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The ute market is growing so quickly even luxury brands want in on the action. The Mercedes-Benz of pick-ups, the new X-Class, has just gone on sale in Europe and lands in Australian showrooms in early 2018. Mercedes is yet to confirm price but early indications range from $40,000 to $60,000 for twin turbo four-cylinder diesel variants, stretch closer to $70,000 for the V6 turbo diesels due mid-year.
There will be three model grades, starting with a basic “tradie” version that has a vinyl floor and grey bumpers. Depending on your point of view it will be an expensive Nissan Navara or a cheap way into a big Benz.
Nissan? The X-Class uses Nissan fourcylinder engines, is based on a Navara frame and is made on the same production line as the Navara in Spain.
However, unlike other model sharing arrangements, it’s not simply a Nissan with a new badge. Mercedes has made extensive changes, adding strengthening beams to the chassis, four-wheel discs in place of rear drum brakes, and wider axles for a bigger footprint.
The body is 70mm wider than the Navara and every panel is unique to the X-Class; the only visible carry-over parts are the side glass, door handles, key fob and rear-view mirror.
Taking the Navara as the foundation, rather than designing a new ute from the wheels up, Mercedes was able to join the booming segment faster. It’s also cheaper to share development costs than go it alone.
The X-Class will have some technology firsts for the class, such as automatic emergency braking standard on all models. It will avoid a rear-end crash at suburban speeds and mitigate impacts at freeway speeds.
Also available is a high-resolution 360degree camera, another class first, which can be handy for off-roading or when trying not to scratch the alloy wheels on a gutter.
All models come with seven airbags, including one for the driver’s knee – the same number as in the Toyota HiLux and Navara, one more airbag than most other utes on the market and three more than the VW Amarok, which lacks rear airbag protection.
Tyre pressure monitors will be standard on all Australian X-Class examples, for now matched only by the Amarok TDV6.
As it wears a Benz badge, you might expect the X-Class would come with the works. However, it has some notable omissions, illustrating the fact that no single vehicle is yet to get it completely right in this segment.
The flagship X-Class only comes with faux leather seats – they’re a “leather look” vinyl – even though the top end HiLux and Amarok have genuine leather.
Radar cruise control and lane-keeping technology – available on the Ford Ranger – are not available at any price.
The X-Class lacks a household power socket in the centre console – standard on the most popular Ranger and HiLux variants – which can be used to charge a laptop or power a small fridge. It also misses out on Apple Car Play/ Android Auto – standard on the Ranger, Amarok, Holden Colorado and most new Mercedes passenger cars.
Mercedes says smartphone mirroring will be introduced to the X-Class about a year after launch but can’t be retrofitted.
ON THE ROAD
First impressions? It’s a good first effort but we’re not sure it’s a better drive than an Amarok.
Mercedes has worked wonders when it comes to suppressing noise from the diesel but only the most expensive model gets the extra sound deadening. Lesser grades are noisy.
The ride comfort is better than the Navara but the X-Class still gets the jitters on patchy roads, a trait of most utes. Based on our experience, the Ranger and Amarok deliver a smoother ride.
The steering is cumbersome and the wheel has only tilt adjustment, not reach.
At three-and-a-half turns lock-to-lock it can feel like steering a bus in tight corners. The steering is also not as linear in feel or as well weighted as the HiLux, Ranger or Amarok.
The start-stop ignition button on the flagship hides behind the steering wheel, tucked away on a tapered section of the dashboard near the driver’s knee.
There’s limited oddment storage in the centre console and the cupholder is too small for larger smartphones.
The airconditioning and four-wheel drive controls are poorly placed down low in the dash, and are hard to see and use quickly. The “theatre style” rear seat is higher than the front seats so passengers have a better view, though taller passengers may find headroom a bit tight.
Four-wheel disc brakes are unique in the four-cylinder ute category; only the Amarok V6 to date matches Mercedes here. On the test cars, the brake pedal travel felt long and spongy, versus the precise feeling of the HiLux with its four-piston brake calipers up front. Mercedes claims best-in-class braking performance.
The massive turning circle of 13.4m – thanks in part to wider axles – is worst in the class, compared to Navara (12.4m), HiLux (12.6m), Ranger (12.7m) and Amarok (12.95m).
Power outputs are unchanged from Nissan’s diesels – the 2.3-litre turbo produces 120kW/403Nm and the twin-turbo 140kW/450Nm – and the six-speed manual or seven-speed auto transmissions carry over too.
Piling on the kilos thanks to the extra chassis strengthening and bigger body, the X-Class is almost 300kg heavier than the Navara and about 200kg heavier than most ute rivals, which blunts performance.
These aren’t meant to be race cars but the XClass 2.3s are about one second slower to 100km/h than the equivalent Nissans.
The Mercedes 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel (190kW/550Nm) turning a seven-speed auto and full-time all-wheel drive promises to match or better the performance of the V6 Amarok (165kW/550Nm), which has an eight-speed auto and full-time all-wheel drive.