Mercedes Viano has star quality

There’s something about tinted windows that arouse curiosity and when they are fixed to the side of an extra long wheelbase Mercedes it easy to suspect that they are concealing someone special.

In this case, they were. Brought in to help me test Mercedes' luxurious Viano people carrier were my parents and my grandparents...three generations of Sharpes.

They are more discerning than most A-list movie stars so I was so thankful that laminated wood, leather seats and chrome detailing is evident throughout the Ambiente spec Viano I loaded them into.

Available in two specifications (Trend and Ambiente), Viano prices range from £28,307 to £39,049.

At 5.2 metres long the extended wheelbase Viano is huge but comes with the same seven seats as the standard version, meaning a truly vast boot space.

Mercedes offer a choice of three diesel engines and the 224bhp (324lb.ft. of torque) three-litre V6 diesel tested here is the range-topper. It makes light work of the Viano’s frame and a 9.1 second sprint to 62mph represents an impressive turn of pace.

Mercedes claim 32.8mpg efficiency on the combined cycle—which I matched in motorway conditions—and 226g/km CO2 emissions.

At the wheel there’s a van-like driving position and a few orange digitised displays straight from Mercedes’ commercial parts bin, but the heated leather seats and multi-function steering wheel are genuine luxury offerings.

A five-speed automatic gearbox and excellent air sprung rear suspension make for a limo-smooth progress.

Curtains closed in the rear quarters, there wasn’t a single passenger who didn’t succumb to the Viano’s comfort and succumb to sleep at some point during my test drive (admittedly a lengthy drive to Glasgow).

So the car, if not the passengers, lived upto the high standards of Hollywood.

It seems the Sharpes aren’t that rock and roll after all, but as the Arctic Monkeys once said (sort of): “we’re not from California...we’re from Rotherham.