2007 Dodge Sprinter Preview

2007 Dodge Sprinter Preview – Chicago Auto Show The Sprinter is Dodge’s entry into the full-size commercial van market. Despite its odd proportions, the Sprinter is a good driving van, and with its diesel engine, a fuel efficient one, too. The Sprinter’s street smarts are due in no small part to its origins as a European market Mercedes-Benz commercial van. For 2007, the Sprinter is all new, with two new wheelbases, three lengths, and three heights including a “mega roof” that boasts 84 inches of vertical space inside. Opt for the longest version and the tallest roof, and you can cram 600 cu. ft. of cargo inside. It also adds standard electronic stability control along with a host of refinements to make driving this big boy a pleasure.

Why it Matters

Since its introduction, the Sprinter has had decent success penetrating the van market dominated by the Chevy Express and Ford Econoline, which is mostly commercial these days. Still, there are passenger versions of the Sprinter available, and if you find the right Dodge dealership – and need to haul a bunch of NBA players around – the Sprinter is a good bet. Its funky shape invites jokes, but the reality is that it is incredibly versatile for its job, with a side door wide enough to accept a shipping palette, rear doors that open so far they fold back against the sides of the van, and an absolutely enormous cargo capacity. When practicality outweighs style, the Sprinter is tough to beat.

What's Under the Hood

There are two new engines available for the Sprinter. The first is a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6 with 154 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque. The other is a 3.5-liter gas engine with 254 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque. Neither will help the Sprinter set land speed records, but they get the job done, and the diesel turns in very good fuel economy. Both engines are connected to a smooth five-speed automatic transmission. The automatic even has a manual shift function, used primarily for engine braking with the diesel on long downhill grades.

What it Looks Like

Imagine a washing machine. Then cut windows in the front and back. There, you have your Sprinter. This isn’t a pretty vehicle by any stretch of the imagination, unless you’re a big fan of rolling cubes. Form follows function here, and as goofy as the standard Sprinter looks, it only gets stranger. The longest version is 289 inches long – that’s 24 feet to you and me – and you can couple that with a “mega roof” which provides 84 inches (7 feet) of vertical space inside, resulting in an absurdly long and tall vehicle. The completely restyled Sprinter is also available in a chassis cab version if you have your own ideas of how the space behind the driver should be used.

What’s Inside

The biggest news inside the Sprinter for 2007 is a thoroughly revised dash that includes a standard driver-facing steering wheel, replacing the old school bus-style wheel that pointed skyward. Modern knobs and switches are in place, and the Sprinter looks less like a Dodge cargo van than some sort of Mercedes-Benz inside…what are the odds? Still, we can’t think of a Benz – or any other vehicle – in which we could stand while driving, which is possible in the Sprinter. Not that we recommend such activities, we’re just sayin’. If you opt for the passenger version you can seat up to eight passengers, none of whom will have to hunch over to get inside, and all of whom get shoulder belts.

What Dodge Says

Dodge is understandably proud of its oddly shaped cargo hauler. Its funky shape is backed up with real usefulness. As the press kit says: “Completely redesigned, the all-new 2007 Dodge Sprinter breaks the mold of current domestic van offerings and delivers superior quality, reliability and commercial capability, along with unequalled attributes that allow commercial customers to do even more.”

What We Think

We’d be lying to say that we’ll be first in line for the new Sprinter when it becomes available. But the truth is that we kid because we love, and this is a pretty darn good choice for hauling as many people and as much stuff as is possible in one vehicle. The new chassis cab version expands its appeal by opening it up to a heavier-duty market that the Sprinter hasn’t been able to compete in before. Maybe we wouldn’t buy one, but if we wound up as airport shuttle drivers, we’d first apply to the outfit that had a fleet of Sprinters.

Photos courtesy of Dodge