The Ford Ranger is the market leader, but the Volkswagen Amarok is the real rival to the X-Class at the highest end of the market.
Jointly developed with Renault-Nissan, the X-Class is based on the Nissan Navara and next
year’s Renault Alaskan, but it’s a loose connection and a partnership
that Mercedes has taken great lengths to make its mark on.
Looking under the skin of the X-Class
While the form may appear familiar, exterior
body panels actually share just a few common elements with the
Navara. And the inside is almost unrecognisable. Power does come from a
shared Renault-built 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine with
two outputs – the single-turbo 161bhp X220d and the twin-turbo 187bhp
X250d.
A
163bhp petrol engine will be launched in some markets, but the
powertrain that should propel the X-Class to the top of the pack is a
255bhp, 542lb ft V6 diesel that will be released in mid-2018.
For
now, the X220d gets a six-speed manual transmission as standard, while
the X250d receives a seven-speed auto. Both get selectable four-wheel
drive, but next year’s V6 will have permanent four-wheel drive and a
revised seven-speed automatic gearbox. All models get a low-range
gearbox with the option of a locking differential.
The X-Class can tow a 3.5-tonne trailer and transport a maximum load of 1,067kg in a load bed measuring 1587mm by 1560mm.
Touches of luxury in the X-Class
The lifestyle pickup segment is closing the gap on the SUV market and the X-Class is the vehicle setting the standard.
As
it stands there are three trims to choose from – Pure, Progressive and
Power. The entry-level X-Class Pure trim is a stripped-down, minimalist
work model – although better equipped than the equivalents at Ford,
Nissan and Toyota. Each Pure trimmed X-Class gets manually adjustable
front seats, air conditioning, a reversing camera, electrically
adjustable wing mirrors, front foglights and LED load bay lighting and
Mercedes’ Audio 20 infotainment system complete with 7.0in screen,
rotary controller and Bluetooth connectivity.
More
popular will be the Progressive trim, which adds heated wing mirrors,
17in alloy wheels, automatic wipers, carpet mats, a leather steering
wheel and an eight-speaker audio system.
The
top Power trim sets the X-Class out as a premium pickup, with
electrically adjustable front seats, a leather upholstery, keyless
entry, climate control, 18in alloy wheels, front and rear LED lights and
electrically folding door mirrors.
The
X-Class's interior is smarter than the more utilitarian Amarok, but
could nevertheless still do with higher-grade plastics on the lower
parts of the dash to make the pickup a truly premium commercial vehicle.
Much
is made of the 7in infotainment screen that is standard on all models.
Its central position above the X-styled air vents – which are pleasingly
springy to the touch – draws your attention to the neat media
controls.
Powering the X-Class up
One
of the key changes Mercedes has made to enhance the quality feel of the
X-Class is with greater sound-deadening to mask what is otherwise a
fairly coarse commercial vehicle engine.
Of
the power outputs currently available, the X250d is certainly the
better matched of the two, with the X220d feeling slightly underpowered
even in an unladen vehicle.
For
motorway driving, where the X-Class will likely spend much of its time,
187bhp is sufficient and, with the seven-speed automatic gearbox, it
feels every bit the capable, comfortable cruiser.
The
hydraulic steering is unusually light for a commercial vehicle
– another indication of the softer target market – and is initially
quite unresponsive and slow. This, however, is not a negative
characteristic and actually benefits the X-Class while off-road.
Multilink
coil spring suspension front and rear give the X-Class a far more
comfortable ride compared with its leaf-sprung rivals and, while driving
at speed over rough gravel tracks you’d think the X-Class is a
mid-range SUV rather than a ladder frame chassis working vehicle.
It’s
the wider front and rear track, now 1632mm and 1625mm respectively,
that really contributes most to the dynamics of the truck generating
even greater grip levels compared with the Navara.
Is the X-Class a worthy pick-up?
The X-Class
is the closet pickup yet to blend working abilities with car-like
comfort. More could undoubtedly have been done to push its premium
aspirations, but Mercedes has styled and honed it sufficiently
to differentiate it from the Navara.
Although
priced from £27,310 (excluding VAT, as it’s a commercial vehicle) for
an X-Class Pure, the more representative price for the well-specced
Power trim is £34,100 (nearly £41,000 including VAT), which makes it
£3,600 more than a similar Volkswagen Amarok and £6,500 more than a
Navara.
