Power struggle: Hybrid VW Caravelle edges Mercedes-Benz V300d
Mzansi's two most premium people carriers are neck and neck in terms of power output.
The Volkswagen Caravelle, a newly launched plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) by the brand, is not only the first of its kind in the country but also boasts the greatest power among people movers in South Africa (Mzansi). Equipped with an eHybrid badge, the Caravelle replaces its predecessor's 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with a more powerful setup, comprising a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, a 19.7kWh battery pack, and a rear-mounted electric motor.
This configuration generates a combined output of 180kW and 350Nm of torque, 16kW more power but 120Nm less torque than its predecessor.
The Caravelle's increased power output allows it to outperform the Mercedes-Benz V300d, the latter's 2.0-litre blown mill producing 174kW, which is six kilowatts less than the Caravelle. However, the Mercedes' torque of 500Nm is a full 150Nm greater than that of the VW van. Other local people movers fall short in terms of power when compared to the Caravelle and V300d.
The Hyundai Staria, with its 2.2-litre oil-burner, produces 130kW/430Nm, the Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0-litre turbodiesel pumps out 125kW/390Nm, and the Toyota Quantum VX's 2.8-litre diesel mill generates 115kW/420Nm. The closest competitor to the Caravelle and V300d is the Mercedes-Benz Vito 119 CDI, which generates 140kW/440Nm.
The Mercedes-Benz V300d's power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 9G Tronic automatic transmission, while the Caravelle's six-speed dual-clutch gearbox sends the power to all four corners. The Citizen Motoring has not yet conducted high-performance road tests on either vehicle, but the claimed acceleration times of 7.8 seconds for the V300d and 8.2 seconds for the Caravelle will make for an intriguing race between the two.
The Mercedes claims the V300d can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds, while the VW Caravelle is projected to achieve this feat in 8.2 seconds. The VW Caravelle eHybrid has a rated top speed of 190km/h, while the Mercedes V300d Exclusive is limited to 220km/h.
In terms of pricing, the Volkswagen Caravelle eHybrid Style 4Motion is priced at R1 794 000, while the Mercedes-Benz V300d Exclusive comes with a higher price tag of R2 301 578.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
