2019 Mercedes Benz Metris Cargo Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

Looking at the 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo, you might not think that this van is terribly up-to-date. It does have an outer appearance that speaks to an era gone by when vans were a bit bulkier. But you should not judge a book by its cover. The new Metris Cargo is all about functionality and utility, the two things you should want from a work van. With its swift acceleration and nimble steering and handling capabilities, the Metris Cargo has no problem zipping along on the highway or scooting about in the city.

What's New for 2019?

Since it was first introduced to the market in 2016, the Metris has become fairly popular, but Mercedes has not done a lot to change it. The 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo van essentially remains unchanged from the previous model year's line-up.  

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2019 Mercedes Benz Metris Cargo – The Pros

1. A Massive Cargo Area

The 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo van easily bests its competition by offering a generous amount of cargo space. On the regular wheelbase, you get 186 cubic feet, but on the extended wheelbase, you get a whopping 199 cubic feet of cargo space. The cargo area is also pretty versatile with its tie-downs, LED lighting, and partitions. You can also choose between rearcargo doors that open out 270 degrees or a rear liftgate for easy access to the cargo area.

2. A Best-in-Class Towing Capacity

The Metris Cargo van also tops the competition in terms of its towing capacity. This van is able to easily tow up to 5,000 pounds. No other van in this class is able to even come close to this number, so if it is towing you need, the Metris Cargo can definitely get the job done. The van is pre-wired for the use of a trailer, and an aftermarket trailer hitch is optional.

3. A Best-in-Class Payload Rating

Another "best-in-class" title for the 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo van is for its huge payload capacity. While most vans in this class can only haul about 1,800 pounds, the Metric Cargo van blows them out of the water with its 2,502-pound payload capacity. Load up all the heavy cargo you want; the Metris Cargo can handle it.

4. Easy to Maneuver

Since it is not as big as the full-size Sprinter van, the Metris Cargo has its size on its side. It also has great steering and handling capabilities, which make it all the easier to maneuver around on crowded city streets. The steering is zippy in the city and even remains stable while on the highway, and the smooth handling actually makes the Metris Cargo a fun van to drive, which cannot be said of most of its competitors.

5. Swift Acceleration

Most vans in this segment cannot get from 0 to 60 mph in under 8 seconds, but the 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo van makes it there in just 7.9 seconds. This is thanks to the smart pairing of a quick-to-respond 2.0-L turbo-charged 4-cylinder engine and a 7-speed automatic transmission with Eco, Comfort, and Manual shift modes. The transmission shows no lag while shifting between any of the gears.

6. A Best-in-Class Stopping Distance

Yet again, the Metris Cargo achieves another "best-in-class" status with its short stopping distance. When you need to make a panic stop at 60 mph, the van can come to a halt in just 119 feet. All other vans in this segment take a bit longer to make that kind of a stop, so this should certainly inspire some confidence with the Metris Cargo's drivers. The brakes are solid all-around with their easy-to-modulate nature. The brake pedal has just the right amount of firmness, too.

7. Comfortable Seating

The 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo is not one of those clunky work vans that offer little in the way of comfort - quite to the contrary. The Metris Cargo has well-padded seats with a shocking amount of lateral support for the driver and front passenger. While you have to manually adjust the seats, it is still fairly easy to find a comfortable driving position. And with so much space up front, your passenger can kick back and relax, and even you, the driver, can stretch yourself out a bit.

8. A Pleasant Ride Quality

When the cargo area is laden with a good-sized payload, you will get a very pleasant ride quality from the Metris Cargo van. Even with it empty, you will still have an enjoyable ride. The van can handle a lot of bumps in the roads and uneven surfaces, so you won't be cringing every time you hit a pothole or go over some loose gravel. Overall, the Metris Cargo van gives you quite the relaxing ride quality.

9. Easy-to-Use Controls

Want a no-nonsense work van? The 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo is it. While it does have a good amount of features included in it, the controls for them are all straightforward and laid out intuitively throughout the cabin and on the touchscreen display. There is little guesswork involved in which control does what, so your learning curve will be nice and short. Even non-tech-savvy drivers will feel at home in this user-friendly van.

10. Getting In and Out is Simple

Getting in and out of some cargo vans can be rather complex, but Mercedes makes it easy to do in the Metris Cargo. With a step-in height of 18.5 inches, most occupants should easily be able to just lift their feet and get in. In fact, the bottom of the front seats should come up to about waist height on the average adult, which means you should be able to just slide right in and go without any hassle. And, of course, this also makes getting out of the van a cinch.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2019 Mercedes Benz Metris Cargo – The Cons

1. The Price Tag

The one thing that might deter people away from buying the 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo is its price tag. It is one of the most costly vehicles in its segment with a starting MSRP of $26,570 and spanning up to almost $35,000. Of course, the more extras you add on, the more the van is going to cost. Still, there are plenty of standard features that make it so that you don't have to blow your budget in order to customize the van.

2. The Requirement of Premium Fuel

Just the mention of premium fuel in this time of high gas prices is enough to send shivers down a driver's spine. And, yes, the Metris Cargo is one of those vehicles that requires you use premium fuel. So, sorry, but you will not be able to get away with saving money on unleaded gasoline with this cargo van. You better budget for gas expenses in this vehicle.

3. A Noisy Cargo Area When Unladen

When it is unladen, the cargo area of the 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo van can get a little noisy. The walls and floor are rather thin, so this allows in more road and wind noise than you would probably like. Tire noise also becomes pretty evident when the van is unladen. The noise is massively reduced when you load the cargo area down, which is probably how you will be driving it a good percentage of the time you are in it.

4. Poor Visibility

Panel vans like the Metris Cargo are something of an annoyance when it comes to outward visibility. Without proper windows and a view out the rear, it is hard to know what is going on around you. That means you are going to have to heavily rely on the standard rearview camera for backing in and out and changing lanes. Unfortunately, this camera seems to be angled too low to get a really good view beyond a few feet from the bumper. While cornering, you will notice how the wide front roof pillars obstruct your view and create massive blind spots. It is aggravating to say the least and unsafe to say the most.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo vs. 2019 Ram ProMaster City Cargo

The 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo van has some stiff competition from the very affordably-priced 2019 Ram ProMaster City Cargo. Like the Metris Cargo, the ProMaster City Cargo has a good amount of cargo space and a good payload rating, but it still cannot quite best the Metris Cargo. It does offer some seriously powerful engines, and you don't have to splurge on premium gasoline. However, the transmission feels sluggish while shifting, and there is a high amount of body roll when rounding through turns.

2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo vs. 2019 Nissan NV200

Another top contender this year is the 2019 Nissan NV200. Again, this is a well-priced competitor, which is what will reel buyers in. The NV200 does have a great fuel economy thanks to its small engine, and its size makes the NV200 easy to get through dense spaces. Unfortunately, the engine options are all pretty underpowered for this segment, and it takes the van 137 feet to make a panic stop from 60 mph. This just cannot compete with the Metris Cargo's capabilities.

Conclusion

The 2019 Mercedes Metris Cargo van is one of the best in its segment, if not the best. While the cargo area gets a bit noisy when unladen, the ride quality is otherwise smooth and compliant. The only real complaint that can be launched about this van is the cost. Between the actual price tag and the use of premium fuel, you will be spending quite a bit. But it's worth the cost.