Off-road vehicles are often like steel-toed hiking boots: rugged, tall, expensive – and often as filigree as a safe on wheels. The Greenlander Sherpa aims to avoid that. Rugged enough for tough conditions, but more sustainably designed than many classic 4×4s.
This is also interesting because it comes full circle: Circular Structures' natural fiber technology, which was already used in the Dethleffs e.home Eco, also forms the structural basis for the Sherpa. What is new is that in addition to the Iveco Daily 4×4, the Mercedes Sprinter also enters the game.
So far, the Sherpa has been associated primarily with the Iveco Daily 4×4. This suited its character: the commercial vehicle base, the feel of the frame with a ladder structure, a serious off-road look. In the future, the Sherpa is also expected to be available on the basis of the Mercedes Sprinter 419 CDI 4×4. Under the hood is the familiar 190 hp diesel engine. Added to this is the Sprinter's semi-permanent four-wheel drive, which transfers power to the front axle when necessary. This is not a Dakar rally car. But it is a camper that doesn't let muddy parking lots, wet forest paths or bad gravel roads spoil its mood right away.
The wheelbase is 3.665 millimeters and the maximum permissible weight is 4.100 kilograms. This keeps the Sprinter-Sherpa below the 4,25 ton limit, which will probably become even more interesting for motorhomes in the future. Regarding the weight, Greenlander states around 3.400 kilograms for the vehicle and cabin. This results in a load capacity of around 700 kilograms. For a compact expedition vehicle, this is solid, but not excessive. Water, diesel, equipment, tools, bicycles and travel food, as is well known, have a bad habit of showing up very accurately on the scales.
The exterior dimensions are approximately 6,5 to 6,6 meters long, 2,2 meters wide and around 3,2 meters high. This makes the Sherpa considerably more compact than many full-size expedition trucks, but it is clearly no longer a van that squeezes imperceptibly into every gap in the city center. Anyone who buys such a vehicle is not looking for a parking space in front of the pastry shop. Rather, it is looking for a path behind it. The diesel tank has a capacity of 93 liters, and the AdBlue tank has a capacity of 25 liters. This also meets the requirements of a vehicle that does not want to turn to the gas station at every other roundabout. More important than big numbers here is the combination of range, ground clearance, build quality and load capacity.
The real special feature of the Sherpa is not in the front of the engine compartment, but in the rear of the frame. The cabin is made of natural fiber composite materials from Circular Structures. Instead of classic fiberglass structures, the Greenlander relies on a sandwich construction with flax fibers and a core made of recycled PET. In short: less plastic fortress, more functional flax.
The cabin measures approximately 4,14 meters in length, 2,17 meters in width and a good 2,15 meters in height. The interior height in the living area is approximately 2,02 meters. It sounds like an insignificant detail, but it quickly determines the suitability for everyday use. It will become clear after a few rainy days at the latest whether the design is successful.
Part of the concept is also the so-called "Smart Frame". It is a structure that connects the cabin, technology and the base vehicle in the most sensible way. According to its own statements, Greenlander is already investing in expanding production capacities for natural fiber suitcases and this "Smart Frame" structure. At the same time, they are exploring possibilities for cooperation in the field of assembly and service.
The interior of the Sherpa is not intended to function as an expedition container, but as a compact home. Natural materials, a pleasant atmosphere in the room and an interior designed more for comfort than for the military. The equipment includes connectivity solutions such as 5G-Wi-Fi, GPS and, if desired, Starlink. The bathroom design also remains compact. The well-known Sherpa model had a functional bathroom with a fixed sink, hand shower, cabinets, a skylight and a composting toilet. Such solutions are in keeping with the vehicle's design: they are not overloaded, but clearly adapted to longer journeys.
The first series is currently planned for 2027 in the form of a “Launch Edition” based on the Sprinter. Regular orders for subsequent deliveries are expected to begin at the presentation at the CMT 2027 trade fair. The first regular deliveries will therefore realistically probably take place at the end of 2027 or at the beginning of 2028. With the Sprinter as the second base vehicle, Sherpa gains a very practical advantage: service support. If you are travelling far, you don’t need romantic descriptions of adventures, but spare parts, access to a service centre and someone who knows the vehicle. This is where the Sprinter is hard to beat.
After all, the Greenlander Sherpa is not a campervan for camping by a thermal bath. The Sprinter base makes it more suitable for everyday use, and the natural fiber cabin makes it unusual. No eco-gloss, no expedition pathos – it is more of a sober attempt to make off-road travel a little easier and more sustainable.
