Best Sprinter Vans for Shuttle & Transportation Businesses
Moving groups of people around has often been described as “herding cats,” and for good reason: if you’re organizing a church or school outing, it’s incredibly hard to get everyone to agree on a time and place. If you’re running a shuttle or a transportation service, there’s always that one call that can throw your entire schedule off. Though all of that can be stressful at times, one thing that won’t be is your vehicle, as long as you’re driving a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passenger van. Thanks to their classic German engineering, Sprinters are built for reliability, whether you’re making airport runs or helping VIPs get to their next important meeting. Not only that, but they’re surprisingly spacious and customizable, meaning that no matter who is in the van with you, they’ll enjoy the experience.
Who Should Buy a Sprinter Van?
School or Church Groups
Passenger comfort for long drives
Hotels
The reliability to keep your guests satisfied
Executive Transporters
Upfitting options for premium comfort
Airport Shuttles
Optimized for urban driving and tight schedules
Tour Guides
Easy on and off access for sightseeing
Private Transportation Businesses
The flexibility to meet any company’s needs
Traveling in Style
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passenger vans truly stand alone as the ideal choice for any business that needs to get a large group of people from point A to point B. Here are a few reasons why.
Body Style and Seating Needs
It would be easy to assume that most Sprinter passenger vans are very similar, but there are actually a surprising number of decisions to be made when selecting one.
Perhaps the most obvious, and arguably the most important, is the body style. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passenger van comes in two different configurations, including the default, which features a 144-inch wheelbase, a standard-height roof, and 12 seats. Should you need a little extra capacity, a 15-seater with a 170-inch wheelbase and a high roof is also available. Whether your group is small or large (or simply wants to stretch out), the Sprinter has you covered.
Passenger Comfort
The Sprinter manages to deliver tons of available amenities to all 12 or 15 people, allowing them to travel with far more comfort than would typically be expected from a vehicle designed to carry large groups. That begins right up front, with the standard MBUX multimedia system, along with its 10.25-inch touchscreen and intelligent voice control system, as well as a host of assistance and safety features.
For everyone else, there are plenty of available packages that can help. One popular option is the Passenger Accessibility Package, which includes a parametric special module (PSM) and an electric sliding step, vital add-ons for those with elderly passengers. Other optional features include seating and climate upgrades in the rear, while the Sprinter Select models offer enhanced luxury throughout the interior.
Upfit Flexibility
Want to take things to another level entirely? That’s where a qualified upfitter can help out. For traveling executives who might demand some additional space and connectivity to get work done on the road, an upfit is the best way to take full control of the Sprinter’s available volume. Luxury seating? Furniture? Overhead screens? Anything else you might need for your business? It’s all in play for an upfitter.
Though the specifics depend largely on the sort of upfit desired, you may find that a Sprinter cargo van, which includes a large, empty space as a default, meets your needs better than a passenger van.
Room for Everything
As nice as it may be to transport a ton of people around, people — particularly those on vacation or some other form of travel — come with stuff, whether it’s suitcases or a simple duffel bag. The good news is that the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has ample space for all of it. The 144-inch wheelbase versions with 12 seats include up to 78.6 cubic feet of cargo space, roughly the size of a small walk-in closet, while the 15-seaters with a 170-inch wheelbase include a maximum of 111.2 cubic feet.
If that’s somehow not enough, most Sprinter vans can also tow up to 5,000 pounds, so it’s well within their ability to pull along a modest cargo trailer.
Ideal for Branding
One thing about any sort of mobile-based business is that much of its best advertising comes from its own vehicles. The appropriate branding can truly elevate any shuttle or transportation company, and there’s no better way to execute that crucial part of your marketing plan than with a Sprinter. With seven standard and 15 available colors, including everything ranging from Arctic White and Jet Black to Aqua Green, Velvet Red, and Calcite Yellow, there’s certain to be something that matches your existing scheme. From there, you only need to finish it off with a vinyl graphic or vehicle wrap.
Multiple Powertrain Alternatives
Though they may not be the first items on your checklist when it comes to a passenger van, it’s important to note that beyond the body size, capacity, and Select upgrade, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter also has an available high-output engine that can add a little bit of extra juice to your shuttle runs, as well as available all-wheel drive capabilities.
Here are the eight basic Sprinter passenger van configurations:
| Model | Wheelbase | Roof | Seating Capacity | Engine | Drive Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinter 2500 | 144 inches | Standard | 12 | 2.0L Diesel I-4 (170 HP) | RWD |
| Sprinter 2500 | 144 inches | Standard | 12 | 2.0L Diesel I-4 (211 HP) | RWD |
| Sprinter 2500 | 144 inches | Standard | 12 | 2.0L Diesel I-4 (211 HP) | AWD |
| Sprinter 2500 Select | 144 inches | Standard | 12 | 2.0L Diesel I-4 (211 HP) | RWD |
| Sprinter 2500 Select | 144 inches | Standard | 12 | 2.0L Diesel I-4 (170 HP) | AWD |
| Sprinter 2500 | 170 inches | High | 15 | 2.0L Diesel I-4 (170 HP) | RWD |
| Sprinter 2500 | 170 inches | High | 15 | 2.0L Diesel I-4 (211 HP) | RWD |
| Sprinter 2500 Select | 170 inches | High | 15 | 2.0L Diesel I-4 (211 HP) | RWD |
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans in Columbus, OH
Certainly, there’s a lot to consider when looking to purchase a van, let alone several of them, but whatever your business’ needs, the Mercedes-Benz Van Center Easton can help you meet them. Our experienced and professional staff is dedicated to helping businesses in Columbus and across Central Ohio exceed their goals, and we’re excited for you to become our latest success story. Contact us or stop by our convenient location today to get started!