Mercedes Vaneo

It may look like an ice cream van, but the Vaneo's odd dimensions mean it has flexibility and carrying capacity which rivals can't match at this price. Novel option packs allow it to be tailored to individual needs, too. It's also much better to drive than we expected, although the turbo-diesel would be a wiser choice than the petrol versions.

If this car had gone to school, it would have been teased mercilessly. Freakishly tall, odd looking and saddled with a daft name, it wouldn't have stood a chance in the playground. But while the Vaneo badge hints at its 'working-class' relations, the Mercedes-Benz family is respected all over the world.

So can the newcomer's breeding shine through to make it a hit here in the UK? Based on the A-Class's platform, the Vaneo is bigger in all directions � especially height. Although the model from which it's derived was never considered as cramped, this is vast inside.

The Merc was originally conceived as a van, but the result was considered too good for mere cargo to travel in, so the passenger version was created instead. As a result, five basketball players would have room to stretch out, and they'd almost have enough space for a game in the loading bay. Should this still not be enough, the car does the usual MPV trick and will shed all its seats, bar the driver's, to increase its carrying capacity. There's even a series of options to make the most of all this room, with special packs for everything from dog owners to cyclists and ski fans. Crucially, an extra �430 will buy you another two seats to fill the boot, too, giving the Vaneo seven-passenger ability to take on Vauxhall's Zafira and bigger MPVs such as Ford's Galaxy.

The only real drawback is the seats' weight � the single rear one needs a lot of strength to lift it, and moving around the other section of the rear bench is a job for two people.
If space is your only priority, then you might as well buy an ex-Post Office van and save yourself a few quid. But against our expectations, the Vaneo is quite good to drive, too, and has the build and comfort you'd expect from a Mercedes. Handling is predictable and never feels top-heavy or unwieldy.

Our test car had the auto clutch system, too, which made town driving a breeze and works better here than in some of the company's more powerful models. Muscle isn't something the Vaneo has much of, though. Our 1.6-litre's 102bhp didn't feel adequate with a heavy load on board or at motorway speeds. We suspect the 1.7-litre diesel will be far more suited to the task � and economical, too. The Vaneo makes sense as a well priced and spacious MPV � just remember what mum told you and ignore the silly name-calling.