Mercedes Vaneo CDI 1.7

By Richard Yarrow

June 2002

The newcomer's vocal 1.7-litre CDI debuted in the standard A-Class, and is the only oil-burner in the Vaneo's four-strong range. It offers 91bhp and 180Nm of torque, yet little in the way of refinement, being noisy and harsh. But it's not all bad news and if you can put up with the constant noise, you'll love this miniature diesel's performance, which is certainly stronger than the 1.6 petrol version we drove in Issue 704. Additional appeal comes from the fuel economy figures, which prove the Vaneo can return 38.2mpg. That's at least 10mpg more than any of its three petrol stablemates.

There's more good news inside, too. The interior is vast and the high roofline means headroom won't be a problem. The dash layout is as sensible as you'd expect from Mercedes, although reach adjustment on the steering wheel and height movement on the passenger seat would be welcome.

All this, together with the huge, practical boot, versatile seating and three-pointed star on the grille, and the Vaneo should prove popular

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