Vito Tourer is impressive 9-seater in both electric and diesel guises

It took a quick glance around the cabin to remind me I was at the wheel of a nine-seater with a cavernous interior.

Whether in diesel or electric guise, the Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer is pleasingly nimble and easy to drive, with the engineers having got the set-up of the vehicle spot-on.

A recent facelift for this van-derived people carrier brought about significant improvements in terms of equipment specs, safety and cabin quality.

The Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer on a frosty morning The eVito Tourer’s 150kW motor provides 204hp and delivers 362Nm of torque, with acceleration feeling immediate.

The sprint from 0-62mph isn’t blistering, but power delivery is smooth and consistent as the electric motor gets this sizeable vehicle up to speed with the minimum of fuss.

Happily, the new eVito also has a higher maximum range than before, with more than 220 miles available, although that useable range drops the more the vehicle’s nine seats fill up. During my week in the EV’s company, I found the read-out on the dash to be accurate and trustworthy when it came to telling me the remaining range.

In terms of charging times, it takes 10 hours on AC from 0 to 100 per cent, or 40 minutes on DC from 10 per cent to 80 per cent.

The nine seater has plenty of plus points The interior has a premium feel with good connectivity, and I was impressed by the new MBUX infotainment system, which is nicely integrated into the dash.

The driving position is high and comfortable, with the type of good all-round visibility that’s crucial when manoeuvring a vehicle that’s more than five metres long.

Its weight, 2.7 tonnes, helps to keep it well planted when cornering and you always get a reassuring sense of grip.

Many of the qualities seen in the electric version of the vehicle are also present in its conventionally-powered diesel stablemate, which I also had the chance to test.

The 2.0-litre diesel engine feels like a good match for the vehicle, offering a nice balance between performance and economy.

Acceleration is punchy, while average fuel economy of more than 40mpg is satisfying for a weighty vehicle.

The interior offers nine seats and plenty of space The diesel version used to be offered with a variety of options for driven wheels, but now comes exclusively as a rear wheel drive option.

Having the power going to the back wheels makes the driving experience all the better, enhancing the handling.

This simplification of the range also means there’s no longer a short model, with buyers now having two lengths to choose from – the medium and long versions.

Looks-wise, the Vito Tourer is a good-looking machine.

The Vito Tourer has an appealing look The exterior has been tweaked as part of the most recent updates, but the changes amount to evolution rather than revolution.

Updated lights form part of the tweaks, as does a redesigned grille and bumper.

The new alloys look good, while some additional colours are available too.

In conclusion, the Vito and eVito may come with a hefty price tag, but sometimes you pay for what you get when it comes to quality.

The all-round build-quality of the vehicle, the fantastic flexible space within it, and the quality of the drive mean you get plenty of bang for your buck.

eVito Tourer electric

VERSION: L2 SELECT
Basic List Price: £69,875
TRANSMISSION: Front wheel drive
BATTERY: 90kWh
MAX POWER: 204hp
TORQUE: 362nM
RANGE: 227 miles combined
CHARGE TIME: AC 0-100% - 10 hours / DC 10-80% -
40 mins

Vito Tourer diesel

ENGINE: 1950 cc diesel
EMISSIONS: 188 g/km
POWER: 163hp
ECONOMY: 40.4 MPG
PRICE: From £45,165, rising to more than £70,000 depending on trim level