Mercedes-Benz eCitan Review

​But there are two things to consider beyond that. The first is that the Kangoo, which was the first of the three to appear, is actually a cracking little van. The second is that despite the architectural and mechanical similarities there are between the eCitan and its sister models, the Mercedes manages to hold a strong identity of its own thanks to a largely bespoke interior and a very strong image – indeed, for image-conscious businesses, the three-pointed star may well be enough to swing things in the eCitan’s favour. 

The things that make the eCitan stand out beyond its styling are its posh Mercedes steering wheel and its MBUX infotainment system, which really elevate the cabin ambience. 

Otherwise, it’s pretty much the same as the Kangoo e-Tech in its layout. That means two body lengths, imaginatively known as L1 and L2, with a crew cab option on the longer model. 

Like its sister models, the eCitan is on the smaller side of the small van market, with rivals from Stellantis brands Peugeot, Citroën, Vauxhall and Fiat offering much greater load bay space and payload functionality. The flip side is that the eCitan is one of the best small electric vans to drive – if not the very best thanks to its plush cabin, impressive refinement and car-like agility. 

Range, Battery and Charging

There’s just the one battery for now in the eCitan and it’s a 45kWh unit, paired with a 90kW or 122PS electric motor with an official WLTP range of 186 miles. That puts it behind most rivals in terms of overall range, but not by a huge margin so unless you need the absolute maximum range out of your van, it’s not likely to be a major issue. 

Charge the eCitan overnight using a 7kW home wall box and it’ll take around 6.5 hours to top out, while a fast charge with a 75kW rapid charger will take it from 10-80% in less than 40 minutes. 22kW AC charging takes an hour and 21 minutes to replenish to a similar level. 

Practicality, Payload and Dimensions

The eCitan comes in two body lengths – the 4.5-metre long L1 and the 4.9-metre long L2, with 3.3 to 4.7 cubic metres of cargo volume. That’s less than a lot of rivals, but the L2 model is still big enough to swallow two Euro pallets. 

Access is easy via the asymmetric 60:40 split rear barn doors, unimpeded by the underfloor batteries, while there are twin side doors on the L2 and a single door on the L1. The load bay is spacious enough, with 1806mm of length in the L1 and 2230mm in the L2, with a maximum load width of 1570mm and 1248mm between the wheel arches in both. The L2 is also offered as a crew cab, though this is quite pricey.  

The payload is far from best-in-class so do bear this in mind when buying. Peculiarly, it’s the heavier L2 that has the higher GVW thanks to a heavier-duty rear axle, so it’ll take 764kg compared with the L1’s 609kg. 

Interior, Seating and Technology

By far the most appealing facet with the eCitan is its cabin ambience. It’s a really pleasant van in which to spend time, and while the Renault influences are still there, the presence of Mercedes’s premium MBUX infotainment system, which is both easy to operate and one of the best in the business, along with the chunky three-spoke multi-function steering wheel from the brand’s passenger cars really gives things a lift. 

The high-gloss black dashboard trim with chrome highlights and abundance of Mercedes switchgear gives it a suitably premium feel, especially in the higher trim level. 

There’s also a plethora of storage options in the cab, including a vast overhead shelf with a genuinely useful lip to it, unlike in some rival vans where smaller items like to jump off.

Motors, Performance and Handling

The added refinement of the EV powertrain makes the eCitan feel especially civilised – it comes with a single battery and motor combination but the 122PS unit is extremely smooth and feels livelier than its power output would suggest. 

Drive modes consist of Eco, Normal and Power and there are three regenerative braking levels, selected via the gear lever. The most powerful will bring the van to a near-stop. 

It handles superbly, with minimal road noise, excellent refinement and decent all-round visibility, making the eCitan arguably the most pleasing of all the small electric vans on the market to drive. 

Running costs, Pricing and Specs

The eCitan is offered in two different trim levels known as Progressive and Premium and is priced marginally higher than most of its rivals, the cachet of the Mercedes badge and a higher level of equipment marking it out as a bit more desirable.

Even the Progressive trim level comes with heated seats, cruise control and MBUX navigation, for example, while the Premium gets some exterior styling enhancements including body-coloured trim and 16-inch alloy wheels, as well as LED headlights with high-beam assist.

Verdict

As a working van, the eCitan lags behind some of its rivals – it’s smaller and it can’t match the payload of some of its more workmanlike peers. But it makes up for it in two ways – the driving experience and the overall ambience. It’s an upmarket, high-quality small van with exceptional driving characteristics, and if you only need a light duty vehicle, those are pretty significant things in its favour.