Mercedes-Benz Introduces Two Stunning New Camper Van Models

Aug. 27, 2023 9:25 AM ET byGerhard Horn Reveal /1 Comment

Perfect for that #VanLife.

Mercedes-Benz is showcasing two brand-new Marco Polo vehicles at the Caravan Salon Dusseldorf in Germany. You might not be familiar with the Marco Polo nomenclature, but it's the name Mercedes applies to a car that has been converted into a camper van, like VW's California name for its campers.

The German brand introduced the V-Class Marco Polo and the T-Class with a Marco Polo Module. The V-Class is a more luxurious version of theMetris, while the T-Class is a posh compact van roughly the same size as aTransit Connect Passenger Wagon.

Why should you care about these new camper vans? Well, the growth in this segment is remarkable - around 5% per year since 2017. Last year, the camper van rental industry was worth $403 million. This figure doesn't even include outright purchases. It's so large even EV makers want a slice of the pie.

The V-Class Marco Polo is the more luxurious of the two, based on the all-new V introduced a month ago. While its exterior is quite pleasing to look at, we're more interested in the interior. The driver gets all the latest Mercedes-Benz goodies, including two 12.3-inch widescreen displays, the latest version of MBUX, and navigation with augmented reality.

Now that we've covered the business at the front, it's time to look at the party in the back. As standard, it comes with a pop-up roof with a bed, seats that can be converted to a bunk bed, a folding table, a fully equipped kitchen, and a wardrobe. Several of these functions can be controlled via the touchscreen up front or from a dedicated smartphone app.

Mercedes also mentions a 64-color ambient lighting system housed in the rear sliding door. Merc says this sets the mood, so if you see purple light from the outside and the van is rocking, don't come knocking.

Merc also used its latest driving technology to make sleeping more comfortable. The Airmatic air suspension has an auto-leveling function, so parking on an uneven surface is no longer a problem.

The V-Class Marco Polo has always been an expensive machine. The previous generation sold for around $85,000 (converted from British pounds), and the new one will likely cost more. To make #VanLife more accessible to the masses, Mercedes-Benz also introduced a nifty Marco Polo Module for the T-Class, an oddly-styled small family van introduced to the masses last year.

It doesn't have nearly as much space as the full-size V-Class, but the module Merc created slots perfectly into the trunk, and it's kept in place by the existing lashing eyelets. This box of goodies includes a bed for two people, to which customers can add several optional extras. Examples include a kitchen unit, a refrigerator box, an auxiliary battery, and even a Sleeping Package. The latter keeps the daylight out and adds a layer of protection against bugs.

With T-Class prices hovering around $30,000, we expect this particular model to sell for roughly $40,000. It's a lot of dough, but leasing a camper van is cheaper than renting (or buying) a house.

梅赛德斯-奔驰(mercedes - benz)做not say which market would receive the V-Class Marco Polo or the T-Class with a Marco Polo Module. The Metris isno longer available in the USAdue to poor sales, and the T-Class was never built with an American audience in mind.

Merc's attitude might change, considering the growth in the camper van segment. This growth is one of the unexpected results of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working remotely has become a widely accepted trend globally, and millennials and Gen-Z use it to their advantage. Van life is real, and thousands of youngsters are constantly on the road. They spend their days working and move to a new spot whenever they get bored of the view.

Because of this growth, the USA might get these models, possibly even the all-new VW California. Ford already beat both companies to the punch with theTransit Trail Camper,去年年底推出。更不用说影响力ux ofthird-party camper conversions.

It will be interesting to see how this trend develops and how manufacturers respond.