Mercedes Debuts Metris Weekender Pop-Up Camper With Factory Support

While there are plenty of Mercedes-Benz-based motorhomes on the market in the United States, they all come from upfitters customizing the vans, at least until now. The Metris Weekender is the brand's first factory-offered pop-up camper for the American market. It debuts at the Chicago Auto Show.

The Metris weekender offers seating space for five people and room for four to sleep inside. The pop-up roof makes room for two to rest up there, and they should be comfortable with amenities like a two-inch thick memory foam mattress, three windows, and USB ports for charging devices.

The rear bench seat is on rails that let it slide into four positions. It can also fold down to convert into the bed for another couple.

When the time comes to relax, the front seats can turn 180 degrees for an easier time conversing with the people in the back.

If owners intend to take longer trips into the wilderness, then Mercedes offers options to make the adventure easier. For example, there are available solar panels, an eight-foot extendable awning, mosquito netting, and a tent that attaches to the rear hatch. There are also available roof racks to increase the cargo-carrying ability. Buyers can spec a navigation system and improved stereo, too.

To make the Metris Weekender more attractive to customers, Mercedes is giving the first 100 buyers a free National Parks Pass, which generally retails for $80.

To be clear, the Metris Weekender isn't a full-on RV with amenities like a kitchen or bathroom. The pop-up roof provides extra headroom and the space to sleep inside comfortably rather than resting outside in a tent. We have to wonder whether Mercedes is testing the market with this offering to gauge the customer interest in offering more factory-built campers.