Is the Mercedes Sprinter the Ultimate Van for Van Life?

Is the Mercedes Sprinter the ultimate van for van life, or are you just paying for the badge? Find out if this is true, all the pros and cons of the Mercedes Sprinter, and determine which wheelbase is right for you.

Mercedes Sprinter in Baja Mexico

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Choosing a van to spend your hard earned money on is not an easy task, especially not when there are so many options to choose from. The good news is that unlike a questionable Las Vegas buffet, the consequences of getting it wrong are not anywhere near as painful. For many, the Mercedes Sprinter is the pinnacle of their van life fantasy, with the obligatory fitness model guy or gal, simply being an enjoyable bonus.

Sadly real life is not always as rosy as our fantasies, and although the Mercedes Sprinter is a very good van choice with a lot of van build resources, you have to carefully consider where you want to travel with it, and what your budget is for maintenance and repairs. 

An Extremely Brief History of the Modern Van in North America

Modern vans such as the Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit and Ram Promaster have existed in Europe for decades, but only made their debut in the North American market in 2002 when Mercedes began selling the Sprinter. Ford joined the party over a decade later, and in 2014 began selling the Ford Transit in North America, after selling vans under the Transit name in Europe since 1965. Not wanting to be the odd one out, in 2014 Dodge also began selling the Promaster, which is based on the European Fiat Ducato family of vans that is extremely popular across the pond. 

Mercedes Sprinter – The Grandfather of Vans

The Sprinter was first sold in the North American market in 2002 under the Dodge brand, then the Freightliner badge, and is currently only sold under the Mercedes brand. Regardless of what the badge on the front says, they are all the same van. So if you find a great deal on a Freightliner Sprinter, rest assured that only the badge is different.

For a long time the Sprinter was the only choice in North America if you wanted a long wheelbase, high roof van, straight from the factory. This early start gave it a head start within the van life community, as it was the only choice for those who wanted to be able to stand up straight inside their van. This fact is possibly why it still retains such a cult status to this day, as people have spent countless hours watching their favourite travel vloggers have epic adventures in a Mercedes Sprinter.

Pros & Cons of Buying a Mercedes Sprinter Van

ProsCons
Good Resale ValueParts are Expensive
Good Fuel EconomyMaintenance is Expensive
A lot of Resources for Van build AccessoriesLimited Dealer/ Mechanic Network
Plenty of Resources for Tips, and IdeasOnly Reliable if Extremely Well Maintained
High Quality InteriorStandard Equipment is Basic
RWD is StandardComplicated Diesel Emissions System

Different Sizes of the Mercedes Sprinter Van: Length and Height Options

In North America the Sprinter is available in three different lengths, and two different heights. Although there are three different body lengths, there are only two wheel base lengths. The wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear wheels, namely 144” and 170”.

In Europe, Mercedes divides these different height, and length options into an easier to understand numbering system using L for length, and H for height. For example, a Sprinter with a 144” wheelbase and a high roof would be referred to as an L2H2. In the same vein the most popular Sprinter model for van life is the L3H2 which has a 170” wheel base with a high roof. The longest Sprinter model is the 170” Extended which can also be referred to as L4H2. I personally find the numbering system to be a lot easier, and cleaner, to use as every European van manufacturer uses it. 

The Baby Sprinter: Should I Buy a 144” Wheelbase Sprinter?

The smallest Sprinter for sale in North America is the L2 (144” wheelbase) model, this gets you a max interior length of 132.9” (3272 mm), and a max interior width of 70.4” (1787 mm). If you opt for the high roof model, which I strongly recommend if you do not want to end up looking like Quazimodo, your max height is 79” (2009 mm), although this is somewhat reduced by the ceiling beams. In our van, with the factory floor the ceiling height is 76” (1930 mm) to the bottom of the ceiling beams. Obviously the flooring, and ceiling panels you choose to install will reduce that height even further. 

If you are travelling as a single person, or a couple who can make a small space work, then there are a lot of interesting layouts that you can achieve in the ‘baby’ Sprinter. There will always be a compromise to be made in such a small space, and you need to find a way to incorporate the front seats into your layout if you want a separate toilet/shower/closet, for example by installing a swivel base on either, or both of the front seats.

Mercedes Sprinter in Portugal
Camping in our 144 Sprinter in Portugal

We were entirely certain when we first started van life that we could never fit in an L2 sprinter, since we wanted a fixed 160 cm wide bed, and a separate bathroom, along with space for our three dogs. However, after we sold our 1993 Mercedes 711D we began toying with the idea of buying an L2 Sprinter, and created a few different layouts in Sketchup. We were surprised to discover that we could actually make it work, as long as we installed flares in the rear panels so that we could put the bed in transversely. We did have to compromise a little bit on the bed, by reducing the width to 140cm. Since we really did not want to be longer than our 711D we went ahead and bought an L2 Sprinter to convert into our new van. 

The biggest benefit of the 144” wheelbase Sprinter is that you are almost the same size as a big car. If you plan on doing a lot of travelling in cities, or want to take your van off roading on some tiny tracks, then the L2 variant is a great way to go. If you travel full time, and need to use your van for regular errands, then you will also greatly appreciate the shorter length. 

Another benefit of the smallest Sprinter is that at under 6m (234″) in total length, you qualify for the cheapest rate on most ferries in Europe. Since your GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is the same as in the larger Sprinters you are unlikely to see any fuel cost savings, but because it is smaller your payload capacity (i.e. how much battery capacity, and water can you carry without being overweight) is higher than in the larger vans. 

The Most Popular Sprinter: Should I Buy a 170” Wheelbase Sprinter?

Mercedes Sprinter camper van on beach in Mexico
Visiting Playa Agua Caliente, Baja Mexico, in our 170 Sprinter

The most popular variant of the Sprinter is the L3H2 (170” wheel base) model as it gives you a potential interior cargo length of (4410 mm) to work with. The max interior width remains the same as the smaller Sprinter at 70.4” (1787 mm). At just under 7m (274”) in exterior length this is by no means a small vehicle, and if you are new to driving large vehicles then it will definitely take some adjusting.

With that being said, the majority of North American infrastructure is set up to handle long bed pickup trucks, so in your typical big box parking lot you really should not experience any difficulties parking, especially in places like Texas.

Truck in compact parking spot, Texas
Lots of room to park our truck in Texas

There are also plenty of people that have taken their long wheelbase Sprinters off the beaten path, without major issues. When we took our 170” wheelbase Sprinter to Baja I very quickly became comfortable with the size, and had no issues navigating or parking in the small villages when we were trying to find the best bakeries or local restaurants. The only caveat is that a backup camera is a must have, just to make sure you are not about to run over someone, or something. 

The Giant Sprinter: Should I Buy a 170” Extended Sprinter?

The biggest Sprinter is the L4 (170” Extended), which keeps the wheelbase of 170” from the L3 but adds an extra 15 ¾” (400mm) at the end, for a total length of 290” (7.4m). I test drove this Sprinter, as I was initially convinced that we needed this extra space, and to my surprise the extra 15”+ made a significant difference in how it felt to drive. Everything from parking, to merging lanes became a little bit more difficult, and required an extra few seconds of processing time when compared to the L3 model. 

Mercedes Sprinter 170 Extended

The other downside of the L4 variant is that your overhang at the rear becomes quite long, which means that going up steep slopes or driveways could cause you to scrape the rear of the van. As long as your future does not hold any offroading, or steep driveways, then the extra length is nothing to sneer at when travelling in a van. One important thing to bear in mind if you decide to purchase the L4 variant, is to make sure that you get the 3500 or greater model. This will ensure that you have enough payload capacity to use the extra space you gain. 

What Does a New Mercedes Sprinter Cost?

New MSRP for a Mercedes Sprinter L3H2 – $56,500 (excl. tax) as of 2024.

As a simple exercise I went ahead and priced out a new Mercedes Sprinter 170” high roof model, without any options, to see what the price would be. To my surprise it ended up being fairly similar to the Ford Transit. As always, the devil is in the details, and you will find that the base model Ford Transit and Ram Promaster both have better standard features than the base model Sprinter. 

Since the mass lockdowns where every man and his dog decided to move into a camper van, the prices for used vans have gone up significantly. Combine this with the fact that the Sprinter is still the most popular van model for the #vanlife lifestyle, and you will quickly find yourself paying a premium to buy a used Sprinter. 

Mercedes Sprinter in Sweden at sunrise
Parked in Sweden

Is the Mercedes Sprinter Reliable?

There is a common myth that all diesels are extremely durable, and reliable. A few decades back this was probably the case, and Mercedes has in the past produced several diesel engines that are known to last a million kilometres with just regular maintenance. The 4 cylinder OM 364 engine in our 1993 Mercedes 711D is a classic example of this. 

As concerns began to grow around what was coming out of the tailpipe on diesel engines, new regulations began to come into play. After regulations limiting emissions came into place manufacturers made huge strides in reducing the emissions of modern diesel engines, which is of course a good thing. Nothing in life is free, and the extra equipment needed to reduce emissions has added a significant amount of complexity to modern diesel engines. This added complexity means that modern diesels are sadly no longer as reliable as they were in the past, which is extremely unfortunate as the majority of reliability issues are linked to the emission systems.

Your best chance of having a reliable Sprinter is to follow the service recommendations to the letter. It is also worth noting that in Europe where every commercial van uses a diesel engine, the Sprinter has consistently been ranked as the most reliable van by fleet managers. This is perhaps not surprising as fleet owners are more likely to have proper servicing plans in place, compared to private owners. 

The Sprinter’s affinity for regular servicing also means that you need to carefully study the logbook of any prospective Sprinter that you want to buy. If you find any gaps in the van service history, you should run away from that deal as fast as your legs will carry you, unless of course you enjoy handing over your life savings to the local Mercedes dealership. 

Furthermore, if you are planning on travelling to Mexico and beyond, you may want to reconsider investing in a newer Sprinter, or any newer diesel, as these engines are prone to throwing hissy fits if you fill them up with anything but the cleanest of diesel. 

Mercedes Sprinter van beside cactus in Baja Mexico
Exploring Baja, Mexico

How Much Fuel Does a Sprinter Use?

This will somewhat depend on which engine option you opt for. As of 2022 there are three engine options available to North American buyers: the standard output 4 cylinder diesel, the high output 4 cylinder diesel, and a 4 cylinder gas engine. Before the newest generation of Sprinters, the most common engine was the V6 diesel, which has unfortunately been discontinued.

It is quite difficult to find official fuel economy statistics for the N. American engine options, as vehicle manufacturers are not required to post these figures for vehicles with a GVWR over 8500 lbs. However, from our own experience driving a US 2019 Sprinter with the V6 diesel, we averaged around 19.6 mpg (12l/100km), even with a full load in the back. In contrast our fully built out European 2018 144″ wheelbase Sprinter, is equipped with a 160hp 4 cylinder diesel engine, and averages around 26 mpg (9l/100km), but that fuel economy drops dramatically if you want to cruise at speeds over 68 mph (110 kmh), or find yourself in hilly terrain.

Should I Buy a 4×4 / All Wheel Drive, or Rear Wheel Drive Sprinter?

Since 2022 the Sprinter has been available with an AWD system, replacing the previous 4×4 system. A lot of people were upset by this, as they felt that this was a downgrade in capability. At the end of the day the US 4×4 Sprinter was never actually a true 4×4 system, and certainly not anywhere near as capable as a dedicated 4×4 truck or SUV. In contrast the new AWD system is better at distributing power to the wheels that need grip, and does not require you to stop the van completely in order to engage it. 

Regardless of whether it is called AWD or 4×4, if you want it on your Sprinter you will have to dig extremely deep into your pockets, and hand over an extra $9,500 compared to the base model. Unless you want to tackle some serious off-road trails, in which case I do not think the Sprinter is your best choice anyway, I would spend that $9,500 on fun travel experiences instead. 

This leaves the trusted rear wheel drive (RWD) model, which is fortunate, as that is a great combination for a converted van, where your payload bias will inevitably be towards the rear of the van. This means that your driving wheels will be able to have consistent, and solid contact with the ground. 

Where Can I Get My Sprinter Serviced?

The service required to keep a Sprinter in good shape is significantly more expensive than on a Ford Transit or Ram Promaster. A large part of this has to do with the fact that very few mechanics in North America are able to work on the small (and therefore cramped, and difficult to work on) diesel engines that the Sprinter is equipped with. Another factor is that the vast majority of spare parts for the Sprinter have to come from Germany, which not only makes them pricey, but also means that any parts not in stock can easily take a few weeks to make it across the ocean. 

Because there are so few independent mechanics in North America that have experience working with these small diesel engines, even something as simple as an oil change, can be both expensive and challenging. 

Resources Available for the Mercedes Sprinter Van

Because the Sprinter was the only name in town for so many years there are a huge amount of companies that have developed unique products for it. Nowadays you can find everything from customised suspension set ups to rear door tire and bike carriers. 

If you are looking for a company to convert your van for you, you will also find a significant number of van builders that specialise in the Sprinter. Even on YouTube you will find more detailed videos on how to convert your Sprinter than you will on any other van model. 

Van build 144 Mercedes Sprinter
Building our 144 Sprinter camper van with the help of our furry supervisor

Be Honest, Is It All About the Mercedes Badge?

Well, the badge certainly does not hurt, but to be completely honest, it really does depend. I realise that answer is as infuriating as a small pizza, so let me try and explain it a little bit. 

If you want to kit out with your van with a lot of accessories, such as a roof rack, tire carrier, special lift kits etc., then the Sprinter is the van for you, as no other van has the same catalogue of options. Likewise, if fuel economy is very important to you, then the small Mercedes diesel engines will take the gas V6 in the Ford Transit and Ram Promaster to the cleaners. Lastly, there is no denying that the huge Mercedes badge on the front grille carries with it a certain cache, and if that makes you feel all tingly inside, then by all means buy a Sprinter. 

However, if you want a vehicle that is easy to service, and you dream of travelling the Pan-American highway, then I would think twice about the Sprinter. The necessity for ultra clean diesel, and Adblue (DEF fluid), combined with a complicated, and very sensitive emissions system, means the Sprinter is not suited for such an adventure. Even if you stay within the US and Canada, you may struggle to find a mechanic that can service a Sprinter, let alone perform any repairs, if you find yourself in more rural areas. 

If you are just beginning your van research, then take a look at this article on How to Choose the Ultimate Van for Van Life, where we give you more of an overview of the different van options in North America. If this article has left you unsure about whether the Mercedes Sprinter is the right van for you, then take a look at our deep dive into the Ford Transit, and the Ram ProMaster

For a detailed review and ranking, take a look at our comprehensive ranking guide where we compare the Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram Promaster across 14 categories, such as reliability, to discover which is the best van for van life.

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