I also got to test drive the 4x4 sprinter in Calgary last week. It was the same van too. The dealer told me that it was then headed to Edmonton, Vancouver and then back to Germany. It was actually a German model which can't be sold in Canada.
Personally I'm not sold on the 4x4 for one reason. To shift into '4x4' (It's actually AWD) you have to stop and shift to neutral before it will engage the AWD. Living in Calgary this is a big pain in the butt. (I should also say that I'm looking at this van for an adventure van conversion) Since the mtns begin 45 mins west of the city we are usually driving on the highway. It's often the case that we'll leave Calgary and the road are bare and when you get to the mtns you're in the middle of a blizzard. Having to stop on the highway just to shift into 4x4 maybe very difficult and dangerous. Many trucks have this ability so a brand new Sprinter from a company like Mercedes-Benz should definitely have it too.
What do you guys think? I haven't completely made up my mind but I'm leaning toward the 2x4.
Hey I test drove this same sprinter here in edmonton tonight, will add some photos. I paid attention to how the 4x4 mode turns on because of your post. I didn't have to put it into neutral but had to be stopped for it to indicate in the dash that 4x4 is engaged and the red light on the switch to stay on. I didnt pay attention exactly if I had to be completely stopped or at low speed though... i
thought i read somewhere that you have to be at a low speed to engage it but stopped to engage the low range mode.
for most driving the 2x4 is alright with the proper tires, in our climate, a dedicated winter tire i think is a must. I experienced this when my 2007 had brand new michelin LTX tires, with weight in back, and I was stuck in deeper snow, whereas the 2014 was empty with the factory continental winters going through it no problem.