By Malusi Msomi

We recently made our way to Umhlanga, Durban, for a first taste of the updated Mercedes-Benz Vito Select — a premium people mover that blends elements of luxury with everyday functionality. At first glance, the Vito shares a striking resemblance to its more upmarket sibling, the V-Class, but its priorities clearly lie in practicality and space.

From the outside, the Vito Tourer Select sports a cleaner and more modern look, thanks to a redesigned grille and updated LED headlights. It rides on 17-inch wheels and offers buyers a choice of eight colours — all included as standard.

The Vito Select range includes two main variants:

• Mixto Select (5-seater, more versatile cargo + passenger mix)
• Tourer Select (8-seater, ideal for families or shuttle duties)

Inside, the cabin is functional and spacious. We spent time in the 8-seater Tourer Select, where the leather seats offered decent comfort. However, the cabin’s heavy reliance on hard plastics might not appeal to those expecting full luxury — a few soft-touch surfaces wouldn’t go amiss. Still, the layout is intuitive, and tech features impress. All models come with the latest MBUX infotainment system, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a 5.5-inch digital driver display.

Under the bonnet, the Vito packs a solid punch. The 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine delivers 140 kW and 440 Nm, sent to the rear wheels through a smooth-shifting 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox. On the road, it feels surprisingly effortless — the powertrain moves the Vito’s weight with ease, and the comfort suspension handled the varying road surfaces of KwaZulu-Natal with composure.

Pricing (July 2025):

• Vito Mixto Select – R1,264,200
• Vito Tourer Select – R1,360,000

Verdict

The updated Vito Select is no frills, but that’s its strength. It’s a premium people mover that gets the job done, offering space, tech, and Mercedes-Benz refinement in a package that’s practical without being plain.