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The fleet

Mercedes V-Class XL: 7 passengers, 6 large cases

The V-Class XL Avantgarde 4Matic carries up to 7 passengers and 6 large cases. It is the one vehicle we own outright, and it takes the family transfers and the runs up to the ski resorts. All-wheel drive is what changes above 1,000 metres.

Real capacity, luggage included

Seven seats and six large cases is the figure we quote, and it is the figure we hold. The difference from a standard van comes from the XL body: the boot stays usable with the third row in place, which is not true on a short wheelbase.

Captain seats, wifi, chargers and water on board are not billed. They belong to the vehicle, not to a list of options.

What all-wheel drive buys you in the mountains

The 4Matic is not brochure copy on the coast: it earns its keep two months a year, on resort roads. From 1 November to 31 March, winter equipment is compulsory in the communes listed by each prefect, and only 3PMSF tyres are accepted as an equivalent to removable anti-skid devices.

In practice, a climb towards Isola 2000 or Auron on a snowy morning is done with a vehicle that holds the road, not with chains fitted on the verge in the dark. That is what makes an arrival time worth announcing.

Where it does not fit

An XL van does not go everywhere. Underground car parks in the hill villages are the constraint that comes up most often, and it is checked before the journey, not at the barrier.

On a narrow address, the drop-off happens at the nearest workable point and the last few metres are walked. You are told that when you book, never discovered on arrival.

Before you arrive

Your questions.

How many suitcases really fit in a V-Class XL?

Six large cases, with seven passengers on board. Beyond that the load has to be discussed before booking: a surfboard, a golf bag or a ski case does not count as a suitcase and is declared as outsize luggage.

Are child seats provided?

Yes. Baby seats and boosters are provided at no extra cost, provided they are requested when booking. The number and ages of the children decide what is fitted before pick-up rather than at the kerb.

Will a V-Class fit in any underground car park?

No. Several hill-village car parks cap below 2 metres: the one under the square at Eze is limited to 1.90 m by its operator, and Saint-Paul-de-Vence posts the same clearance on level 1. In those cases the drop-off is at street level.

Is there a supplement for the van over a sedan?

The van has its own line on the fare grid, higher than the sedan. The amount is shown before payment, category by category: nothing is added afterwards, and tolls and parking are already inside it.

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