MC Tested: 2016 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van Motorcycle Hauler Review

If you've ever been to Europe one thing you probably noticed was an insane variety of mid-sized cargo vans, while we in the States were stuck with the same old truck-chassis'd, Detroit-based options. Thankfully for motorcycle riders and haulers, the US of A is finally catching up and there are a handful of new vans on the market. We at Motorcyclist haul bikes around quite a bit and recently had the opportunity to put some miles on Mercedes' new Metris Cargo van, which joins the growing class of midsize, low-roof utility vans. (See the specs matrix below for comparable vehicles.)

We logged approximately 2,000 miles on the Metris while hauling long-term test bikes to racetracks all over California, and in a word, we're smitten. This thing is comfortable, fast, and very functional.

Loading bikes and other cargo into the Metris is easy thanks to the low deck height (just 19.5 inches) and myriad tie-down points, including floor- and wall-mounted D-ring tracks. The rear doors open wide (180-degree doors are an option) and the Metris has dual side sliding doors that are far and away our favorite feature. Those doors make the Metris ambidextrous—park it nose in or tail in, your stuff is always easily accessible via one of the two doors. The only issue we noticed with loading and unloading bikes is that the plastic-clad bumper got scratched up by our uncoated aluminum ramp.

The Metris will accept two full-size bikes with some room to spare (including about 2.5 feet behind the bikes), but packing your tools, gear, and other track paraphernalia will require some amount of Tetris skills since the Metris a midsize van. We towed a Kendon trailer (kendonusa.com) for several of our trips since we had four bikes to transport, and the Metris didn't seem fazed by the extra weight or wheelbase. It's got a 5,000-pound towing capacity, and the turbocharged 2.0 liter inline-four gas engine is a total superstar. Even fully loaded with a trailer in tow, the little Merc rockets up to speed and is totally content to cruise at 80 mph on the highway. We averaged an impressive 24 mpg with limited cargo, while a full load and three bikes on the trailer dropped our average economy to about 17 mpg.

Compared to the Ford E-150 we’re used to piloting, the Metris drives like a sedan. The cabin is well appointed (it is a Mercedes, after all) and the seats are all-day comfortable, though we were annoyed by the finicky ratcheting mechanism of the armrests and seatbelts. The steering radius is tight and the steering is light and direct, while the ride is smooth and compliant whether loaded or empty. Oddly, the van feels like it has a high center of gravity, so there’s quite a bit of body sway while turning at speed, even when unloaded.

And then there’s the passenger-side mirror. It’s small and the glass is flat instead of convex, so most of the van’s windowless right flank is a blind spot. That makes the optional Blind Spot Assist (part of the $2,270 Active Safety Plus Package) a good idea, though a $30 mirror extender will likely work just as well. And while we’re on the topic of electronic aids, the optional Active Parking Assist—which chimes any time any part of the vehicle is getting close to an object—is a nifty feature but may prove too nagging for confident drivers. Think of it like having your aunt in the cab; you’re less likely to hit stuff, but it might get a little old.

As we said, we’re smitten. So how much for this premium, luxurious bike hauler? With a base price of $28,950 the Metris isn’t cheap, but it’s right in line with the competition. Our test vehicle wasn’t a base model though. As equipped the Metris we drove rings in at about $39,000, which is undeniably expensive. Thankfully, the things that really matter—the engine, car-like handling, low deck height, and cargo area—are unchanged on the base Metris, and the only add-on we’d insist on is the left-side sliding door, a $720 option.

Bottom line, there are plenty of options for mid-sized cargo vans these days (thankfully), and this is a good one. Aside from being really satisfied with the Metris as a bike hauler, we were struck by how smooth and calm it is to use as a car—maybe it’s all those years we spent in American V8-powered cargo vans.

Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van
PRICE: Starting at $28,950
CONTACT: mbvans.com

MC GRADE: A
A comfortable, classy, and surprisingly quick way to move your motorcycles.

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