Mercedes’ Marco Polo Activity motorhome was recently at the receiving end of a thorough facelift.
The Marco Polo completes the family of compact camper vans and recreational vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. As standard, it offers space for four people and is equipped with a kitchenette and wardrobe in addition to a bench seat/berth and a roof bed. This makes it the ideal companion on longer journeys.
The top-of-the-line Marco Polo will wear the 300d badge and will be equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder delivering 176kW and 500Nm of torque. It will also give the driver and additional 30Nm of torque when accelerating hard. This allows it to accelerate to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds.
The 250d is equipped with a 140kW output, while the 220d has 120kW at its disposal. The 200d makes do with 100kw, while an new 170d has 75kW and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 6.7 litres/100km.
The entry-level motorisation level 170d is based on the proven four-cylinder diesel engine OM 622 and can be ordered in combination with front wheel drive and 6-speed manual transmission. The other variants come with 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission and rear wheel drive, with all-wheel drive also available as an option. They are based on the particularly low-consumption and low-emission four-cylinder diesel engine OM 654.
Active Brake Assist is available for the first time. This system detects when there is a risk of collision with a vehicle travelling in front and initially emits a visual and acoustic warning. If the driver responds, the assistance system builds up brake pressure appropriate to the situation. If there is no response, the system actively assists with evasive and braking manoeuvres. In urban traffic, Active Brake Assist even reacts to stationary vehicles or crossing pedestrians.
Another new feature is DISTRONIC. The Active Distance Assist can maintain the distance to the vehicle travelling ahead set by the driver and relieves him/her, for example, when driving in stop/start traffic. The system accelerates the vehicle automatically and brakes it with a maximum of half the vehicle’s braking power in order to maintain a safe distance. If the system recognises that stronger braking is necessary, the driver is visually and acoustically warned, so that he/she – if necessary – can slow down the vehicle.
A digital inside rearview mirror will also be introduced from October 2020. An HDR camera in the rear window transmits the image of what is happening behind the vehicle to the mirror display, ensuring the driver has an unrestricted view even when the trunk is full to the roof with sports equipment and luggage. Using the familiar anti-dazzle switch, the digital inside rearview mirror can be switched from the camera image to the analogue view so that the driver can see into the living area too.
Enhancements in the interior include new air vents in a sporty turbine look. In conjunction with the new chrome package, the edges of the air vents are given a chrome look. Furthermore, the central dashboard is framed by an element in an attractive piano-lacquer look.