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Why the Mercedes-Benz V-Class is the ultimate group experience

Why the Mercedes-Benz V-Class is the ultimate group experience

IOL News07-07-2025
The ultimate girls' trip in the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. (From left to right): Lisa KV, Mihlali Ndamase, and Lisa Madibe, Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
In a weekend where fashion, culture, and celebration collide, the journey to the Hollywoodbets Durban July has become just as significant as the event itself. This year, that journey was led by a striking Mercedes-Benz V-Class convoy, offering a glimpse into the future of group travel - spacious, stylish, and entirely on your own terms.
Leading the convoy were some of South Africa's most recognisable style and lifestyle voices - Mihlali Ndamase, Lisa Madibe, and Lisa K.V - each behind the tinted windows of their own V-Class vehicle. The road trip kicked off in Johannesburg and wound through KwaZulu-Natal's scenic Midlands, with curated pit stops, content creation moments, and relaxed luxury defining the ride.
What unfolded wasn't just a drive - it was a mobile lounge experience. Think: panoramic sunroofs, plush leather seats, ambient lighting, and unparalleled amounts of space to stretch out, steam an outfit, or shoot a transition reel. Whether used as a glam hub or a private retreat before the buzz of the July, the V-Class offered an environment where creators could connect, rest and express themselves freely - together, yet comfortably apart.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class lineup, Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Adding a whisper of future-forward intrigue to the convoy was the presence of the new all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQV - a subtle teaser of what sustainable group luxury could look like on South Africa's roads. Silent, powerful, and fully electric, the EQV joined the journey as a preview of what's to come.
'Group travel has evolved - it's no longer about squeezing into one vehicle and compromising comfort. It's about experience, individuality, and sharing the road in a way that feels effortless,' says Natasha Jardim, Managing Executive at Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa. 'The V-Class is designed for this new kind of traveller - one who values space, connection and style. And with the EQV on the horizon, that experience is about to get even more progressive.'
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class convoy to the Hollywoodbets Durban July, Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
From content creators and stylists to families and corporate teams, the V-Class is changing how South Africans move together - with each person's comfort, gear and personality accounted for.
As the Durban July weekend unfolded, it was clear the V-Class isn't just a people mover. It's the ultimate group experience, designed for the kind of travel that values both the destination and everything in between.
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