Mercedes X-class
Has brand added posh feel to pick-up market?
MERCEDES’ expansive 4x4 range has widened even further with the launch of its X-class one-tonne pick-up. The new truck uses the same chassis as the Nissan Navara, as well as the same 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. It’s available in two states of tune, badged X 220 d and X 250 d – but, unlike other Mercedes, the trims run from Pure through Progressive to top-spec Power.
Prices start from £27,310, but that’s excluding VAT, for people who buy the X-class as a commercial vehicle. More realistically for those purchasing privately, prices kick off at £33,000 – a few hundred pounds less than for a top-spec Navara. However, even that’s not representative of the Mercedes you’d drive from the dealer.
All models get niceties such as a seveninch screen and cruise control, but Pure versions come with a black radiator grille and bumpers, steel wheels and a six-speed gearbox, as well as the 160bhp 220 d engine. Progressive and Power versions are expected to make up the lion’s share of sales in the UK; these bring alloy rims and more body-coloured styling accoutrements. The high-end Power comes only with the 187bhp engine and a sevenspeed auto box, linked to 4MATIC all-wheel drive. It features LED lights, keyless go and electric, fake leather seats. Lovely looking 18-inch alloys are also included.
Mercedes is pitching the X-class at the premium end of the pick-up market, but at nearly £41,000 including VAT, the X 250 d surpasses even the most expensive Volkswagen Amarok V6 TDI. Incidentally, an X 350 d will arrive in 2018, with a 3.0-litre V6 diesel boasting 254bhp.
With the high-end price and premium aspirations in mind, the X 250 d’s interior finish will leave some disappointed. While the leather-like dash is pleasant, lower down you’re greeted with a large expanse of brittle, grey plastic that surrounds the
fiddly panel of infotainment buttons. The heating controls aren’t great, and nor is the material on the transmission tunnel.
That said, the seats are plush and there’s plenty of space. Mercedes insists the X-class is much quieter than the Nissan, too – a fact that is borne out as soon as you get under way. At speed, tyre and wind noise are hushed; the X 250 d is by far the most serene vehicle of its type on a cruise, and even the Amarok can’t match it here.
However, while the diesel is isolated from the cabin most of the time, it can become rowdy at higher revs. It has plenty of muscle, and the box shifts smoothly, yet you can’t help but wish for more refinement as well as a few less vibrations through the pedals. By using the Navara’s multi-link rear suspension, the X-class offers one of the finest rides in this class. Yet its ladder-frame construction means that the minor shimmy synonymous of trucks is still palpable as you roll along with no load in the back. All things considered, the handling is excellent, showing good body control and presenting plenty of grip at both axles.
Meanwhile, the steering is slow but consistent, allowing you to exploit the X 250 d’s on-road stability. The brake pedal requires a hefty prod to get even a lightly loaded X-class to decelerate quickly, though, so bear that in mind if you’re towing a trailer (up to 3,500kg) or carrying the maximum 1,067kg. While it might be the best of its type to drive, it still can’t match the best similarly sized and priced SUVS.
“At nearly £41,000, the X 250 d surpasses even the most expensive Volkswagen Amarok V6 TDI” Newcars