Metris product manager Jan ten Haaf says what sets Metris most apart from the field is the ease in which Metris goes where most commercial vans rarely dared go before – namely low-clearance parking garages and crowded metropolitan roads. The fact that it rides and drives more like the German automaker’s more luxurious sedans, I guess, is simply an added bonus.
This week, I was able to pilot the Metris on a roughly 100 mile trek through and around Ann Arbor, Mich., and over a generous mix of urban and rural roads.
The German engineering behind Metris is plainly obvious when you first approach the vehicle. This year, more Euro-style vans will be sold in the U.S. than tranditional-style, and Metris’ exterior European style influences are far from subtle.
Inside, Metris is full of interior comforts borrowed from Benz’s C-Class; most notably LED lighting, the instrument cluster, steering wheel and a blinker-style gear shift. Also worth noting are the van’s independent climate control for both passenger and driver and dash mounted navigation screen.
The thick steering wheel rests low on the driver and hides two paddle shifters, which allows the driver to gear the seven speed automatic transmission up or down mannually while the vehicle is in drive – another nod to the C-Class. This is an almost hands-free feature for drivers with a trailer in tow (the van features a tow rating of 5,000 pounds).
The lack of a center console allows for ample space between the font seats. There is more than enough storage space built into the dash for paperwork, drinks, charging electronics or third-party navigation tools.
