by The UK market has a strange obsession with sporty vans, and Mercedes is leaning further into it with the launch of the Vito Sport-X. This UK-exclusive trim sits at the top of the range with a custom bodykit, racing stripes, and a nicer cabin, though the chassis and turbodiesel engine go untouched.
The model is based on the Select trim of the Vito Crew Van, but it reads more like an AMG thanks to what Mercedes calls “motorsport-inspired styling.” The makeover starts with a redesigned front bumper wearing larger intakes and an integrated splitter, paired with a honeycomb grille carrying the X emblem and racing stripes across the hood.
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The profile picks up side skirts and matte black Sport X decals, but the real draw is the set of 19-inch alloys in black with white rings. The rear plays it quieter, with a roof spoiler, tinted LED taillights, and Sport-X badging on the tailgate. There is no faux diffuser, and the tailpipe stays tucked under the rear bumper.
Mercedes-Benz Vans
The color palette includes the pictured Alpine Grey alongside the Arctic White, Sodalite Blue, Obsidian Black, Kalahari Gold, High Tech Silver, Graphite Grey, and Hyacinth Red shades.
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Moving inside, the driver and the front passenger are treated with bucket seats featuring integrated headrests and Sport-X branding, replacing the front bench of the standard van. They are upholstered in black eco-leather and dark grey suede with orange stitching, with the same treatment applied to the three second-row seats.
Equipment is more generous than your average van, including heated seats and steering wheel, power seats with memory, wireless charging, a reversing camera, a few ADAS, and an Anti-Theft Package. Still, the infotainment display is quite small and the dashboard is covered in hard plastic. Overall, the Vito is nowhere near a Mercedes VLE in terms of luxury and technology, but at least it gets a few sporty touches.
Mercedes-Benz Vans
Under all of it sits a standard Mercedes-Benz Vito with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel making 187 hp (140 kW / 190 PS) and 440 Nm (325 lb-ft) of torque. Power runs to the rear axle through a nine-speed automatic, good for a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) run in a flat 10 seconds. Mercedes added no suspension or steering upgrades, leaving the van squarely focused on utility.
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Like the standard Vito Crew Cab, the Sport-X comes in L2 and L3 lengths with a removable rear bench. It carries up to 733 kg (1,616 lbs) of payload, 4.1 m³ (144.8 cubic feet) of load space, and a maximum towing capacity of 2,500 kg (5,512 lbs).
The Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport-X reaches UK dealers in September, priced from £56,995 ($76,900) excluding VAT. It joins a crowded field of styled commercial vehicles that already includes the GTI-inspired VW Transporter Sportline, the stealthy Vauxhall Vivaro GS, the Fiat Scudo Onyx, Peugeot Expert Sport, and Citroen Dispatch Sport quadruplets, and the ultra-aggressive Ford Transit Custom MS-RT.
