Mercedes calls the VLE a “grand limousine.” After driving it, we’re convinced it’s something even better.
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Behold, the Mercedes-Benz VLE , the automaker’s all-new, all-electric powered miniv—oops, we almost used the word Mercedes doesn’t want us to write. Instead, they’d like us to call it a “grand limousine” which, translated from German car-speak, means big sedan. It makes sense, we suppose. The VLE is expected to play the part of the old Town Car as a luxury executive transport, one step down from the even grander VLS (which will serve the role New-Worlders think of when the word “limousine” is uttered). Mercedes is also aiming to pitch the VLE as a luxury family car , like—well, y’know, a minivan. Well, friends, after our first in-depth experience with it, if any vehicle can make the minivan desirable again, it’s the VLE.
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Not So Mini After All
Mercedes invited us to Spain, where the VLE is built, to drive some early-production European-spec versions of the single-motor VLE300 and dual-motor VLE400. The VLEs we drove were just our first taste of the model set to arrive here by late in 2027; all the vans we drove were short-wheelbase Euro models. America (and, presumably Canada) will get the extended-length version, which doesn’t merely add a few extra inches out behind the rear axle like minivans used to do. Long-wheelbase VLEs are stretched at the B-pillar, between the front and back doors. And while we can’t help but think of the VLE as a minivan, it’s anything but mini; the short-wheelbase VLE is nearly as long as a Toyota Sequoia , while the stretched version is 4 inches longer than a Cadillac Escalade and nearly a foot longer than a Honda Odyssey .
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You’d expect its massive size to make the VLE as maneuverable as a bus. That’s a perfect segue into our favorite feature: its four-wheel steering system that can turn the rear wheels up to 7 degrees. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the fronts and make the VLE feel like it’s bending itself around corners. Mercedes sent us down some narrow Spanish streets designed to barely accommodate the likes of a minuscule Seat 600 , and the VLE tuned out to be no harder to maneuver than any of today’s modern teeny-tiny Euro hatches.
The need for this system is far less pronounced in the U.S., where even the long-wheelbase VLE should have no issues maneuvering in our Ram 2500 –sized streets, though the extra length translates to a turning circle about the same as a GMC Yukon . (Still kind of impressive, as the Yukon is nearly half a foot shorter in length.) Still, here’s the really cool part: The VLE’s self-parking (and unparking) system can turn the rear wheels any way it pleases and crabwalk the VLE into tight spots. As you’d expect, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the fronts at higher speeds for more stability during aggressive lane changes, though that’s of doubtful benefit, for reasons we’ll expand on momentarily.