Plenty of storage plus an electronic vehicle key

There is room for plenty of equipment, even on an extended round trip. Storage for documents and bottles, a cupholder, a stowage compartment in the centre console and a variety of open storage solutions for items, large and small, are provided comfortably within reach.

The conventional ignition key has given way to an electronic vehicle key which is inserted to one side in the cockpit. Pressing the silver-coloured starter button once engages the ignition; pressing it for a second time brings the rear-mounted engine to life.

A powerful but refined six-cylinder in-line engine

There is not a lot of noise as the six-cylinder engine from the new OM 470 series is restrained in that respect, working smoothly and unobtrusively. At the touch of a rotary switch on the steering-column lever, the new Mercedes-Benz PowerShift GO 250-8 transmission switches to "D" mode so that when the parking brake is released using the easily accessible valve, the Setra gently starts to move thanks to the fully automated transmission's crawl function.

As soon as the vehicle begins to accelerate, the high-decker quickly picks up speed and the diesel engine has punch, responding immediately to the accelerator. The transmission shifts amazingly fast yet comfortably, always find the right gear and consistently keeps the engine at the lower end of the revs where possible.