the front wheels carrying most of the big pickup’s weight, gaining side-to-side traction to push the pickup cleanly up the slope and out of the mud pit.
It was a nerve-wracking but fast-paced display, and although we did some more mud riding, it was the most impressive of the day. Engineers conceded it would have ended up quite differently in the outgoing pickup truck.
2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD
The main role in this maneuver was a new four-wheel-drive system that uses a multi-clutch system to continuously vary the distribution of torque, sending up to 100% front or 100% rear, or any combination between the two. , using braking torque vectoring. Essentially a transplant of the Mercedes-Benz GL and GLS SUVs, it’s a big improvement over the previous system, which was a part-time system locked to a 33% front/67% rear split.
Standard Hill Descent Assist Control can be engaged when desired to moderate a very low, controllable rate of descent, even when the road gets slippery. The speed is adjustable a bit higher or lower via the cruise control toggle.
Those who want all-wheel drive in the revamped version Mercedes Sprinter 2023 the range has to go with the diesel engine, and what’s under the bonnet is improved too, playing a big part in that new traction and refinement. The next-generation 2.0-liter inline-4 turbodiesel engine comes in a choice of two different outputs – 170 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, or 211 hp and 332 lb-ft – but all-wheel drive doesn’t is offered only in combination with the high-efficiency motor.
2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD
It is mated to a new 9-speed automatic transmission. First gear for the automatic is actually 25 percent lower than the previous setup offered with low range, so they eliminated that layer of complexity from the transfer case entirely.
This is the same OM654 engine used in the Mercedes-Benz range of cars and SUVs in Europe. Mercedes says it’s a “more capable engine” than its turbodiesel predecessor, an inline-6. The company also notes that the new engine and transmission bring improved efficiency, lower noise levels, lower emissions and snappier performance, including faster launches.
This is exactly what I experienced on a short drive. While I didn’t experience the possible increase in sound and roughness from a cold start, it’s quiet and smooth. It also pairs well with the transmission, which offers superbly damped upshifts and quick downshifts that seem borrowed from a luxury SUV.
2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD
Electric power steering also replaces hydraulic power steering for 2023, and it has a light, precise feel that makes the van easier to maneuver through tight city streets, around roundabouts, and more.
That said, this minivan isn’t a fancy SUV that will get most of its miles on the daily commute or on the way to football practice. Mercedes-Benz has a lot going for its Sprinter vans. They’re the choice of delivery drivers, act as muscle rigs for plumbers and electricians, and also serve ski resorts, rafting companies, and outdoor enthusiasts. The Sprinter has been available with four-wheel drive since 2015, and pretty much since the start, making it one of the top new-vehicle choices for the landing craze.
Back to the slippery stuff. The way the upgraded Sprinter AWD jostles for traction reminds me more of dual-motor electric vehicles than other all-wheel-drive minivans I’ve driven. There’s a level of finesse that truck rigs like this rarely exhibit.
Mercedes engineers have confirmed that although the system is carried over from SUVs, it has developed a vast extended control board to accommodate various aspects of the van’s loading (and layout), oversized tires, lifts and anything else a landing user might throw at it.
2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD
I couldn’t help but wonder if all this traction expertise will be shared with upcoming electric Sprinters, as the brand moves towards a full electric range by 2030. For now, this question remains unanswered, but there have certainly been clues. Mercedes has already announced that from 2023 a new eSprinter will be built in South Carolina and designed on a modular electric versatility platform that will place an electric motor on the rear wheels. As for an all-wheel-drive eSprinter, I remain optimistic that it will remain an option with the Van.EA dedicated EV platform for light commercial vehicles. It’s hard to imagine Mercedes giving up such capability in the move to electric.
The 2023 Sprinters are now coming to the United States. The US-spec Sprinter starts at $47,000 in cargo van form, going up to $52,610 in passenger van form, and that’s a hefty $12,500 upgrade over the one of those for the diesel engine and all-wheel drive. For anyone considering building their dream land platform, this is just the beginning of the layout, now with a better foundation for the future.
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Mercedes covered transportation and accommodation costs so we could put our shoes in the mud and possibly learn something about future Sprinters