Does the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter come with AWD?

Yes. Since the 2023 model year, the Sprinter has offered AWD with the high-output 2.0-litre diesel, in cargo, crew and passenger form. From 2015 to 2022, the option was a driver-engaged 4x4.

What's the difference between the Sprinter 4x4 and the Sprinter AWD?

The Sprinter 4x4 (2015 to 2022) was switched on by the driver, split torque 35/65 front to rear and had a low-range gear. The Sprinter AWD (2023 and newer) works automatically and can send up to 50 per cent of torque to each axle.

Is the Sprinter AWD full-time?

Yes. The operator's manual says it drives all four wheels permanently and adjusts the split between the axles automatically; Mercedes-Benz Canada calls this torque on demand. There's no switch for the driver.

Do I still need winter tires on an AWD Sprinter?

Yes. AWD helps you accelerate and climb, but stopping and steering depend on tire grip. In Quebec, winter tires are mandatory on vehicles registered there from Dec. 1 to March 15, with a fine of $200 to $300.

What is the Sprinter AWD's fuel economy in L/100 km?

There's no official Canadian figure. NRCan's ratings for 2023 to 2026 include no Sprinter, and the AWD cargo van's 4,105 kg GVWR is over NRCan's 3,856 kg cargo-van limit. Measure your own with the fill-to-fill method: litres used divided by kilometres driven, times 100.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD Guide: Winter Performance, Fuel Economy and Ownership Costs

AutoScout24

2026-10-01 · 11 min read

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD Guide: Winter Performance, Fuel Economy and Ownership Costs

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD is the 2023-and-newer van with an automatic system that can send up to 50 per cent of torque to either axle.

It replaced the driver-engaged Sprinter 4x4 sold from 2015 to 2022. AWD helps a loaded van get moving in snow, not stop. And there's no official Canadian fuel economy number for it.

Key Takeaways

The 2023-on Sprinter AWD sends torque automatically, up to 50 per cent per axle, according to Mercedes-Benz Canada. The 2015 to 2022 Sprinter 4x4 was switched on by the driver and split torque 35/65 front to rear.
AWD improves traction for accelerating and climbing. It does nothing for braking or cornering grip, which come from your tires.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) publishes no fuel consumption rating for any 2023 to 2026 Sprinter. The 2500 AWD cargo van's 4,105 kg GVWR puts it over NRCan's 3,856 kg cargo-van limit.
Quebec requires winter tires on vehicles registered there from Dec. 1 to March 15, AWD or not.
New 2026 Sprinter 2500 AWD vans were listed on AutoTrader.ca at about $96,000 before tax on Oct. 7, 2026.

AWD System Explained: How the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD Works

Mercedes-Benz Vans Canada announced the current setup on Aug. 4, 2022, alongside a new 2.0-litre OM 654 four-cylinder diesel and a nine-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic for the 2023 model year. Two outputs exist: 125 kW (168 hp) and 155 kW (208 hp). In Canada, Mercedes lists the AWD Sprinter with the high-output diesel.

Torque on Demand: How the 2023-On AWD Sprinter Splits Power

Sprinter all-wheel drive in its newer form drives all four wheels all the time and shifts torque between the axles on its own, according to the operator's manual. You don't press a button. Mercedes says it can send up to 50 per cent of the engine's torque to each axle, and that the system keeps the old 4x4's ground clearance, approach angle, departure angle and breakover angle.

The Older Sprinter 4x4 (2015 to 2022): Switch On, Fixed Split

The 4x4 option arrived for the 2015 model year. Our 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter test drive covers that generation. The older system was engageable: the driver turned it on, and it sent 35 per cent of torque to the front axle and 65 per cent to the rear. Mercedes-Benz Canada's 2022 brochure also lists a low-range gear and a higher wading depth, on select 2500 and 3500XD cargo, crew and passenger vans.

	Sprinter 4x4	Sprinter AWD
Model years	2015 to 2022	2023 and newer
How it works	Driver engages it electronically	Permanent all-wheel drive; front/rear split varies automatically
Torque split	35% front / 65% rear in 4x4 mode	Up to 50% per axle
Transmission	Earlier automatic	9G-TRONIC nine-speed
Engine	Earlier diesel	2.0-litre OM 654 four-cylinder diesel
Clearance and angles	Baseline	Same as the 4x4, per Mercedes-Benz
Low range	Yes, selectable low-range gear	None described in the operator's manual

AWD, 4x4 or 4MATIC: What the Names Mean

Some 2026 AWD Sprinters on AutoTrader.ca show "4x4" in the drivetrain field, so go by model year: 2023 and later means AWD.

Mercedes cars use the 4MATIC name, and our look at the fully variable 4MATIC system explains how that family works. The Sprinter is marketed as AWD, but the van's own dashboard messages call the system 4MATIC, such as "4MATIC Currently Unavailable" when it pauses to protect itself. For the general vocabulary, here's the difference between AWD, 4WD and 4x4.

Winter Capability: What Sprinter AWD Does in Snow and Ice

A Sprinter AWD shines on an unplowed lane or a steep cottage driveway. It is not a licence to drive faster on ice.

Traction to Get Moving, Not Grip to Stop

All-wheel drive spreads power across four tires instead of two-wheel drive's pair, so an empty van stops spinning its rear wheels from a standstill. Braking and steering are different jobs. Those depend on the rubber touching the road, which is why you still need winter tires with AWD.

A tall van also carries its load high. A loaded cargo van needs longer to stop, especially at highway speeds, and leans more in a slippery turn.

AWD gets you going; tires get you stopped.

Load-Floor Height and Where an AWD Van Can Realistically Go

Mercedes doesn't publish a ground clearance figure for the Sprinter, but its Canadian spec sheets show how much higher the AWD van sits.

On the 2026 Sprinter 2500 cargo van with the 144-inch wheelbase, the unloaded cargo floor is 79 cm (31 in) off the ground with AWD, against 71 cm (28 in) with rear-wheel drive. The side step rises from 53 cm (21 in) to 64 cm (25 in). On the 170-inch high roof, the floor goes from 69 cm (27 in) to 79 cm (31 in).

That height cuts both ways: every load goes 8 to 10 cm higher, and the step is taller. In return, a higher floor generally means the body rides higher over ruts and packed snow, though Mercedes gives no clearance number to confirm it.

Think snowy access roads, packed gravel, spring mud and campground tracks. Light off-roading suits it; rock crawling doesn't. Unlike the old 4x4, the AWD van has no low range in the operator's manual. For steep descents, it says to hold first or second gear and use Downhill Speed Regulation where fitted. If you're new to it, read up on how to drive with AWD and 4WD in snow.

Compare Sprinter Configurations Side by Side

Wheelbase, roof height and drivetrain all change the van. Line up the versions you're considering before you shop.

Compare Vans Now

Tires and Equipment for a Winter-Ready Sprinter Van

Winter Tires With the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake

Quebec's rule applies to all motor vehicles registered in the province, rental vehicles included, from Dec. 1 to March 15. The fine is $200 to $300. A compliant tire must carry the mountain-and-snowflake pictogram or be studded.

The Quebec government says good winter tires cut braking distance by 25 per cent and stay elastic in freezing temperatures down to -40°C. It recommends at least 4.8 mm of tread. Match the load index to a loaded van, not a car, and check tire pressure often as the cold drops it.

The operator's manual is blunt: only winter tires, plus chains if needed, get the full effect from all-wheel drive. On AWD vans, chains go on the rear wheels only, and the limit with chains is 50 km/h. Outside Quebec, the same physics apply. Here's how all-season, all-weather and winter tires compare.

Diesel Cold-Weather Prep: Winter-Grade Diesel, DEF and a Recovery Kit

Diesel thickens in deep cold. The Sprinter's fuel preheating keeps ultra-low-sulphur diesel flowing down to about -10°C, according to the operator's manual. Below that, use winter-grade diesel, and never thin it with gasoline or kerosene.

Diesel exhaust fluid (AdBlue) freezes at about -11°C, but a factory heater keeps the system working. Top up in deep cold and the gauge may read wrong for the first 20 minutes of driving. For general cold start habits, see starting in the cold without a block heater.

Pack a recovery kit too: a shovel, traction boards, a tow strap and an air pump. Add the basics from a winter driving emergency kit.

Shop AWD Sprinter Vans on AutoTrader.ca

Filter new listings by drivetrain and roof height. Find a winter-ready van before the first storm.

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Fuel Economy: Why the AWD Sprinter Has No Official NRCan Rating

Canada has no official fuel consumption rating for the Sprinter AWD. Any L/100 km figure you find came from somewhere else, such as converted American mpg.

Why the Sprinter Isn't in the Fuel Consumption Guide

NRCan's 2026 Fuel Consumption Guide says manufacturers don't have to submit data for cargo vans with a GVWR over 3,856 kg, or passenger vans at 4,536 kg or more. The 2026 Sprinter 2500 AWD has a GVWR of 4,105 kg, so the cargo version is over the cargo-van limit.

The passenger van sits under its limit, yet NRCan's ratings for 2023 to 2026 list no Sprinter of any kind.

The guide does name AWD and four-wheel-drive use, cold and high speeds as things that raise real-world consumption. That gives the direction, not a number.

How to Measure Your Own L/100 km

Measuring takes two fill-ups and a calculator:

Fill the tank completely and reset the trip odometer.
Drive normally, ideally for a full tank.
Fill up again and note the litres added.
Divide the litres by the kilometres driven, then multiply by 100.

For budgeting, NRCan's own math works well: its guide uses 20,000 km a year and diesel at $1.45 a litre. At that rate, every extra litre per 100 km costs about $290 a year.

Ownership Trade-Offs and Costs of a Mercedes Sprinter AWD

The AWD van earns its price where winter access is part of the job or the trip. If your routes are plowed city streets, a rear-wheel drive Sprinter on good winter tires may cover you for less, with simpler maintenance.

What a New Sprinter AWD Costs in Canada

On Oct. 7, 2026, two new 2026 Sprinter 2500 AWD vans with the high-output diesel were listed on AutoTrader.ca. One, a Standard Roof 144, was listed at $96,380. The other, a High Roof 170, asked $95,900 plus GST. Treat that as a snapshot; pricing moves with inventory.

Mercedes-Benz Canada's configurator prices the high-output AWD powertrain at $15,840 plus applicable taxes.

Camper Van Conversion, Payload and Suspension

The Sprinter platform is a favourite base for a camper van conversion, and AWD adds year-round reach for van life, winter camping and overlanding trips. Every cabinet, battery, insulation layer and heating system adds weight and eats into payload and towing margin, so weigh the finished build against the van's rated capacity.

AWD costs you some payload. Mercedes-Benz Canada rates the 2026 Sprinter 2500 AWD cargo van (144-inch wheelbase, standard roof) at 1,750 kg, about 8 per cent less than the 1,910 kg of the rear-drive high-output version. The AWD passenger van carries 1,370 kg, about 9 per cent less than its rear-drive twin. Towing doesn't change: 2,268 kg for both 2500s.

Suspension upgrades, a lift kit and all-terrain tires are common on adventure builds. Keep winter tires (snow tires, if that's your word) for winter, even on a lifted van; keep receipts too, since documented work helps resale.

Buying a Used Sprinter 4x4 or AWD

A used 4x4 Sprinter, with its low-range gear, suits a camper project; a 2023-or-newer AWD van brings the nine-speed automatic and newer diesel. Our first drive of the 2019 Sprinter covers the generation before the 2023 update. Before you buy:

Confirm the model year, which tells you which system you're getting.
Ask for service records, including any drivetrain servicing.
Check underneath for rust on the frame, floor and brake lines.
Pull a vehicle history report for accidents and liens, and search Transport Canada's recall database for open recalls.

One more thing for AWD owners: never tow the van with one axle raised. The manual warns that it can damage the transfer case, and the warranty won't cover it.

Compare used listings on AutoTrader.ca by year, kilometres and drivetrain before you commit.

Model year tells you more than the badge does.