2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris:Changes to the Minivan You May Have Missed

Minivans have fallen out of favor as consumers migrate to SUVs for their family- and cargo-hauling needs, but hundreds of thousands of Americans still choose one as their preferred mode of transportation. The roster is a short one: Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, and Toyota Sienna. Oh, and the Mercedes-Benz Metris, priced from about $37,000.

To find this affordable, 5- to 8-passenger Mercedes, you need to visit mbvans.com. And while it wears a luxury brand, there is nothing luxurious about a Metris. This is designed primarily as a commercial vehicle, with private ownership and luxurious accommodations secondary concerns. The only powertrain choice is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with a 9-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. But otherwise, it offers a wide range of customization options, including a terrific Getaway camper-van conversion.

If the idea of driving something different is appealing to you, know that Mercedes is making some changes to the 2021 Metris. Styling is identical except for a revised grille and new paint colors, while new air vents, available premium dashboard finishes, and a new fabric upholstery are the extent of interior updates. The 9-speed automatic mentioned above is new, and offers Comfort, Sport, and Manual shift modes. 

Safety upgrades include standard forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and improved reversing camera resolution. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability is optional, and to make driving in traffic easier, a brake hold function comes with the upgrade. Mercedes also offers a new digital camera mirror for the Metris.

New infotainment systems use a rather small 7-inch touchscreen display. Both now include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a navigation system with a new live traffic function is available. Mercedes also upgrades the Metris’s Bluetooth system for 2021.

Mercedes-Benz says the 2021 Metris will go on sale in the U.S. during the first half of 2021.

Mercedes-Benz is the source of information in this article. It was accurate on November 24, 2020, but it may have changed since that date.