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When choosing the winner of the ‘RV of the Year’ award, Popular Mechanics selected the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Getaway. The result of a partnership between Mercedes-Benz, Driverge Vehicle Innovations, and Peace Vans, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Getaway is the kind of camper van that exudes coolness. Though, Popular Mechanics didn’t tap this Mercedes-Benz camper van as ‘RV of the Year’ because of its looks. 

How Popular Mechanics chose which RV to award

Popular Mechanics test drove several vehicles before announcing the winners of its 2020 Automotive Excellence Awards. Its team test drove an endless number of SUVs, sedans, trucks, wagons, sports cars, and vans for one year. From city streets to rutted forest roads, Popular Mechanics didn’t hold anything back when it came to choosing this year’s award winners.

These vehicles were judged based on more than just a test drive too. Popular Mechanics also cross-referenced its team members’ driving experiences with data from trusted sources like Car & Driver, J.D. Power, Edmunds, and Consumer Reports. 

What Popular Mechanics had to say about the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Getaway

Popular Mechanics writer Chris Dixon and his family spent two weeks putting the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Getaway to the test. They used it as both a surf van and a “mountain escape pod.” And by the end of their trip? They were enamored with it.

As Dixon put it, by the end of their family getaway, it was clear that the Metris Getaway is “well suited to the rigors of an outdoor lifestyle.” Not only does it have a crash-tested fiberglass pop-top that opens up to a “cavernous” tented interior, but Dixon and his brood were also able to tow a 4,500-pound boat with it.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Getaway is made for adventure

A family camping
Willamette National Forest, Oregon, USA | Brooks Rice/Unsplash

As Dixon’s family learned, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Getaway is made for adventure. It sleeps five, seats four, and to really sweeten the deal? This camper van comes equipped with a convenient pop-up roof that tucks away a 2.0-inch memory foam mattress. 

Of course, the Metris Getaway has more to offer than humble accommodations. It can also be had with integrated solar panels, roof racks, and an in-dash navigation system. Add in an available eight-foot awning, a rear pull-out kitchen, and a selection of useful bug screens, and this van is the ideal adventure companion.

The Metris Getaway isn’t all fun and games, though. It has excellent safety features too, and, as Dixon pointed out, is one of the few campers in the U.S. to come outfitted with rear curtain airbags. Safety features like Attention Assist, Crosswind Assist, and a rearview camera are also included. 

Hit the road behind the wheel of this award-winning RV

All in all, according to Popular Mechanics, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Getaway is the “long sought-after successor to the VW Vanagon.” It’s fun, practical, and it’s able to tow more than most family haulers. As Dixon so eloquently put it, “If your family is in the market for a high-end escape pod, you would do well to strongly consider this Mercedes.”

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Section Editor - Sedans & Coupes

Sarah Brennan

Sarah Brennan became an autos content creator in 2015, joined MotorBiscuit in 2020, and now serves as our Sedans & Coupes Section Editor. Inspired by innovation, Sarah scours automotive media, attends car shows, and visits dealerships. She has covered pickup trucks, SUVs, RVs, vehicle maintenance, and automotive technology for our site.

Much of Sarah’s content is inspired by her childhood, as she spent many pleasant rural afternoons exploring car showrooms with her dad. Sarah attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Writing and Political Science.