Initially in three versions
Mercedes-Benz presents the eCitan: the electric variant of its Renault Kangoo-based Citan, a compact van. The eCitan is immediately available with a short or longer wheelbase, with the former also available with a second row of seats. The driving range is always about 280 km WLTP, the starting price at €36,000 excluding taxes.
After the appearance of the new Mercedes-Benz Citan in 2021, its passenger version – the T-class – in 2022 and the electric T-class called EQT last December, it is now time for the eCitan: the electric delivery van. It is technically almost completely identical to the EQT and is initially available in three forms: two with a shorter wheelbase and one with a longer one.
The short one is immediately available as a Panel Van and as a Tourer with a second row of seats. The long one is first only available as an orderer, but later also comes as a Tourer and as a ‘Mixto’, the latter combining a second row of seats with a cargo area without windows, while the Tourer has glass and rear windows that extend all the way to the back. Or a single rear window, because at an additional cost you can equip the eCitan with a tailgate instead of two doors that open to the side.
Mercedes-Benz eCitan as a Panel Van with non-painted bumpers.
What’s long, what’s short?
Speaking of the short, in this case we are talking about an eCitan with a length of 4.49 m. The long one is about 42 cm longer at 4.92 m, which translates into a load capacity of 722 kg and 3. 7 cubic meters – if you go for the Panel Van. The shorter variant swallows a maximum of 544 kg and 3.05 cubic meters of stuff. You can equip the eCitan with a towbar, which can tow up to 1,500 kg with brakes and up to 750 kg without brakes.
Whichever variant you choose; each eCitan uses a 45 kWh battery pack, good for a WLTP range of around 280 km. The electric motor delivers 122 hp and 245 Nm of torque and fast charging is possible with 80 kW, so that you can theoretically top up from 10 to 80 percent in 38 minutes.
Options and availability
Mercedes-Benz supplies the eCitan with two trim levels: the Base and the Pro, with the Pro distinguishing itself with painted door handles and sliding door rails on the outside. The Pro also has a richer standard equipment, with a height-adjustable driver’s seat, power windows, air conditioning, an audio system and LED lighting in the cargo area. The Germans do not mention which of these are on the Base, so we can only suspect that the new eCitan can be ordered very ‘bare’ if desired.
The piano paint and the accents around the air vents are optional and part of the Interior Design Package.
Whether you go for a Base or a Pro; the MBUX multimedia system, parking aid and a heat pump for interior heating or cooling are always options. The Tourer variant equipped with two rows of seats does have a richer standard equipment than the Panel Van, because a number of active safety systems – such as a blind spot assistant and active lane-keeping – are always present.
The eCitan is not yet visible on the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle website, but you can count on it being available to order soon. The international starting price for a ‘short’ eCitan as a Panel Van is €36,000 excl. taxes, more (and Dutch) prices will follow later.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl