Review of the Mercedes-Benz eCitan

The Mercedes-Benz eCitan is the German manufacturer's first foray into the small electric van sector. Perfect for small business owners looking for a practical yet comfortable electric van, the e-Citan has a good-looking exterior, loads of safety kit, and up to 176 miles of range. 

Rivals to the eCitan include the Citroen e-Berlingo, Peugeot e-Partner, Renault Kangoo E-Tech, and Nissan Townstar Electric. 

Our Mercedes-Benz eCitan review covers: 

• Eye-catching exterior 
• Pleasant cabin with a good infotainment system 
• Up to 3.6m3 of load volume 
• 45kWh battery paired with a 122hp electric motor 
• Three trim levels 

Pros:

• Good-looking exterior design 
• Pleasant interior 
• Lots of safety kit 

Cons:

• Range is under 200 miles 
• More expensive than its rivals 
• Only one battery and motor combination 

The small electric van market is saturated with boring-looking Stellantis vans, so the uniquely designed eCitan is a welcome change. At the front, there's a low-sitting front grille and slim headlights, and the bonnet incline towards the windscreen looks pretty good. At the rear, the eCitan looks like your standard small van, albeit with a black-coloured strip. 

Inside the eCitan there's enough space for three people. The driver gets their own seat while the two passengers share a double-seat bench. However, unlike the old Citan, the new version is a little wider, meaning there's plenty of shoulder and elbow room. Whether you're on a short or long journey, you'll be comfortable in the eCitan. 

You've got two configuration options for the eCitan: L1 and L2. L1 comes with a load volume of 2.9m3 and a payload of up to 425kg, while L2 increases load volume to 3.6m3 and payload to 552kg. 

While load volume is on par with its rivals, payload falls way short of rivals such as the Citroen e-Berlingo and Renault Kangoo E-Tech. 

Mercedes-Benz vehicles are known for their superb cabins, and the eCitan is no different. The cabin gets a black styling pack, there's a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and every button you touch feels robust. 

The eCitan comes with a 9.5-inch multimedia system that features navigation, smartphone integration, and Mercedes's MBUX technology, which adapts the system to your preferences. For the latter, all you need to do is say, "Hey Mercedes," and the system will be your loyal servant. 

Three trims are available for the eCitan: Base, Pro, and Select. 

Base comes with 16-inch steel wheels, a multifunction steering wheel, heated seats, keyless start, a rearview camera, automatic climate control, and various driver assistance systems. 

Pro adds LED interior lights, electric folding exterior mirrors, a five-spoke design on the wheels, plastic flooring in the load compartment, and blind spot assist. 

Select has a chrome interior pack, a high-gloss black dashboard, a leather steering wheel, ten-spoke alloy wheels, keyless go, active parking assist, and high beam assist. 

The eCitan is powered by a 45kWh battery paired with a 122hp electric motor. It is front-wheel drive and returns a maximum torque of 245Nm. 

For charging, an 11kW AC charger will fully charge the battery in four and a half hours. The eCitan also has fast charging up to 75kW DC, which takes the battery from 10 to 80% in just 38 minutes. 

On paper, the eCitan's powertrain won't raise any eyebrows; however, the electric motor is more than powerful enough. Whether you're around town or on the motorway, it's a good van to drive. 

The eCitan excels at lower speeds. The instant 245Nm of torque is more than enough to get you going from a standstill, even with a full load compartment in the rear. The handling is also accurate, and because of its tight dimensions and parking aids, it's a breeze to fit in a tight space. 

You also get a selection of battery recuperation levels. During the journey, you can determine what behaviour should be turned to efficiency and how strongly the vehicle decelerates when you take your foot off the accelerator. 

On the motorway, the eCitan has no issues whatsoever getting up to cruising speed. Once at 70mph, ride comfort is decent, and there's minimal road noise. However, it does feel like the engine is being pushed a little hard. 

Similar to the recuperation levels, the eCitan has two driving modes: Comfort and Eco. Comfort does what it says on the tin and is ideal for cruising, while Eco maximises battery power and range. 

Prices for the new Mercedes-Benz eCitan start from £40,794.00 OTR* or to lease from £407.75 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz eCitan? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest van leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.