Dragon Signs & Print’s fleet of Mercedes-Benz vans – Citan, Vito and Sprinter

It’s been a long time since Mercedes-Benz offered a small van, meaning that van operators needing this choice have been forced to choose another marque, or absorb the cost of running Mercedes’ larger model, the Vito.

The introduction of the new Citan, in February, changed this, and Mercedes now offers a full range of van sizes, from the Citan upwards. One firm that has taken advantage of the German company’s new offering is Cardiff-based Dragon Signs & Print, which supplies exterior and interior signage and vehicle livery services.

The company’s Citan 109 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Extra-long Dualiner is now working alongside examples from the two other model lines – the Vito and the Sprinter – which make up the core Mercedes-Benz van range.

The inherent economy of the 109 CDI model’s 90 hp diesel engine is enhanced for Dragon by a series of clever BlueEFFICIENCY measures including the ECO start/stop function – which turns off the engine whenever the vehicle is stopped in traffic, then restarts it as soon as the driver depresses the clutch – low rolling resistance tyres and optimised alternator and battery management systems. The result is a market-leading economy figure of up to 65.7 mpg and CO₂ emissions as low as 112 g/km.

Managing Director Rhys Harrington and his brother-in-law Adrian Ward, the Technical Director, founded their company seven years ago.

“I’m a big fan of Mercedes-Benz vans,” says Mr Harrington. “They’re reliable, practical, comfortable and cost-effective to operate, while they also convey an image of quality which can only reflect well on our own business.

“I also have a great relationship with the dealer. Product quality is important, of course, but so, too, is service – I’m a great believer in the idea that ‘people buy from people’ and Euro Commercials look after us very well.”

As a Dualiner model Dragon’s Citan is fitted with a split-folding bench seat behind the driver’s and front passenger’s seats, allowing it to carry up to five members of the company team in comfort and safety. The Extra-long configuration still leaves a practical load compartment length of more than 1.3 metres.

Dragon Signs & Print also operates a pair of mid-sized Vito vans, a 109 CDI and a stylish 116 CDI Sport Dualiner. Completing the line-up is a Long-bodied 3.5-tonne Sprinter.

“We use the Sprinter for large external signage installations and the two Vito models for most routine projects,” continues Mr Harrington. “But even they’ve been too big on occasion, which is where the Citan comes in. It’s ideal as a little runaround for smaller jobs, and means that we’re able to restrict our fuel costs to an absolute minimum.”