It appears like a van with windows, drives just like a van with windows, and performs just like a van with windows. That leads to the inevitable conclusion how the V-Class is a van with windows.

Place it alongside a Vito – favoured by upwardly-mobile courier companies – and also the parentage becomes obvious. Regardless, it’s a fine machine because of its intended slot on the market.

The dynamics leave much to become desired but standard Mercedes values (low interior noise levels, safe acceleration, predictable handling) each one is to be found within the V-Class. Heavily favoured by fecund families and chauffeur companies, the V-Class isn’t the Mercedes-Benz to buy should you be looking for excitement, but it’s the one if comfort and security for seven are at the top of your agenda.

Another strange little machine that seems from kilter with the rest of the Mercedes-Benz line-up. Competing against such cars since the Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner but appreciably more expensive – the vehicle looks like a minivan with windows.

It handles and rides like one, too. Positive factors are a insightful interior space – made all of the more usable by its square passenger compartment and load area – and surprisingly good economy.

Add Mercedes-Benz’s traditionally high residual values and also the car starts to make sense for those who choose to drive boxy vehicles. Mercedes-Benz suggests the perfect purchaser is really a half of a family having a couple of children along with a dog, the Mercedes-Benz Vaneo being the things they consider to be the perfect second car.

Despite not delivering its on-track promise to date for 2004, Formula One’s McLaren racing has sufficient pedigree for Mercedes-Benz to synergy with it for any road car which develops the race track relationship.

The vehicle is as advanced because it is possible to become; stunning looks, a redefinition of the heritage made up of the Gull-wing Mercedes of the 1950s, along with a level of performance that was not seen since, well, because the McLaren F1 saloon car of the 1980s.

There’s little reason for trying to explain its capabilities – it’s everything you imagine, times ten.

Given its first redesign because the model has been around since 1997, the SLK remains a concise two-seater sports car, however has a nose styled to emulate the SLR, as well as an altogether more ‘grown up’ look than its predecessor.

A brand new three-engine option pack provides the entry level package of the 163PS four cylinder supercharged petrol engine, the familiar 3.3 litre V6, and for the very first time in the small roadster, V8 power within the shape of the AMG55 engine.

This latter unit puts the diminutive sportster into territory normally occupied by true super cars. Seven speed automatic transmission puts this latter model into its class.

Despite sharing a considerable number of parts using the Chrysler Crossfire, SLK continues to benefit from the status of their own distinct personality, feeling sharper and cleaner than its American stable mate.

A tale used to do the rounds in Germany, which in fact had it these cars always bought from pairs; an abundant industrialist would buy one for his mistress, after which in a fit of conscience purchase the second for his wife.

Regardless of the connotations, the SL Roadster is constantly on the sell. The relatively sedentary pace of the entry-level V6 is completely eclipsed through the awesome 500PS supercharged AMG variant.

The SL has traditionally been the proving ground for brand new technology, which latest generation continues that trend with electronic control for almost everything.

Despite being regarded as a ‘lady owner’ car with the connotations which are attached to that tag, SL is really a sharp and precise sports vehicle that provides enormous amounts of satisfaction driving. A true iconic car – for mistress or wife.

Favoured transport for oil sheiks, industrialists and football managers, the S-Class bristles with technology, meaning it’s one of the few limousine-proportioned sedans able to simultaneous satisfaction for both passengers and drivers.

Little touches like the ride height automatically lowering at speed (to enhance aerodynamics) and also the world’s innovative automatic transmission (seven speeds, intuitive reprogramming) put this car right into a league of their own.

Having a level of chassis precision that many sports car manufacturers would kill for, this car is within a league all its own. The largest seller may be the 350 six cylinder, however for true performance the V12 twin turbo, with 500PS and more torque than most trucks, may be the one to go for – the real Autobahnstormer.

Designed to both take sales in the Range Rover and also to provide buyers of Mercedes-Benz cars having a more urbane option to the industrially-packaged Mercedes-Benz G-Class beloved of lumberjacks and Austrian hill farmers, the M-Class has carved a neat swathe with the market.

Wherever the monied classes take their kids to school is going to be found flocks of those cars – that is something of the shame, because even though it rarely gets removed road, the equipment is eminently able to plugging the mud using the best of them, yet will even deliver consistently comfortable on-road performance.

Regardless of the appeal of the big-engined variants, the ML320 has become the best buy, supplying the ideal mixture of a torque engine and sensible amounts of economy. Lifelong ownership costs will also be better than may be expected.

Even with the apparent aesthetics and aerodynamics of the garden shed, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class includes a small, If devout, number of followers.

A slab-sided go-anywhere 4×4, possibly the nearest thing Land Rover needs to a rival because of its Defender, the number has recently been expanded through the addition of the G55 variant.

This really is powered with a supercharged 5.5 litre V8, and pumps out more than 700Nm of torque, with 476PS. This gives outrageous acceleration 0-100kph in five seconds – and enough pulling capacity to outperform most tractors.

The definitive respect vehicle for 4×4 users. An indication of its capabilities would be that the emergency services of rural Germany and Austria consider it the very best and durable machine in the class. Nothing can match it once the going gets tough – expect perhaps a Hummer.

Produced not only in Germany however in other Mercedes-Benz plants for example Malaysia, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class remains high on the listing of executives throughout the planet.

Providing lots of accommodation along with a handling package that favours both driver feedback and passenger comfort, the E-Class emerges in both four-door sedan and estate car versions, with a choice of engines that rises as far as a 306PS V8.

Estate variants could be specified with all-wheel drive. Even though looks of the E-Class won’t ever set the world alight, their subtlety represents a particular arrival in status for his or her owners. Small-engined versions are turgid, however the Vee-engined variants offer useful performance and handling compared to comfort levels suggest. The AMG variant is merely wonderful they are driving, both fast and precise.

Chances should be stacked against a substantially-sized and expensive set of cars which are either a two-door coupe or four-seater convertible, but sales tell another story; the Mercedes-Benz CLK is constantly on the succeed in the face area of all logic.

Part of the reason for the model’s success may be the driving experience, which without lively and vibrant will satisfy many drivers. Addititionally there is the styling of the car, that has that classic Mercedes timeless quality that neither looks completely new or dated.

Engines in the modest 200 Kompressor as much as the renowned AMG 5.5 litre V8 provide choice for those buyers. There were concerns that building this car about the C-Class floor pan instead of the E-Class have proved unfounded; this is actually the biggest seller MB has ever enjoyed on this class of car, and there’s a waiting list for deliveries.

Anybody who questions why Mercedes-Benz make a mid-sized, four-seat, two door coupe like the CLK will doubly wonder in the CL.

This behemoth (that is rarely observed in anything other than its 5.0 litre form) is just marginally shorter compared to S-Class, but despite its bulk seems to provide a considerable level of entertaining driving because of its owners.

Part of the benefit of this model is its exclusivity – the sales must surely push it to the ‘loss leader’ section of DaimlerChrysler’s annual accounts – but equally valid is performance that belies the considerable footprint it leaves about the tarmac.

Being an indicator of how quickly and how precise this car is, Formula One fans may have noticed that the vehicle is chosen as pace car for Grand Prix racing; few four seaters could match its abilities about the bends.

The mainstay model in the range, Mercedes’ C-Class has been face lifted, with changes towards the interior and nose from the car, suspension and transmission settings, and fresh engine options.

Offered in saloon, hatchback ‘coupe’ and estate variants, this everyman Mercedes now features sharper handling with no penalty to ride comfort, more responsive six-speed transmission, and engines which go from a modest 2.0 litre diesel even a tuned V8 – the very first time that an AMG V8 continues to be available in this model.

The Kompressor (supercharged) four cylinder engine, formerly only offered in the Sports Coupe model, has become offered through the range.

Although entry-level price is low, it is surprisingly simple to rattle in the order price, because of Mercedes’ habit of relying heavily about the extras list for a lot of items that other auto makers provide as standard issue.