The Mercedes-Benz Vaneo is a five-door, seven-seater

compact MPV Compact MPV (an abbreviation for Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle) is a vehicle size class for the middle size of MPVs. The Compact MPV size class sits between the mini MPV and large MPV (minivan) size classes. Compact MPVs remain predominantly a ...

(

M-segment M-segment is the European segments for passenger cars described as "multi purpose vehicles". It covers multi-purpose vehicles, minivans and cargo vans. The minivans (also called MPVs or passenger vans) often have removable rear seating to provid ...

in Europe) that was produced by

Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to as Mercedes and sometimes as Benz, is a German luxury and commercial vehicle automotive brand established in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a Mercedes-Benz Group subsidiary established in 2019) is headquartere ...

from 2002 to 2005. It used the automobile platform from the first generation

Mercedes-Benz A-Class The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a subcompact car produced by the German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz as the brand's entry-level vehicle. The first generation (internally coded W168) was introduced in 1997, the second generation (W169) in ...

. Up to seven seater capacity was available, but this vehicle was not built as a van, instead it was built as a MPV. The name Vaneo is derived from the word Van, which is used in

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

for the car types MPV.

Design

The Vaneo was front-wheel-drive only and limited to four-cylinder engines. The body consisted of two sliding rear doors and 'Sandwich Floor' construction giving it a van-like driving position and a higher roof line. It was suitable for U.K.'s Motability for the disabled, as well as for use as

taxicab A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choi ...

s. Seating for five was standard, with two third-row buckets optional. With all the rear seats removed, there was up to 3,000 litres of cargo space. A 120 kg capacity slide-out boot floor was optional. Roof rails were standard on Trend and Ambiente models, while ISOfix anchorages were included on all vehicles. Due to quality issues and poor sales the Vaneo was discontinued after a three-year production run. It was replaced in 2012 by the Citan, a

badge engineered In the automotive industry, rebadging is a form of market segmentation used by automobile manufacturers around the world. To allow for product differentiation without designing or engineering a new model or brand (at high cost or risk), a ma ...

Renault Kangoo The Renault Kangoo is a family of multi purpose vehicles manufactured and marketed by Renault since 1997, in commercial as well as passenger variants, across three generations. For the European market, the Kangoo is manufactured at the MCA plan ...

as part of Mercedes-Benz's broader alliance with the French automaker.

Safety

The Vaneo was tested by

Euro NCAP The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a European voluntary car safety performance assessment programme (i.e. a New Car Assessment Program) based in Leuven (Belgium) formed in 1996, with the first results released in Februa ...

in 2002 with the following ratings:

Security

The Vaneo was tested by Thatcham's New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) organisation and achieved the following ratings:

Powertrains

Engines complied with Euro 3 emission standards. They included: 1.6 L in two states of tune and 1.9 L petrol engines, as well as a 1.7 L diesel. Three 5-speed transmissions were available: a manual, an automated clutch system called ACS, and a regular automatic called "TouchShift."

Reviews

* Parker's Car Guides
'Pros: Interior space, usefully practical, easy to drive in town
Cons: Rattly trim, ungainly styling, firm ride' * RAC (6.4/10)
'Don't let the uninspiring looks and twee name put you off. The Vaneo is well built and offers a surprising amount of space in its compact footprint. It won't win any beauty contests and inviting people for 'a spin in the Merc' might be a recipe for disappointment, but to know a Vaneo is to love one. Surprisingly good.'

References

{{Mercedes-Benz vehicles Vaneo Compact MPVs Minivans Front-wheel-drive vehicles Euro NCAP small MPVs Cars of Germany Cars introduced in 2002 Cars discontinued in 2005