How Long a Mercedes Sprinter Van Is

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Mercedes Sprinter vans come in three different lengths:

  • Standard: 233.5 inches
  • Long: 274.3 inches
  • Extra-long: 290 inches

The length can significantly impact the van’s drivability, parking, and storage space. The longer ones cannot fit in standard garage parking spaces.

Mercedes offers thousands of configurations for its Sprinter vans. A critical factor that differentiates the different models is the van length.

The Sprinter’s exterior length ranges from 19’ 5.5” for the short-wheelbase versions to 24’ 2” for the extended long wheelbase vans.

 

Different Mercedes Sprinter Vans  

The dimensions of a Sprinter may vary significantly depending on the configuration your pick. The primary classification for these Mercedes vans is Crew, Cargo, and Passenger vans. 

Each category contains different series, height, and length options. Mercedes further breaks down the length sizes as standard, long and extra-long. The classification depends on the wheelbase length.  

 

Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Vans Length

The Sprinter cargo van is available in five Series models: 1500, 2500, 3500, 3500XD, and 4500.

The 1500 Series model is only available in the standard length, 233.5”(19 feet 5.5 inches). This length configuration is commonly referred to as the 144” WB. 

The rest of the Series models are available in standard, long, and extra-long versions. The standard length is 233.5”( 19 feet 5.5 inches), with a 144” wheelbase length. 

The long Sprinter models measure 274.3” (22 feet 10.3 inches) from the front bumper to the back bumper. This configuration has a wheelbase length of 170”. 

The extra-long versions of the Sprinter Cargo vans have an external length of 290”( 24 feet 2.0 inches). Despite the extended profile, these vans retain a wheelbase length of 170”. 

Note: The 170-inch wheelbase (170” WB) typically refers to the length between the center of the front and the rear wheels, not the overall length of the van.

Here is a complete list of the different Sprinter Cargo van configurations available,

  1. Mercedes Sprinter Cargo van, 1500 series, standard length with standard roof height- 233.5 inches (144” WB)
  2. Mercedes Sprinter Cargo van, 2500-4500 Series, standard length  with standard roof height -233.5 inches (144” WB)
  3. Mercedes Sprinter Cargo van, 2500-4500 Series, standard length  with high roof height -233.5 inches (144” WB)
  4. Mercedes Sprinter Cargo van, 2500-4500 Series, long length with high roof height – 274.3 inches (170” WB)
  5. Mercedes Sprinter Cargo van, 2500-4500 Series, extra-long length with high roof height – 290 inches (170” EXT WB)

 

Mercedes Sprinter Crew Vans Length 

The Crew van models come in four major series: 2500, 3500, 3500XD, and 4500.

Each series is available in two primary versions, the standard length, and the long length configuration. 

Similar to the Cargo vans, the standard length is 19 feet 5.5 inches or 233.5 inches, built on a 144” wheelbase. The long-length Crew models are 22 feet 10.3 inches long, on a 170” wheelbase. 

Here is a breakdown of the different configurations available from Mercedes, 

  1. Mercedes Sprinter Crew van, 2500-4500 series, standard length with standard roof height- 233.5 inches (144” WB)
  2. Mercedes Sprinter Crew van, 2500-4500 series, standard length with high roof height- 233.5 inches (144” WB)
  3. Mercedes Sprinter Crew van, 2500-4500 series, long length with high roof height – 274.3 (170” WB)

 

Mercedes Sprinter Passenger Vans Length 

The Sprinter Passenger versions are available in the 1500 and 2500 series only.

The 1500 series is only available in standard length at 19 feet 5.5 inches, whether as a regular roof or high roof version. The wheelbase is 144” long. 

The 2500 model comes in standard- and long-length versions at 233.5 inches and 274.3 inches, respectively.

The standard length is on a 144” wheelbase, while the long-length is on a 170” wheelbase. 

The short wheelbase houses the 12-passenger configuration, while the longer wheelbase carries 15 passengers. 

Here are the different configurations available for Mercedes Sprinter Passenger Vans,

  1. Mercedes Sprinter Passenger van, 1500 Series, standard length with standard roof height- 233.5” (144” WB)
  2. Mercedes Sprinter Passenger van, 1500 Series, standard length with high roof height – 274.3” (144” WB)
  3. Mercedes Sprinter Passenger van, 2500 Series, standard length with standard roof height- 233.5” (144” WB)
  4. Mercedes Sprinter Passenger van, 2500 Series, standard length with high roof height – 274.3” (144” WB)
  5. Mercedes Sprinter Passenger van, 2500 Series long length with high roof height – 274.3” (170” WB)

 

Mercedes Sprinter Cab Chassis

Sprinter fans who wish to have more control over the van’s configuration can pick the Cutaway model. The cab chassis is available in 3500XD and 4500 Series. Each series comes in the standard length and the long-length version. 

However, the standard length under the Cab Chassis models is longer than the other three main categories at 20 feet, 5.9 inches( 245.9”). The wheelbase remains 144 inches. 

Additionally, the long-length versions are slightly shorter under the Cab Chassis, measuring 22 feet, 9.5 inches ( 273.5”), from bumper to bumper. The wheelbase is 170 inches long. 

Here are the different layouts you can get with the Sprinter Cutaway,

  1. Mercedes Sprinter Cab Chasis, 3500XD Series,  Standard length with standard roof height – 245.9” (144 WB)
  2. Mercedes Sprinter Cab Chasis, 3500XD Series, long length with standard roof height – 273.5” (170 WB)
  3. Mercedes Sprinter Cab Chasis, 4500 Series, standard length with standard roof height – 245.9”( 144WB)
  4. Mercedes Sprinter Cab Chasis, 4500 Series, long length with standard roof height- 273.5” (170 WB)

 

Maximum Internal Cargo Length 

The dimensions above represent the exterior lengths, from the front bumper to the rear bumper. Mercedes provides varying internal lengths available for use in the different Sprinter models. 

The manufacturer provides the maximum load lengths you can get with the Crew and Cargo vans. The full cargo floor-length for the Sprinter Cargo vans is 15 feet, 9 inches( 189.4”). The crew vans can accommodate load lengths up to a maximum of 12 feet (144.3”). 

Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Vans’ Internal Cargo Length 

  1. Mercedes Sprinter Cargo vans, 144” wheelbase models, Cargo length,( on the floor)- 132.9”
  2. Mercedes Sprinter Cargo vans, 170” wheelbase models, Cargo length,(on the floor)- 173.6”
  3. Mercedes Sprinter Cargo vans, 170” Extended wheelbase models, Cargo length, (on the floor) -189.4

Mercedes Sprinter Crew Vans’ Internal Cargo Length 

  1. Mercedes Sprinter Crew vans, 144” wheelbase models, Cargo length (on the floor) – 103. 5”
  2. Mercedes Sprinter Crew Vans, 170” wheelbase models, Cargo length (on the floor)- 144.3”

The interior cargo length is crucial when calculating the maximum size of load you can carry in your van. 

 

The 144” Wheelbase vs the 170” Wheelbase

Sprinter buyers often face the dilemma of choosing between the short wheelbase versus the long wheelbase versions. . Its best to make your decisions based on your storage space, drivability, and parking requirements for the vehicle. 

 

Drivability 

The length of the van may affect the steadiness of the vehicle during acceleration.

The 144” WB versions are easier to maneuver around, providing tighter turning angles. The shorter wheelbase version can make quicker three-point turns and adjustments while off-roading. 

The longer distance between the wheelbases on the 170” Sprinter vanscreates a more comfortable ride. This is because the longer time between the front and the rear axle going over an uneven surface, causes the smoother ride as the van will be less unsettled.

 

Storage Space

The 170” sprinter has  more cargo volume than the 140” models. The maximum load volume of the 144” WB Sprinter Cargo vans is 374.3 cubic feet. 

The 170” WB Sprinter Cargo can carry up to 488.1 cubic feet. The 170” extended WB maxes out at 532.6 cubic feet of cargo space. 

For Sprinter Crew vans, the 144” WB models have a cargo capacity of 261. 3 cubit feet. The 170” WB versions have a load volume of 370.8 cubic feet. 

The 170” Sprinter van models are excellent options for van life enthusiasts who wish to have more space for conversions. 

 

Street Parking 

The 144” Sprinter van can comfortably fit in most street parking spaces. Standard parking spaces in the US have an average length of 16-20 feet.

This makes the short-wheelbase version a more popular option for owners that live and drive around city streets. 

The longer 170” WB may have a challenge fitting into tight parking spaces within cities. Additionally, the vans are less nimble, making it difficult to zip up and down lanes in them. 

 

Garage Parking

The standard residential garage in the US is 20 to 24 fee deept. Most homes include a staircase/steps and wall bumpers that may eat into that storage space. 

The 144” WB Sprinter will fit comfortably in a standard garage. Unfortunately, most residential garage spaces do not have enough depth to hold the 170” long or extra-long versions. 

 

Conclusion 

The Mercedes Sprinter is available in three primary wheelbase versions, the 144” WB, the 170” WB, and the 170” EXT WB.

The wheelbase length affects the exterior length of the van, with the 144”s measuring 233.5”, the 170”s 274.3, and the 170” EXT WB measuring 290”.

The Sprinter Cab Chassis has different measurements for its 144” and 170” wheelbases. The length of the van you pick impacts maneuverability, cargo storage space, and parking.