Mercedes-Benz eSprinter vs Peugeot e-Boxer
From a brand that specialises in luxury vehicles to one that has established its well-known van model since 1994, both Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot have now ventured into the market of electric vans. With the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter and Peugeot e-Boxer having both been released for sale in recent years, the two manufacturers have now also made their sustainable vans available in various body types for their customers in different trades, one of such being the dropside.
Ideal for transporting loose construction materials, scaffolding, tools, waste and more, dropside vans are extremely handy for people who work in a number of industries; if you are one of such people and are wanting to reduce your carbon footprint by making the switch from combustion to electric, then read on below, as we’ll be comparing the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Dropside and the Peugeot e-Boxer Dropside to help you narrow down your decision for which to go for.
Engines and Spec
Contrary to what you may assume given the associations of each manufacturer, the Peugeot e-Boxer actually offers more power than the eSprinter. This is because the two operate using different sized battery packs. The e-Boxer runs on a 75kWh battery, which equates to an impressive maximum range of 154 miles on a full charge, as well as offering decent acceleration for an electric vehicle with 350 Nm of torque.
The Mercedes eSprinter, however, uses a smaller battery of only 55kWh, which is significantly less than not only that of the e-Boxer, but the majority of other rival electric vehicles of a similar size. Naturally, this also means it covers a lower range, reaching a slightly underwhelming maximum of 95 miles. However, though less still than the e-Boxer, it does have a reasonable torque of 296 Nm, and what it lacks slightly in acceleration it makes up for in deceleration and recuperation options.
You can read more about how the eSprinter’s limited range and power can be seen as beneficial depending on its applications in our eSprinter Dropside review.
As for charging, the eSprinter’s smaller battery does offer an advantage in that it makes for faster charging, taking 8 hours to charge with a standard 7.4kW AC wall charger, whilst the e-Boxer takes 12 hours, which is 50% longer.
When it comes to safety features and driver assistance, we must say that we are impressed by the eSprinter, which redeems itself with Active Brake Assist, Attention Assist, Adaptive ESPⓇ, Hill-start Assist and Crosswind Assist all included as standard. In comparison, the e-Boxer is slightly lacking in safety features, including Emergency Brake Assist and Lane Departure Warning as the only standard safety features – even then, these are only available in the most recent 440 versions.
Interior
If you work on site and use your van to transport heavy loads of materials, then we imagine payload will be important to you. Though we don’t have the specific payloads for the dropside body’s of these vans, we can compare the payloads of the standard versions to give you an idea on which performs better. The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter has a payload of 731kg, whilst the Peugeot e-Boxer comes in slightly lower offering 690kg.
Mercedes also offer more loading space in their eSprinter Dropside body, measuring in at 3,409mm by 2,035mm, whilst the e-Boxer is slightly less at 3,059mm by 2,026mm.
In regards to the cabin area, this is where the eSprinter really comes into its own. Along with the modern and stylish design, it comes with numerous features as standard that really give it that sense of luxury you associate with the brand. This includes a heated drivers seat and pre-entry climate control through the TEMPMATIC air conditioning system.
In contrast, the e-Boxer is more geared towards practicality than comfort, so if one or the other is particularly important to you as part of your driving experience, then this should be considered. One feature we do prefer in the e-Boxer is the 7” touchscreen infotainment display that also features an integrated navigation system – something similar we’d expect to see in the eSprinter given the other technological and modern features it boasts, however instead it simply has a standard DAB radio with a small digital Bluetooth interface.
For those who are interested, we discuss more regarding the practical features of the e-Boxer’s interior in our e-Boxer Dropside review.
The Verdict
Whether you use your dropside van exclusively on a construction site or to transport materials from one location to another, we firmly believe that both vans discussed in this review are excellent choices if you’re looking for an electric vehicle.
If you predominantly use your dropside van to make regular short trips across a building site to transport large, heavy loads of materials and waste, then the eSprinter is more than capable to suit your needs, all whilst offering you maximum comfort when driving to and from work in the early mornings and late evenings.
As for those who require a dropside van that can manage longer journeys to take you to different locations rather than the same destination every day, and have that extra bit of power to help navigate trickier terrain, the e-Boxer may be better suited to your needs. It also doubles up as a great mobile office so you can complete any additional admin work on the go.
Now getting down to the nitty gritty business: price. It’s worth noting that the Peugeot e-Boxer is the more expensive of the two to purchase outright at £75,342, whilst the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter costs £65,508. However, for those who cannot justify spending such a large expense in one lump sum, you will be glad to know that both these vans are available for financing with Van Sales UK.
Enquire today to see what finance options we can offer you.
