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Mercedes has a history of producing vans for the commercial vehicle market – but now the firm is branching out further with its new pick-up, called the Mercedes-Benz X-Class. It’s due on sale by the end of 2017 with prices opening at around £28,000.
The X-Class is the result of a parts-sharing deal between Mercedes and the Renault-Nissan Alliance – so it’s based on the ladder- frame platform of the Japanese brand’s Navara pick-up that will soon also bring us the Renault Alaskan.
It’s a strategy Mercedes-Benz has employed before in the commercial vehicle market with its Citan van sharing much with the Renault Kangoo. The key for Mercedes is to create distance between the Navara/Alaskan and the X-Class by building in a higher level of quality and technology that will convince buyers that the X-Class is worth paying the Mercedes-Benz premium for.
Mercedes X-Class: design and dimensions
The X-Class’s side profile is very close to the Navara’s, but the front end is distinctively Mercedes, with an oversized grille and a large three-pointed-star badge. Around at the rear there’s the chunky bumper with its integrated step as seen on the Navara but this can be deleted by customers who need the tailgate to swing down beyond the standard 90 degrees.
As you ascend the X-Class trim level range that runs from Pure through Progressive to Power, the X-Class gains progressively more chrome and body-colouring at both ends. The aim is to move away from the pick-up’s working vehicle roots into more of a stylish utility vehicle. It’s what the market wants and what Mercedes feels it’s well placed to deliver.
The Nissan was already one of the biggest pick-up trucks on the UK market and at 5,340mm, the X-Class is 40mm longer. More tellingly, it’s also 70mm wider at 1,920mm and a height of 1,819mm makes it 21mm lower than the Navara too - evidence of Mercedes’ design team striving for that powerful road presence to mark the X-Class out.
The engine line-up is based on four and six-cylinder diesel motors. The X 220d (161bhp) and X 250d (188bhp) use the same 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesel in single and twin-turbo form respectively. Both of these engines get a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is offered as an option on the higher-powered unit.
By next summer a V6 diesel will have joined the line-up, offering 255bhp and paired up with permanent four-wheel drive. A part-time four-wheel-drive set-up will be fitted to the remainder of the range; UK buyers won’t be offered the rear-drive editions that are available elsewhere.
Like its Nissan Navara sister vehicle, the X-Cass uses double wishbone front axle and, unusually for a pick-up, a multi-link rear suspension. Mercedes has also introduced specially tuned coil springs at the front and rear to try and replicate some of the ride quality its passenger cars are known for. The X-Class is also the only pick-up to offer internally vented brake discs as standard. The front axle has 320mm discs and there are 308mm items at the rear.
Mercedes X-Class technology and practicality
All X-Class models are rated for loads of up to 1.1 tonnes – sufficient for 17 full 50-litre beer barrels, Mercedes claims, and more than enough to make the car eligible for commercial vehicle tax classification. All UK X-Classes will be capable of towing up 3.5 tonnes, too. Inside, the X-Class gets plenty of familiar Mercedes cues, along with some harder-wearing materials. The firm’s 8.4-inch infotainment system (as seen in the V-Class) is mounted in its usual position in the centre of the facia, offering Garmin-based navigation across the range.
On mid and high-spec models, there’s a further 5.4-inch display between the instrument dials. Mercedes has already taken several hundred reservations for the X-Class in the UK, despite there being no official confirmation on pricing yet.
However, the car – which will be built by Nissan at its plant in Spain – is expected to cost from around £28,000 excluding VAT. The first British customers should get their cars in January 2018 and we’ll get behind the wheel for the first time in October.
The X-Class is the result of a parts-sharing deal between Mercedes and the Renault-Nissan Alliance – so it’s based on the ladder- frame platform of the Japanese brand’s Navara pick-up that will soon also bring us the Renault Alaskan.
It’s a strategy Mercedes-Benz has employed before in the commercial vehicle market with its Citan van sharing much with the Renault Kangoo. The key for Mercedes is to create distance between the Navara/Alaskan and the X-Class by building in a higher level of quality and technology that will convince buyers that the X-Class is worth paying the Mercedes-Benz premium for.
Mercedes X-Class: design and dimensions
The X-Class’s side profile is very close to the Navara’s, but the front end is distinctively Mercedes, with an oversized grille and a large three-pointed-star badge. Around at the rear there’s the chunky bumper with its integrated step as seen on the Navara but this can be deleted by customers who need the tailgate to swing down beyond the standard 90 degrees.
As you ascend the X-Class trim level range that runs from Pure through Progressive to Power, the X-Class gains progressively more chrome and body-colouring at both ends. The aim is to move away from the pick-up’s working vehicle roots into more of a stylish utility vehicle. It’s what the market wants and what Mercedes feels it’s well placed to deliver.
The Nissan was already one of the biggest pick-up trucks on the UK market and at 5,340mm, the X-Class is 40mm longer. More tellingly, it’s also 70mm wider at 1,920mm and a height of 1,819mm makes it 21mm lower than the Navara too - evidence of Mercedes’ design team striving for that powerful road presence to mark the X-Class out.
The engine line-up is based on four and six-cylinder diesel motors. The X 220d (161bhp) and X 250d (188bhp) use the same 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesel in single and twin-turbo form respectively. Both of these engines get a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is offered as an option on the higher-powered unit.
By next summer a V6 diesel will have joined the line-up, offering 255bhp and paired up with permanent four-wheel drive. A part-time four-wheel-drive set-up will be fitted to the remainder of the range; UK buyers won’t be offered the rear-drive editions that are available elsewhere.
Like its Nissan Navara sister vehicle, the X-Cass uses double wishbone front axle and, unusually for a pick-up, a multi-link rear suspension. Mercedes has also introduced specially tuned coil springs at the front and rear to try and replicate some of the ride quality its passenger cars are known for. The X-Class is also the only pick-up to offer internally vented brake discs as standard. The front axle has 320mm discs and there are 308mm items at the rear.
Mercedes X-Class technology and practicality
All X-Class models are rated for loads of up to 1.1 tonnes – sufficient for 17 full 50-litre beer barrels, Mercedes claims, and more than enough to make the car eligible for commercial vehicle tax classification. All UK X-Classes will be capable of towing up 3.5 tonnes, too. Inside, the X-Class gets plenty of familiar Mercedes cues, along with some harder-wearing materials. The firm’s 8.4-inch infotainment system (as seen in the V-Class) is mounted in its usual position in the centre of the facia, offering Garmin-based navigation across the range.
On mid and high-spec models, there’s a further 5.4-inch display between the instrument dials. Mercedes has already taken several hundred reservations for the X-Class in the UK, despite there being no official confirmation on pricing yet.
However, the car – which will be built by Nissan at its plant in Spain – is expected to cost from around £28,000 excluding VAT. The first British customers should get their cars in January 2018 and we’ll get behind the wheel for the first time in October.
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