Used Mercedes-Benz Vito for sale: everything you need to know
Three generations and nearly thirty years from the launch of the original Vito, it’s no surprise that Mercedes’ mid-size van has been honed into a polished product. It’s a model that’s as popular with tradespeople as it is with high-end private hire services, and that breadth gives used buyers plenty of choice too.
The Vito sits between the Citan and Sprinter in Mercedes’ range, and is an alternative to vans like the Ford Transit Custom and Volkswagen Transporter - but arguably has more badge appeal than either of these popular vans. Read on to find out more about the Vito, its variants, its costs and its engine range.
Should you buy a Mercedes-Benz Vito?
If you want your business to project a bit of class, and want to drive around in a van that shares some driving characteristics with the brand’s cars, then the Mercedes-Benz Vito is a strong choice in the mid-sized van market. That badge on the front will be enough for some but the Vito is also a fine van in its own right.
That starts with the way it drives, as this is among the more comfortable vans of its type - the ride is a long way from the harsh and clattery feel that vans used to have, while touches like standard cruise control, and the widespread availability of automatic gearboxes, makes it among the more stress-free vans to drive. Light steering and a fairly nimble feel also help, as do standard features like an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Vito does lag behind some vans in the class for cargo capacity, and there aren’t quite as many derivatives and sizes as some other vans offer - though Mercedes does offer the Sprinter if you need a larger van or more variants, and the smaller Citan is there if you don’t need quite as large a van too. Like several rivals, there’s also a multi-seat Vito Tourer to handle people rather than cargo.
There’s no shortage of choice in this class though. The Ford Transit Custom is the Vito’s most ubiquitous rival in the UK, while the popular Volkswagen Transporter is another with badge appeal on its side. The Citroen Dispatch and its Peugeot, Vauxhall, Toyota and Fiat siblings is worth a look too, as is the Renault Trafic.
What’s the best used Mercedes-Benz Vito model to buy?
You’re a bit more limited in terms of body style than some vans on the market, so bear this in mind before settling on any Vito - there’s no high-roof variant, for instance, while the shorter L1 models aren’t quite as commodious as some rivals. Premium and Sport trims are both worth a look if you cover plenty of miles, though Sport is offered only in Crew Van form, and while Progressive has some useful equipment, it does lack air conditioning. The larger engines are naturally more adept at pulling heavy loads too.
Used Mercedes-Benz Vito fuel economy and performance
- Mercedes-Benz Vito 110 CDI: The 1.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine in the basic Vito makes 102PS, and is available in front-wheel drive form only, with a six-speed manual gearbox. Mercedes quotes CO2 emissions of 174g/km.
- Mercedes-Benz Vito 114 CDI FWD: The 1.8-litre also gets a 136PS front-wheel drive model, which again has a manual gearbox and matches the 110 CDI’s CO2 figure.
- Mercedes-Benz Vito 114 CDI RWD: In rear-wheel drive form, you get the same 136PS but from a larger 2-litre engine, with a nine-speed automatic gearbox. It’s actually more frugal and has a lower 157g/km CO2 figure as a result.
- Mercedes-Benz Vito 116 CDI: A boost to 163PS for the 2-litre engine, in front or rear wheel drive form, allows for more performance but doesn’t hurt economy, with CO2 the same as the 114 CDI.
- Mercedes-Benz Vito 119 CDI: This is the most powerful version of the Vito and has 190PS, again with front and rear-wheel drive options, and the same 157g/km CO2 figure.
What used Mercedes-Benz Vito trim levels are available?
- The Mercedes-Benz Vito Progressive has Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, cruise control, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, a reversing camera and plenty of safety features.
- The Mercedes-Benz Vito Premium adds air conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, electrically-folding door mirrors, body-coloured bumpers and 17-inch alloy wheels.
- The Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport is only available in Crew Van form, and gets an AMG bodykit and lowered suspension, plus sat-nav, leatherette upholstery and heated front seats.
Used Mercedes-Benz Vito dimensions and load capacity
The Mercedes-Benz Vito’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,895mm (L1), 5,140mm (L2), 5,370mm (L3)
- Width: 1,928mm
- Height: 1,910mm
The Mercedes-Benz Vito’s payload capacity is 646-1,002kg, depending on which combination of body, engine and gearbox you go for.
- Maximum load length: 2568mm (L1), 2831mm (L2), 3061mm (L3)
- Maximum load width: 1685mm (1270mm between the rear wheelarches)
- Maximum load height: 1391mm
Used Mercedes-Benz Vito road tax
Like its panel van rivals, the entire Mercedes-Benz Vito range gets a flat commercial vehicle rate of VED, set at £335 for the 2024/2025 tax year, or just over £177 every six months on Direct Debit.
How much is it to insure a Mercedes-Benz Vito?
The Vito range starts in group 24 for the most basic version, a 110 CDI in Progressive trim, while opt for a Sport with the 119 CDI engine in the larger body styles and that can rise as high as group 44. Most Vitos are towards the lower end of the scale however, so as vans go, insurance shouldn’t be especially expensive.
