The Mercedes-Benz V-Class, discontinued in India in 2022, has made a comeback with a price tag of Rs 1.40 crore. It locks horns with the Toyota Vellfire and Lexus LM luxury MPVs. So, let us compare the price and features of all three to see which one is best-specced on paper.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs rivals: Dimensions
Mercedes MPV leads in length, width and wheelbase
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class is 245mm and 365mm longer than the Lexus LM and Toyota Vellfire, respectively. It is also wider and has a 430mm larger wheelbase than both Japanese rivals. However, in terms of height, it falls behind the Lexus and Toyota models by 60mm and 70mm, respectively.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs rivals: Engine specifications
The V-Class is the only luxury MPV to offer a diesel engine
The V-Class is offered with a choice of a 2.0-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid assist and a 2.0-litre diesel, making it the only luxury MPV here to get a diesel option. In contrast, both the Vellfire and the Lexus LM use strong-hybrid petrol powertrains. The Vellfire produces 38hp and 130Nm less than the V-Class petrol, while the LM makes 16hp more, though with 131Nm less torque. The LM also features dual electric motors for all-wheel drive, whereas the V-Class has a rear-wheel-drive setup, and the Vellfire sends power to the front wheels.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs rivals: Exterior
V-Class misses out on front fog lamps and gets smaller rims
All three luxury MPVs get full-LED lighting with some key differences. The Mercedes-Benz V-Class has wraparound LED tail-lights; its Japanese rivals use connected light bars. However, it does not offer front fog lamps. The V-Class rides on smaller 18-inch wheels but is the only one to feature roof rails. The Lexus LM stands out with powered side steps, a feature not offered by the others.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs rivals: Interior and features
Mercedes MPV offers third-row ventilation but falls short in some aspects
Starting with screens, all offer 12.3-inch driver’s displays, but the V-Class gets a smaller infotainment unit and misses out on a rear entertainment screen. The Lexus LM is the only one to offer a head-up display. Moving on to other features, the Mercedes stands out with third-row ventilation, a feature not offered even on the more premium Lexus LM, but it lacks a sunroof and powered sunblinds, which are available on its rivals.
That said, all three MPVs come well-equipped in the first and second rows, with the Lexus LM offering the most features overall. The V-Class offers a 4-seat layout along with two 6-seat configurations, while the Lexus LM is available in 4- and 7-seat versions. In comparison, the Vellfire is a 7-seater.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs rivals: Driving tech
The Lexus LM offers more driving modes
All three luxury MPVs come with paddle shifters and adaptive cruise control, but the Lexus LM stands out by offering a wider range of drive modes.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs rivals: Safety features
All offer similar safety kit but the V-Class has an additional airbag
The V-Class is equipped with 7 airbags, which is an additional airbag over the Toyota Vellfire and Lexus LM. Otherwise, all MPVs are more or less matched on the safety front, with features such as a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, a tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and disc brakes on all wheels. Notably, the Vellfire lacks a driver monitoring camera, which the other two offer.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs rivals: Prices
The Vellfire is the most affordable model, followed by the V-Class and LM
Priced from Rs 1.20 crore, the Vellfire is Rs 10 lakh-20 lakh more affordable than the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The Lexus LM sits at the top of the range, costing nearly Rs 1 crore more than the Vellfire.
Priced from Rs 1.20 crore, the Vellfire offers better value than the V-Class, thanks to its equally rich list of features. While it misses out on third-row ventilation, the price premium of at least Rs 10 lakh for the V-Class may not justify the difference for most buyers. However, if you specifically want a 4-seater with generous cabin space, the V-Class makes more sense than the Lexus LM.
Prices are ex-showroom, India.
Uday Singh
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Rivan RS 
Saumil Shah
Saptarshi Mondal
