2022 Mercedes Benz Marco Polo Camper Van - Interior & Full Features

2022 Mercedes Benz Marco Polo - Features Here’s Why Mercedes-Benz Gave Us the Metris Weekender Instead of the V-Class Marco Polo The camper van is alive and well at Mercedes Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to selling camper vans. Well, at least in Europe. Take a gander at the Marco Polo line of camper vans the company markets to consumers across the pond and see for yourself. Despite the availability of such models in other markets, the three-pointed star refrained from selling such a vehicle in the United States. Until now, that is. With the arrival of the Metris Weekender, Mercedes-Benz finally offers American customers a factory-backed camper van. Albeit a very different camper van from its Marco Polo kin. Blame factors such as Mercedes's decision not to sell the Metris's more luxurious cousin, the V-Class, which serves as the basis of the Marco Polo, in the states, as well as the company's need to assemble the Metris in South Carolina. In order to avoid complicating the order structure of the Metris cargo and passenger vans by importing pieces from the V-Class or Marco Polo, Mercedes enlists Driverge Vehicle Innovations to build the Weekender with the help of recreational vehicle upfitter Peace Vans. Harley Sitner, president of Peace Vans, explained to MotorTrend how the production process of the Weekender works: after Mercedes assembles the Metris at its North Charleston van plant, the company then sends the completed vehicle to Driverge Vehicle Innovations nearby shop. From there, Driverge Vehicle Innovations installs the spring-loaded pop-up roof, swivel chairs, rear-seat rail system, and other associated bits to bring the Metris-based camper up to the specs of Seattle, Washington-based Peace Vans's Weekender conversion kit. Once complete, the van makes its way to one of the three-pointed star's dealerships with the full-backing of Mercedes-Benz. While the Weekender lacks some of the panache of its Marco Polo counterpart, it nevertheless maintains the sense of quality expected of a vehicle wearing the Mercedes badge. Credit Driverge Vehicle Innovations's craftsmanship and Peace Vans's attention to detail, the latter of which comes courtesy of Peace Vans's time building Metris-based camper vans like the Weekender without the assistance of Mercedes. Admittedly, we do wish the Weekender offered the higher-end features of the Marco Polo. That said, we're just happy Mercedes is finally selling a factory-backed camper van in the U.S.