Bus Battle: Mercedes’ V 300 d vs. Ford Tourneo vs. VW Caravelle
Surprisingly, while the long Ford comes in lesser Ambiente spec, this flagship Tourneo Trend runs on the shorter wheelbase. Which could be viewed as a disadvantage in this company in this market. It may lack all the bells and whistles and the SWB choice is further compromised by the aircon pack further cramping the short boot, but it does pack a height-adjustable front and versatile reversible second and fixed third row cloth seats for the same six people, with manual sliding side doors and an adequate trunk.
Ford Tourneo is Well Equipped
Accommodation in the Caravelle is supreme — the driver’s, passenger’s and four highly adjustable command seats in the rear bay are all clad in Pewter Wave Grey pattern Nappa complete with arm rests on both sides. Those four pews and a center table can be configured in one of a zillion ways. The steering wheel spokes and universally adjustable new air vents get a cool new chrome-look trim and there are decorative strips and black sun visors too.
The Mercedes has most of the above too, but steps up another few notches with a refrigerated center console and its built-in drinks cooler between the climatized black leather rear seats, which can be specified in Tartufo Brown Leather or Silk Beige Leather at no extra cost.
The Tourneo is pretty well equipped — this range-topping Limited not only gets a completely new interior, but it now also incorporates Ford’s easy to use integrated SYNC3 8-inch touchscreen infotainment. Its significantly improved features are also controlled by the leather clad multifunction steering wheel. There’s full smartphone integration through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and all your phone’s navigation and entertainment apps.
VW is a Digital Delight
The VW has a practical new 10.25-inch digital dials and fully smart phone-mirrorable 10.25-inch infotainment with Wireless App-Connect and USB Composition Color radio and Discover Navigation Pro Media. It’s controlled by either the touch screen, multifunction steering or gestures. Which we actually found annoying when some settings kept on changing for no rhyme or reason. Then we realized we were just Italian. We gesticulate a bit, you know…
V 300 d now also packs the latest ‘My Mercedes’ User Experience 10.25-inch touchscreen Infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Smartphone integration, Bluetooth and Mercedes-Benz hard-disk navigation. Add a top-drawer multichannel tech Burmeister 16-speaker surround sound system. Ad integrated voice amplification to ensure that the driver and front passenger can comfortably converse with the rear passengers.
The Ford also has its fair share of safety kit including advanced radar Adaptive Cruise Control to automatically maintain your distance to the vehicle ahead, a Lane Keeping Aid and Departure Warning. Add Blind Spot Detection and Cross Traffic Alert and front and rear parking sensors And ABS brakes with electronic distribution, ESP with Hill Launch Assist, Load Adaptive Control and Roll-Over Mitigation. Trailer Sway Control is activated when a Ford-approved tow bar is fitted.
The VW’s electro-mechanical power steering brings newfound agility while saving fuel, but also allows the integration of new assistance systems. The Kombi has Stability, Post-Collision Braking, Hill Start and Descent as well as Lane, Cruise, Parking and Crosswind Assistants. Side Protection makes maneuvering easier and Rear Traffic Alert helps reversing out of blind spaces. Add a Tire Pressure Indicator and optional Trailer Assist, power side doors and Light Assist main beams.
Merc Misses No Tricks
The Merc does not miss a a safety trick. It gets the full Driver Assist package with Distronic cruise control, Pre-Safe, Lane Keeping, Blind Spot and Active Brake Assistants. There’s also a 360-degree Camera, driver and co-driver front and thorax airbags, front window airbags from the A to the B pillar and optionally to the D pillars and child locks on the auto-opening power sliding rear doors too. Intelligent LED headlights adapt to oncoming traffic to leave you to drive on high beam.
The Ford is also powered by a 2-litre four-pot turbodiesel, but it’s the laziest of the lot at 182 hp and 306 lb ft. It also has the least gears in its automatic gearbox with just six ratios. And good for an economical build, drives the front wheels. Not that there’s anything wrong with how it goes — it’s just out-gunned by these premium rivals.
Powered by the same 195 hp 331 lb ft 2-litre biturbo diesel as the top four-pot Amarok pickup and driving all four wheels though a 7-speed double-clutch Automatic, the Volkswagen holds its head up high on the microbus drag strip. It’s slower than the more powerful Benz but outguns the Ford by a fair margin. Ride is fine, albeit not so fine as the Mercedes. Handling, like all of these four, is surefooted and surprising. The Caravelle’s all-wheel drive brings an extra sense of security.
‘Bus Battle: Mercedes’ V 300 d vs. Ford Tourneo vs. VW Caravelle’ continued…