Mercedes-Benz has cultivated a strong brand image associated with luxury, success, and exclusivity. Owning a Mercedes-Benz is often seen as a symbol of status and achievement, which contributes to its luxury appeal. It has a long-standing history of producing high-quality vehicles with a reputation for luxury, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. The brand has been synonymous with prestige and elegance for many years. However, one Mercedes’ most popular models might surprise you.

Let’s take a look at the second best-selling Mercedes.

The second-best-selling Mercedes is surprising

The best-selling Mercedes-Benz model is the GLE-class. However, data from GoodCarBadCar shows the second-best-selling Mercedes is the Sprinter van. Available in more than 130 countries worldwide, the Mercedes Sprinter is a high-roof van created in 1995 that has gained an international reputation. Given the size of Mercedes’s offerings lineup, this is surprising.

Mercedes was the first to bring this style of van to the U.S., after they had become popular overseas in Europe. Despite the popularity of the Ford Transit and Ram Promaster, which are also high-roof vans, people use the name Sprinter as a blanket term to refer to all makes and models of high-roof vans.

The Sprinter represents the industry standard, and it’s the most popular option for converting into a camper van due to its high standards in quality and reliability.

What contributes to the Sprinter van’s popularity?

As mentioned, the Sprinter van is very popular among camper van enthusiasts. The main factor contributing to the popularity of Sprinter vans is its versatility. Sprinter campers are the ideal compromise between luxury and practicality. It is smaller than an RV, but they have significant advantages over car camping or smaller vans.

Sprinters are easy to maneuver in urban environments. It can fit in a typical parking space, depending on the van’s wheelbase. Both are tall enough for a person to stand up inside and compact enough to go almost anywhere a car can.

In a Sprinter van, you can fit a bed, a kitchen, a seating area, and tons of storage, but you won’t be constrained by where you can take it, unlike with an RV. Additionally, Sprinters provide optional four-wheel drive, allowing you to utilize it for your more daring and remote adventures. 

These vans are also very easy to camouflage. On the outside, it looks like a simple delivery van, which makes it perfect for van lifers who want to park and make it less obvious that they are actually camping.

Features and pricing of the Sprinter

There are three Sprinter models to choose from: Cargo, Crew, or Passenger. The Cargo version starts at $45,795, the Crew at $48,995, and the Passenger at $50,395. Every version is offered with three engine choices.

The standard powertrain is a 188-hp turbocharged gas-fed four-cylinder with 258-lb-ft of torque. Other options offered are a 170-hp turbodiesel four-cylinder with 295 lb-ft of torque and a higher-output 211-hp twin-turbo diesel with 332 lb-ft of torque. Each model uses a nine-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available as an option, but rear-wheel drive comes standard on every model. 

The Sprinter van has become popular not only for commercial drivers but for camping enthusiasts as well. Due to its popularity, the used car market is saturated so getting your hands on one is relatively inexpensive.