We can see a form of pragmatism dear to Mercedes, but also the homage paid by a German manufacturer to a French car of modest extraction. The new Mercedes T-Class is a leisure vehicle closely derived from the latest generation of the Renault Kangoo.
This is not the first time that the brand with the star makes this kind of loan, but the last time was to offer the Citan, a utility. Today, by designating this new vehicle under the unique name of Class T (“an appellation which, within the range, has to be earned”we insist at Mercedes), the manufacturer from across the Rhine is rolling out the red carpet under the wheels of a vehicle which is therefore officially part of the range of the big house in Stuttgart (south-west).
By setting its sights on the Kangoo, the German firm subscribes to an increasingly common practice of “borrowing” a model from another manufacturer in order to adapt it to its range. Mitsubishi will be able to accommodate the Renault Clio and Captur, while Suzuki does the same with two Toyota models.
On the engine side, Renault has been called upon
In this case, the German firm makes an industrial calculation. The MPV market − this “light utility” gentrified, transformed into a wagon capable of carrying the whole family and their bikes − is doing quite well, but not enough to allow it to make a model profitable ex nihilo.
Mercedes has, however, made a point of customizing the T-Class so that, out of self-esteem, it doesn’t quite look like a Renault. This receives the headlights of the B-Class minivan, a chrome grille adorned with an imposing star and a specially designed bonnet.
Renault-style hard plastics give way to less minimalist trim and the cabin can lend itself to nightclub-style mood lighting
Inside, the kind customers will be able to have a specific dashboard (equipped with a 7-inch screen… smaller than that of the Kangoo), the German brand’s infotainment system, a large leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, as well as seats upholstered in special foam. Renault-style hard plastics give way to less minimalist upholstery and the cabin can lend itself to nightclub-style mood lighting.
The T-Class does not have a trunk, but a “hold” with a capacity of 520 liters and, at the rear, you can install three baby seats side by side on the split bench seat. On the engine side, Renault was involved. The choice will be made between a 131 horsepower petrol and two diesels (reflecting a utilitarian tropism, no doubt) of 95 or 116 hp which fulfill their duty with discretion and a certain efficiency, but without managing to avoid the sanction of the malus ecological.
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