Sprinter AWD/4WD Experience and Comparison

Learning What Sprinter 4WD Is Really Capable Of

Back in 2021, when I was first getting acquainted with our van, I was driving it along a rugged forest road in West Virginia en route to one of my favorite campsites. On that day, the terrain was wet from snowmelt, and the hulking 9,500 lb RV with its all-terrain tires at street pressure slid into the shoulder and sunk into the mud like a boat anchor.

I thought for sure I’d need to call for help.

In an attempt to self-extract, I gathered fallen branches and debris and jammed them under the sunken passenger-side tires. In first gear, low range, I mashed the throttle and gently jogged the steering wheel back and forth. The engine RPM was up, but the wheels weren’t turning at first.

The Sprinter VS30 (2019+) is very good at intelligent application of power to the wheels that have traction, and it doesn’t grant that power gratuitously.

I patiently sat with throttle to the floor. Every few seconds, it inched forward without unwanted wheel spin, as if the van was systematically probing for traction. Eventually, it lurched back onto the road.

It wasn’t the outcome I expected, and I was impressed.

Why Software Matters More Than Hardware

That experience forced me to abandon preconceived notions about what makes a capable four-wheel-drive system. While traditional hardware delivers power, software now dictates how and where it’s applied.

Pressing the gas pedal feels like a suggestion. The vehicle decides how best to proceed.

Trusting the machine can be difficult, but when it works, it saves you a towing bill.

Mercedes Moves from 4WD to AWD

For the 2023 Sprinter VS30, Mercedes replaced the 6-cylinder diesel and selectable 4WD with a 4-cylinder twin-turbo diesel and always-on AWD.

There’s no low range. No engagement buttons. AWD is always active.

That change may sound disheartening, but modern traction systems are far more capable than many expect.

Does it really matter if the badge reads 4x4 or AWD, if power reaches the wheels with traction?

With Agile Offroad, we took their 2023 Mercedes Sprinter AWD into the desert to compare it against older 4WD models.

Real-World Sprinter AWD Off-Road Testing

Our test obstacle featured deep pits and alternating moguls designed to challenge traction control.

Immediately noticeable: lighter steering and much more responsive throttle.

Reportedly, the 2023 transmission has a 25% lower first gear than earlier vans, bringing crawl ratios close to 4WD low range.

Driving technique remained simple: steady throttle, light steering input, and letting the van’s systems work.

Power Delivery: AWD vs 4WD

Compared to my 2020 Sprinter 4WD, the AWD delivers power more generously. If you push too aggressively, the system temporarily disengages, displaying “4Matic Currently Unavailable.”

While jarring, it’s a cue to reassess your approach.

The AWD system consistently found traction faster and moved forward more efficiently than the 4WD it replaces.

The van paused on each mogul, hunted for traction, then surged forward, repeating until the ascent was complete.

Final Verdict

While 4WD Sprinters excel at slow technical crawling, AWD vans are better at actively finding traction and maintaining forward momentum.

Based on our testing, the 2023 Sprinter AWD is the more capable off-road platform.

Whether you drive 4WD or AWD, these vans are wildly underestimated. Air down your tires and get exploring.

Christopher Shontz
@venture4wd
July 28th, 2023