Every Family Car Should Be as Posh as the Mercedes-Benz VLE Luxury Electric Minivan
If all minivans were this nice we'd be having a different discussion about family cars. Seriously.
Minivans just make sense for families, it’s that simple. When my kids were younger, I owned two minivans back to back because they are just that awesome. Sliding doors, an exponential amount of space for both passengers and cargo, they’re low to the ground for easy in-and-out. And don’t even get me started on the flexibility of the interior seating configurations. Everyone and everything fits.
But until now, moms and dads didn’t have a lot (or any?) luxury options for a minivan, at least not in North America. The Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival and Chrysler Pacifica are great, don’t get me wrong, but none of those scream “It Girl!” as you’re doing school drop off or picking up 5 kids at soccer practice, now do they?
Well, that’s all changing thanks to the Mercedes-Benz VLE luxury electric minivan.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Additionally I was a guest of Mercedes-Benz for this drive experience but all opinions are my own.
The Mercedes-Benz VLE Changes Minivan Life, But You’ll Have to Wait Until Late 2027
A truly luxury minivan is finally coming to North America., thanks to Mercedes-Benz. Now you tell me, the name Mercedes-Benz screams “It Girl”, right?! ‘’ I mean, I feel pretty special every time I drive one, regardless of whether it’s an SUV or a sedan, and now I can drive all the kids around or plan long road trips with my whole family without sacrificing, well, pretty much anything.
I had the opportunity to drive the new VLE last week in Spain, and let me tell you, I wish I had had the whole crew with me because my daughters would have had some words to say!
The VLE combines the things that I love about minivans: sliding doors, cargo room, flexible seating and more, but adds serious luxury and tech. We’re talking “Cinema Mode” thanks to a huge center screen that drops down from the ceiling, “executive” cent row captains chairs with massage, heating and cooling, a built-in cooler box for both the front AND rear passengers, a Superscreen that spans the entire dashboard, a giant panoramic sky view roof and more.
Read: Meet the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS: The First-Class 3-Row SUV for All Passengers
The VLE Has Power and Range To Go the Distance
The VLE will be available in a single motor front-wheel drive with 272 horsepower and a dual-motor all-wheel drive delivering 416 horsepower. that’s as much power as the Honda Odyssey in the front wheel drive model and about what the Hyundai Ioniq 9 produces in AWD.
The single motor model is estimated to have a driving range of about 700 km, which translates to about 382 miles in the US (European EV range estimates are slightly higher than US range estimates). The VLE boasts 800 volt technology, which translates to super fast charging. It will be able to charge up to 220 miles in just 15 minutes at an appropriately equipped DC fast-charge charging station.
Read: Lucid Gravity May be the Ultimate 3-Row SUV: Electric, Luxury, Minivan-Style Space
The Mercedes-Benz VLE is Agile and Surprisingly Fun to Drive
With rear steering and air suspension, the ride is soft and smooth and incredibly agile. The rear steering allows for a super tight turning radius, which means it’s easier to maneuver and park, including in tight spots and pick up lines. Speaking of parking, the VLE can self-park on its own and reverse out of tight spaces easily at just the touch of a button.
I spent the day driving the VLE through the very narrow and traffic-lined streets of Bilbao, as well as the countryside hills and twisty roads and it delivered agility and acceleration easily. I will say it turned a lot of heads too, even in Spain, where they’re used to seeing Mercedes vans. I can just imagine the popping eyes of envious parents at after-school pickup.
Read: 8 Reasons Why Minivans Rule
The Interior is Where it Shines, as it Should
The VLE’s interior is where it really shines, because let’s face it, as families, we spend time INSIDE the car, not looking at it. Yes, performance, range and technology are important to the driver, but what really matters is the whole package. Can you and your kids (aka “passengers”) really feel safe and comfortable in this mobility device?
With 10 cameras, five radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, the VLE watches your surroundings and uses its supercomputer to avoid collisions, help you park (well, it will actually do that by itself), keep your speed on the freeway, and help you change lanes. There are even some new airbags in the new VLE that haven’t been used before.
Screens Pamper Rear Passengers, Too
For things you’ll actually see and use, your kids will love Cinema Mode, where a giant 31-inch screen appears magically from nowhere (the headliner) and lets you use apps, watch movies, and join meetings (or, remote learning!). When entering Cinema Mode, the car automatically closes the window shades and panoramic roof shade. This can all be done via the in-car remote control devices or by voice command. Those same remotes also control the seats for the rear passengers on the Executive package.
The screen can even be used individually, splitting it virtually into two screens so that one side of the van can watch Shrek while the other side is watching YouTube comedies.
Rear Seating is Minivan-Meets-Limousine Posh
The seats in the Executive package for second row passengers are ultra luxurious, and you’ll be thinking limousine and black-car service over minivan thanks to a relaxing recline, extending foot rests, massage, heating and cooling. Plus there are tables and wireless charging pads built in for just a bit more next-level luxury.
Not only do we have luxury if we want it, but the VLE offers a myriad of seating and configuration options with 6, 7 or 8 seats and a multitude of ways to configure those seats. The seats can be removed, flipped rear-facing, and slide for cargo priority, passenger priority or both.
There is a center console cooler box, but it also has an additional compartment that reaches to the 3rd row seats, so it’s like a double cooler.
Multimedia and Connectivity
As the driver, media and connectivity are really important to me, especially when I have a load of passengers because I need to remain focused even if they’re getting rowdy in the back, or yelling for snacks.
Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto and integrated Google Maps built into the new MB.OS operating system, the smartest and most intuitive system the company has introduced yet; and it’s all standard on the new VLE.
The MB.OS system has an AI assistant that is a blend of Google Gemini, ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing, so you can talk to the car in plain language, ask it things like directions to the nearest Starbucks, business hours of the CVS pharmacy, to change the in-car temperature, an update on highway traffic and more.
With more than enough charging ports and wireless charging pads to go around, nobody will be left without power. And with Cinema Mode,
How Long Will You Have to Wait—And Pay?
North America will see the launch of the VLE later next year, in late 2027. Mercedes-Benz hasn’t shared pricing yet, but the company says it will be in line with its GLE and GLS SUVs. My guess that it will start at the under six-figure range in the US, but that the top Executive specifications will go over that $100,000 mark. So really, the consideration is: how much do you want to spoil your kids?
More About:Car Reviews News