Mercedes Vito Tourer

FIRST UK DRIVE German MPV is a solid option for those who need nine seats and don't mind the Merc's van-based origins

- Dean Gibson [e-mail]

BIG families demand big versatility from a car, but sometimes an SUV or even an MPV isn’t up to the job. If you regularly find yourself needing more than seven seats to transport family or friends, then you're going to have to turn to the van-derived MPV market and models such as the Mercedes Vito Tourer.

The Vito is the German brand's medium-sized panel van, but the Tourer name indicates that this is the people-carrying variant. If it looks familiar, that’s because the same bodyshell is shared with the V-Class, but that is sold as a premium model with upmarket features inside and out. In contrast, the Tourer caters for buyers in need of practicality, with a nine-seat layout, clear glass and a harder-wearing interior than its posher sibling.

While the Vito has been available for a lot longer than some rivals — this third-generation model was originally launched in 2014 — a round of updates announced in 2024 have kept it fresh. Most obvious on the outside is the addition of a new front bumper with a deeper grille, while the in-car tech received a makeover to bring the Vito into line with Mercedes’ passenger cars. Additional connectivity solutions and fleet telematics have also been added, while safety kit has been given an upgrade, too.