Mercedes Metris the Minivan Alternative by Explorer

December 9th, 2017 by

The Mercedes Metris by Explorer Van Company is a perfect minivan alternative for those needing to transport up to 7 passengers. The Mercedes Metris was originally built as a cargo van or work van that is fuel efficient, and still able to haul a great amount of cargo. Equipped with an 18.5-gallon fuel tank, fuel economy ranges from 20 mpg in the city, to 23 mpg on the interstate. The Mercedes Metris is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs., and features a 7G-Tronic Automatic Transmission. When Explorer learned of the Mercedes Metris coming to the US, they knew this would be a fantastic addition to their line of Conversion Vans.

Explorer Van Company has been in business building conversion vans since 1980, today they produce over 2,000 vans from their 250,000-square foot facility every year. You can re live our tour of explorer conversion vans here. Explorer Conversion Vans are known for their quality, attention to detail, and that each van is built with a personal touch. The Mercedes Metris by Explorer continues this tradition with the quality craftsmanship you expect from the Explorer Conversion Van Company.

The Mercedes Metris is a joy to drive, the Turbocharged engine pushes out 208 horsepower which is more power than the largest minivan on the market. Getting up to highway speeds is no problem, even with the shortest of on-ramps. This minivan alternative provides a quiet and smooth ride, with luxurious seating for every passenger. Explorer uses Dynamat sound deadening material throughout the van during the conversion process.  The ride of the Metris is extremely smooth, it feels like it is gliding down the interstate. The driver seat may be the best seat of all, the Metris features great options for the driver, such as a KENWOOD Navigation system, Back-Up Sensors, Crosswind & Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Assist, and Adaptive Parking Assist – for those not too confident in their parallel parking skills.

While cruising Interstate 70 toward Columbus, I noticed a lot of heads turning. The Mercedes Metris was catching the eyes of other travelers on the interstate. After all, it is a sharp looking vehicle, and you don’t see them every day. The Metris by Explorer is available in 7 solid colors and 5 custom fade paint schemes. This allows Metris buyers to have more options available to customize this conversion to their individual liking. The vista sport roof with panoramic glass adds to the clean style of the Metris and allows more natural light to enter the van during the day. At night, dimmable indirect LED lighting glows throughout the van. A low-top version of the Metris by Explorer is also available, both versions will fit in a standard 7-foot tall garage. Another excellent feature of the Metris is having the available option of hatch-style or barn-style rear doors.

Other exterior features of the van include: 18-inch custom alloy wheels, Explorer Van Company Badging, Chrome Grille, Chrome Door Handles, and Power Sliding Rear Passenger Doors. The powered passenger doors are great, simply open and close them with the push of a button. This is helpful with small children or others who may have difficulty opening and closing the sliding doors.

The seating in the Metris is custom built by Explorer themselves – they build the most comfortable seats in the Conversion Van industry. Every seat from Explorer is disassembled, re-assembled and sewn together by hand using premium top grain leathers and padding. These seats will have you in love at first sit. The Metris features seating for 7 passengers, which includes 4 captain’s chairs and a removable rear sofa. The middle row of captain’s chairs is removable as well, which helps when you need to use the van for more utilitarian purposes. The power sliding rear sofa of the Metris allows for 38 cubic feet of storage space with the push of a button.

Other notable features that add to the experience of the Metris include a 22-inch flat screen HDTV, Blu-Ray DVD Player, Wireless Headphones, and SirusXM Satellite radio. The rear entertainment system is independent of the main radio, allowing the driver to listen to their preferred station separate of the rear passengers.

I enjoyed my drive from Troy to Columbus and back in the Metris. My trip was a total of 162 miles, and included driving in the city. Driving in the busy streets of Columbus was a breeze, thanks to the blind spot indicators and the maneuverable size of the van. Parallel parking and navigating through the parking garages was also convenient in the Metris. Often with raised roof Conversion Vans you will have clearance issues with parking garages, and even your garage at home. That is not a factor with the Mercedes Metris by Explorer. For those thinking of purchasing a minivan, you have to check out the newest minivan alternative at Dave Arbogast Conversion Vans and experience the Mercedes Metris Conversion.

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