The Mercedes-Benz T-Class is based on the Citan van, which means it will give you a huge amount of interior space and low running costs, with the choice of petrol or diesel engines. The T-Class will be available with five or seven-seats and access will be easy with most versions getting a pair of side sliding doors. The 2022 T-Class MPV will go on sale in the summer and be priced in the region of £25,000.
The Mercedes-Benz T-Class van-based MPV will be priced from around £25,000 when it goes on sale in the summer – that means you get interior space comparable to a large SUV like the Mercedes-Benz GLE for the price of an A-Class hatchback.
At launch, the T-Class will be offered with five seats but a seven-seater is thought to be in development and should go on sale in late-2022.
The Mercedes-Benz T-Class look almost identical to the Citan van that it is based upon, but with body coloured bumpers, alloy wheels and white-bright LED headlights.
It’s a classic case of form following function so while the T-Class doesn’t have the elegance of a Mercedes-Benz saloon like the C-Class but its tall upright body means you get a huge amount of space on the inside, with room for five or seven seats that are individually adjustable.
A raised body height makes it easy to get in and out of the T-Class and a pair of sliding rear doors give you unimpeded access to the back seat. Loading the large boot (think 500 litres plus) should be easy thanks to its huge opening and flat floor.
The interior design will also be based on the Citan’s cabin, although it's one of the poshest vans on sale so that’s not a bad thing. Expect the T-Class to get the same cool, turbine-style air vents and an infotainment screen that’s fitted with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Mercedes-Benz T-Class will initially be available with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, with the option to swap the standard six-speed manual gearbox for an optional twin-clutch seven-speed automatic gearbox. A pure-electric model will join the range next year.
Exact engines haven’t been confirmed, but you’ll likely be able to choose from turbocharged 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrols producing 100 or 130PS or a turbocharged 1.5-litre diesel with either 95 or 115PS. The petrol will return more than 40mpg, while the diesels will better 50mpg.
You can expect the T-Class to drive just like the Citan van which, again, isn’t terrible news. The Citan has the refinement to rival a car costing the same and can be specified with a choice of autonomous driving aids that will mean your T-Class can accelerate, brake and steer itself.
The Citan is a refined cruiser – so the T-Class will be too – and it has a tight turning circle that makes it surprisingly manoeuvrable in town.
The T-Class isn’t the first time Mercedes has produced a van-based passenger car, we previously had the Citan Tourer. In true van-based-family-car tradition, it has all the space inside that you could dream off, isn’t eye-wateringly expensive to buy and doesn’t cost a fortune to run. Downsides? It does feel pretty utilitarian… But when you can have one for less than £8,000, who’s caring?
We’ve news on all the latest due in the UK within the year, including cars like the Volkswagen ID.Vizzion electric saloon, Smart #1 small electric SUV and Kia’s new flagship electric SUV – the EV9.
The Mercedes-Benz T-Class is due on sale in the summer of 2022 and is a passenger-carrying version of the Citan van.
The Mercedes-Benz T-Class is based on the Citan van which is 4,498mm long, 1,859mm wide and 1,832mm tall.
Mercedes-Benz has hinted that the T-Class will be offered as a camper, as the Citan was before it, expect it to have a roof-mounted tent and cupboard storage where you used to find the boot.