2023 Mercedes Benz Sprinter
Channel: kamran sumqayitli
Date: 09/02/2023

2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD First Drive: An Intelligently Upgraded Van
Mercedes-Benz has upgraded its Sprinter lineup for the 2023 model year with a new, more efficient diesel engine option, and by making the fuel-saving nine-speed automatic transmission standard across the range. But the headline news, particularly for overlanding fans, is the new optional all-wheel-drive system that makes the high-riding Sprinter AWD easier to use and more capable when you venture away from blacktop.

In simple terms, the new Sprinter AWD's drivetrain is based on the tried-and-tested 4Matic technology used in the Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS SUVs. This means that, unlike the previous Sprinter 4WD, the Sprinter AWD is a full-time all-wheel-drive vehicle. There's no more pressing a button to ensure all four wheels are giving you traction on slippery surfaces.

More important, the Sprinter AWD's all-wheel-drive system can constantly vary the torque going to the front or rear axles, distributing as much as 100 percent of the drive to either set of wheels, depending on the available traction. The old 4WD system had a fixed 33/67-percent front/rear
torque split.

Mercedes-Benz proved the worth of the new system by having us stop halfway down a steep, muddy slope on a test track near Stuttgart, and then reverse back up it. In the old Sprinter 4WD, the fixed torque split would have had the lightly loaded rear wheels spinning uncontrollably. The new Sprinter AWD simply growled and gripped and grunted back up the incline without fuss.
The AWD system is available as an option on all diesel-powered versions of the revised 2023 Sprinter lineup, which comprises four body styles—Cargo Van, Crew Van, Passenger Van, and Cab Chassis—each available in a 144- or 170-inch wheelbase. AWD is not offered as an option on any gas-engine Sprinters, which are powered by the carryover 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 188 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, as the gas engine is being phased out at the end of the 2023 model year.
In a world of ever-rising prices, it's refreshing to note that the AWD option costs less than the old 4WD setup did—$6130 versus $8200—primarily because the widely used 4Matic hardware and software is less expensive. Included in that figure, of course, is all the suspension hardware that has the Sprinter AWD riding higher than its rear-drive siblings. With 8.0 inched of ground clearance, the 144-inch-wheelbase Sprinter AWD boasts 26-degree approach, 23-degree breakover, and 25-degree departure angles.

The 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel used in the Sprinter up to this point has been replaced by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel available in two different levels of tune. The base engine makes 170 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the top-spec powerplant, dubbed the 'High Output' and costing $2650 more, is good for 211 hp and 332 lb-ft, which means it has 11 percent more power and 2.5 percent more torque than the outgoing V-6.

Our Sprinter AWD test vans were all fitted with the High Output diesel, and it's a very nice little
engine, smooth under load and quiet while cruising. The nine-speed automatic shuffles seamlessly through the ratios, ensuring good response whenever you need it.

As the new transmission's first gear is 25 percent lower than the old seven-speed's first gear, the Sprinter AWD feels livelier off the line than the old 4WD, and off-road it means the Low & High Range 4WD Package (an additional option over the 4WD system) is no longer needed. Its longer upper gears also make for more relaxed and efficient freeway cruising.

The low-effort yet accurate steering and effective and consistent brakes that impressed us when we tested the outgoing Sprinter 4WD remain unchanged. The 80-inch-wide Sprinter AWD might take up a lot of real estate on narrow European backroads and village streets, but it's very easy to place on the road.
The Sprinter AWD might be designed as a workhorse, but the interior doesn't feel like it. The tilt-adjustable steering wheel is straight out of a Mercedes-Benz passenger car, with all the same multifunction controls on the horizontal spokes, and gearshift paddles behind them. The central touchscreen has the same functionality as the entry-level MBUX systems. The seats are very comfortable. Standard equipment includes cruise control, electrically adjustable mirrors, keyless start, and air conditioning.
Available options include power front seats which can be further upgraded to be heated and able to pivot rearwards (useful for overlanding camper conversions), an electrically operated sliding door and step, a heated windshield, and automatic climate control.

Cheapest of the Sprinter AWDs is the 144-inch-wheelbase Cargo Van with the base 170-hp diesel, which stickers for $55,695, including $2295 destination.