There are many reasons to appreciate the new premium T-Class minivan that Mercedes has expressly dedicated to large families and to those who - alone or in the company of friends - are lovers of free time and outdoor sports, which usually require the transport of bulky equipment.
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New T-Class, when functionality is combined with dynamic qualities
The first is that the T-Class with a price list starting from 26,450 euros (MSS excluded) for the Entry 160 Executive version, becomes an easily surmountable gateway to the world of the Three-Pointed Star, given that it then offers in all the more complete variants a fair combination of wealth of equipment and competitiveness.
The second is that, after just a few minutes behind the wheel of this premium minivan of 4,498 meters in length, one realizes that with the T-Class operation the public - which according to the expectations of the experts will be much more transversal and varied than the indications of the marketing - I now have a real Mercedes suitable for every occasion and to drive and use without fear of a leading brand in the 'luxury' sector.
ClasseT is a sort of blue jacket of excellent cut, unstructured and with recognizable high-level finishes, which can be worn on jeans (including tattered ones), but also on chinos and even on tailored gray trousers, always adding a touch of elegance and personality to the combination.
"With the New T-Class, our product range is enriched with an authentic premium compact model, which is able like no other to combine space and functionality with style and comfort - says Mathias Geisen, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans - T-Class is perfect for all those who need more space, from dynamic families to sports lovers of leisure. With this model we are consistently pursuing our growth strategy in the premium segments ".
Finally, it is perhaps the argument that plays most in favor of the T-Class, with a version like the 180d Sport offered at a list price of 30,580 euros, one finds the full taste of driving a turbodiesel version which, for lovers of technology and good wines, it's like being able to taste a good Barolo after someone has proposed - in the absence of diets and medical prescriptions - as an alternative to a celery and carrot juice.
This 'delicacy' can count on two 95 and 106 Hp diesel engines - offered on the T 160d and T 180d versions - which deliver 260 and 270 Nm of torque respectively.
The more generous unit also offers the opportunity thanks to the Overpower / Overtorque function (useful when you need even greater acceleration, for example when overtaking at full load) to temporarily obtain an increase in power up to 120 Hp and an increase in torque at 295 Nm.
In the T-Class range - which will be in dealerships in July - there are two 1.3 turbo petrol engines with 102 HP (T 160) and 131 HP (T 180) which provide 200 and 240 Nm of torque respectively.
The best driving quality, in tune with the need on the German road network in the area south of Munich, to constantly keep the pace within the limits (using the dynamic cruise control) is obtained with the seven-speed DCT dual-clutch gearbox which - with the complicity of the controls on the multifunction steering wheel in perfect Mercedes style and the MBUX infotainment - it gives exactly the concrete sensation of driving a higher-end Three-Pointed Star car.
For those who do not want the DCT version, the variants with a 6-speed manual gearbox are still available.
In listing the reasons for choosing this new premium minivan, how can I fail to indicate the enormous space available for cargo.
As we have been able to evaluate in a location dedicated to outdoor activities, the trunk ranges from 520 liters with the rear seats in position - which allows for example to fix the regulations transport for dogs even of large size - up to a capacity of 2,390 liters, a record value for a model of this size.
And for the pleasure of hobbyists, sportsmen and in general of those who want to exploit the T-Class for these features, the load sill positioned just 56 centimeters from the ground is a great help for effortlessly stowing even heavy objects.