What is it?
There was a time when pick-up trucks were uncomfortable and a bit ragged around the edges. There was room for two in the cab, plus a bale of hay and the obligatory Border Collie riding shotgun.
But nowadays, manufacturers are producing more luxurious double cab examples, and they’re proving popular, selling at the rate of more than 50,000 per annum in the UK. The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is the latest arrival and billed as the first pick-up from a premium manufacturer.
A cargo payload of 1092kg qualifies this crewcab pickup as a light commercial vehicle (LCV), so business users can reclaim the VAT. Benefit-in-kind (BIK) taxation is much lower than that of a company car too, and at a fixed rate rather than on a sliding scale.
The X-Class is based on the underpinnings of the Nissan Navara, including its ladder chassis, engine, drivetrain and suspension with solid rear axle. Trim levels are Pure, Progressive and Power, of which the range-topping latter is expected to be the biggest seller.
What's it like?
As with the Navara, rear-wheel drive is the default, with four-wheel drive manually selectable. The upper body is all new, drawing on Mercedes’ SUV design language. It’s 50mm wider than that of the Navara, with which it shares only the radio antenna and door handles. The track is 70mm wider and X-Class customers can opt for a 20mm lower ride height. The Power model rides on 18in alloy wheels, while the lower ones get 17in wheels.
There’s a choice of 161bhp X220d and 187bhp X250d four-cylinder Nissan diesels at launch, and these will be joined by the 255bhp X350d Mercedes 3.0-litre V6 in the middle of 2018. The performance of the four-pot X250d is acceptable, although overtakes need some planning.
Gearboxes are a six-speed manual or, with the more powerful of the two diesels, the option of the seven-speed automatic tested here. The forthcoming V6 will get Mercedes' full-time four-wheel drive and nine-speed automatic transmission.
The X-Class gets a suite of driver assistance and safety features as standard, including autonomous emergency braking and traffic sign recognition. Thus equipped, the X-Class gets five stars from Euro NCAP.
Interior quality is a big step up from the Navara, with more comfortable seats and Mercedes' usual high-quality surface materials and detailing. Only the lower instrument panel is finished in hard plastic, and although this isn't pretty, it provides a tough, practical surface capable of withstanding scuffs and kicks. Stowage space for small items in the cab is scarce, though, with nowhere to casually toss small items like a mobile phone except the door bins.
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Its not about the vehicle
People will buy or choose this becasue it qualifies for significantly lower benefit in kind charges as a company car! This makes a huge diference in your pocket and will also qualify for lower BIK tax on the fuel as well.
essentially this makes it a very cheap car to buy and run.
Money for old rope
So premium prices for a ladder frame chassis and suspension technology that Land Rover were using in the 70's!
no thanks, I would rather pay for a modern SUV with decent driving dynamics and advanced four wheel drive.
Merfc havin' a larf !!
Nissan with a bloody great Merc emblum on the snout. 1 tons carrying capacity - hell I chuck more than that in the Mrs little Kia Soul !!! Seems to me the Germans are getting very desperate for returns on their R and D which is fine, but they should have spent more on customer feedback and lending a couple to big rich farmers who use Landies to do the work of an L200 Mitsubish which will be thousands cheaper to buy and service and can load more and will be much more reliable :-)))