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22nd
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For 2011 the Sprinter now wears the three-pointed Mercedes-Benz star on its grille -- unless, of course, itâs sold as a Freightliner (which is part of the Mercedes family). The 2500 receives a restyled instrument cluster. Otherwise, everything remains the same, including the excellent turbodiesel and smooth transmission. On the commercial side, a MiniBus will be available in early 2011 with room for up to 16 people.
Being sold under the Dodge brand for the last 7 years hasn't hurt the Mercedes Sprinter. After the split between Mercedes and Chrysler, the Sprinter returns to its Mercedes badging. They will still be assembled in the US as Mercedes South Carolina plant.
While the passenger model is often found shuttling people around airports, the sprinter is at heart a cargo van. There are several factors that will set this van apart from the Ford and Chevy competition. It boasts the lowest floor height in its segment and has an extra tall version available. In that form, a person standing 6 foot 3 inches can still walk around in the cargo area. The competition doesn't allow for a full sized human to walk around within the cargo area. Despite the fact that it can hold over twice the cargo of its Chevy counterpart, it remains nimble and easy to drive due to its better designed chassis. It fuel economy is greater than that of the competition as well, due mostly to the use of Mercedes' 3.0 Liter Blue TEC diesel V-6, rather than a small gas 8 which is favored by other car makers.