Mercedes eCitan: Evaluation of the brand's latest star utility vehicle

We tested Mercedes' latest utility vehicle, the eCitan. With its three seats and its loading space of 3.62 m3 (for the L2 version, the largest), the new eCitan offers solid arguments. In France, it has been available to order since May 2023 at a turnkey price of €33,805 excluding tax in its First version. It completes the range of electric utility vehicles from Mercedes-Benz alongside its two big brothers, the eVito and the eSprinter.

The eCitan: a small utility vehicle designed for urban driving

There is no doubt that electrification is now at the heart of Mercedes' strategy, and this extends to the utility segment as well. The eCitan is the German manufacturer's third electric utility vehicle. From the first tests, this is confirmed: the eCitan is a small van pleasant to drive, clearly designed for small deliveries in the city center. For a utility vehicle, we are pleasantly surprised by its fluidity and maneuverability.

The eCitan shares the same base as the Renault Kangoo Van. Both vehicles are produced in the same factory, in Maubeuge, in Hauts-de-France. This is a factory where several models of different brands are manufactured, such as the Renault Kangoo, the Mercedes-Benz Citan and eCitan, as well as the Nissan Townstar. It is a center of excellence for light commercial vehicles. With its 122 horsepower and 45 kWh battery, the eCitan promises a range of 284 kilometers in the WLTP combined cycle. During our tests, this promise seems to be confirmed.

It takes 38 minutes to charge the small utility from 0-80% using the optional 75kW DC3 charger. The electric version of the Citan offers the same load capacity as the conventional model, which is good news for professionals. The narrow wheel arches make it possible to transport up to 544 kg for the long version and 722 kg for the extra-long version. The lithium-ion battery is located in the underbody to protect it in the event of a collision.

There are two drive modes and three recovery modes available

During our mixed route on the beautiful roads of the Chevreuse valley, we covered around 100 kilometres. This gave us the opportunity to test the two driving modes of the utility vehicle: comfort mode and economy mode. Comfort mode is the standard driving mode, while economy mode limits speed to 110 km/h, torque to 200 Nm and power to 55 kW. The difference between these two driving modes is hardly noticeable, at least in terms of feeling on the road. You barely feel the extra power in comfort mode.

The eCitan also offers three recovery modes: D, D+ and D-. By default, the D mode, also called "Drive", offers a driving behavior similar to that of the thermal model. The D+ mode is the "cruise mode" which promotes relaxed and predictive driving, according to the manufacturer. Finally, my favorite, the D-mode, called "One-Pedal-Drive", allows for nice control of acceleration and deceleration. The choice of recovery mode is made using the gear lever.

What are the differences with the Renault Kangoo Van, the cousin of the Mercedes eCitan?

The Mercedes eCitan, very similar to the all-electric version of the Renault Kangoo Van, benefits from the addition of Mercedes-specific features. It offers more comfort and safety, as well as the use of telematics thanks to MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). The MBUX offers an intuitive interface with a seven-inch touchscreen and touch controls on the steering wheel, including the "Hey Mercedes" voice assistant. However, it's obvious that the interior is that of a utility, with a predominance of tough plastics rather than more refined aesthetics.

As is often the case, Mercedes-Benz places great importance on safety in the eCitan project, offering a full range of driver assistance systems to make life easier for the driver in different situations. The brand's technologies use radar sensors and cameras to monitor traffic and the environment, issue warnings and intervene if necessary to help the driver. The vehicle also analyzes driver behavior using the Attention Assist feature.

The all-electric Renault Kangoo Van is priced at €33,600 excluding VAT, while Mercedes' eCitan is slightly more expensive at €33,805 excluding VAT. Both vehicles have a practically similar budget, but the Mercedes offers more sophisticated equipment and more advanced technologies.