The seats in an 06 and earlier Sprinter are not too dissimilar from a wooden park bench. The later models aren't much better. But if you want to drive more than 6 hours without fatigue setting in or being sore all over get an
Oregon Aero Softseat. It ranks second only to my bed, and just ahead of the Espar as being the best money I've spent on the van.
For most people just the base (and lumbar) is enough. I have the 2 inch base and the full back (which comes with the lumbar support). I'm glad I got the full back because of how the Sprinter seat is designed. I originally ordered just the base and then quickly realized that I needed the full back, as well. People in vehicles other than Sprinters probably don't need the full back. I've had mine for 10 years and it's just as good today as the day I first got i
You'll look at the price of this seat cushion and go
"Are you friggin' kidding me?!?" But I'm tellin' ya, it's a bargain at twice the price.
As for the 2018 Sprinters, there has recently been some spy shots of it on the test track. Only the front end was camouflaged, meaning the exterior body remains essentially unchanged, except for a new grille design and what appears to be smaller headlamp assemblies. We know there will be a more fuel efficient engine in it, but we don't yet know those details.
We also know that for the first time since 07 the interior has been completely redesigned. They're are no closeup shots of the dash, but the spy shots reveal enough to know that it's a completely new one. A new design is unnecessary just for cosmetic purposes, and is done to add all the new MB technology that has surfaced in the last 10 years. Well, not all of it, as luxury features are typically dialed back for the commercial segment. But there will be a plethora of extended driver aid systems. One of them will almost certainly be the Dynamic Select Mode that's been in the high end MB cars for 5 years now. At the touch of a button, aspects like engine performance, exhaust system function, suspension and dampening, transmission mode and handling can be adjusted. You can choose from fixed settings or, in the Individual setting, mix and match the features that you choose. There's an Eco Stop-Start mode that conserves fuel at every stop light. There is a Comfort mode that gives a smooth quiet ride while cruising the highway, that has several fuel saving features (it better utilizes momentum and adjusts power and fuel consumption accordingly). Lots of other modes, depending on which vehicle you have. But the Dynamic Select should be awesome for expediting since performance requirements can change from load to load.
Another one that will probably be in the commercial vans is the spiffy LCD information screen where you get all kinds of information and vehicle status.
