Mercedes-Benz X-Class: The verdict

No folks, the new Mercedes-Benz X-Class is not the messiah.

The world’s most famous and successful automotive luxury brand has not swept into the dual-cab utility segment and overtaken all before it. Indeed, owners of the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok have no need to be quaking in fear when the X 220d and X 250d arrive on Australian roads next April.

But Benz has taken the Nissan Navara on which the X-Class is based and improved it enough to (based on our first taste behind the wheel), make it one of the best vehicles in the class.

Now I’m going to throw a few riders on to that judgement.

That view is based on a single day’s drive on mainly benign Chilean highways with ridiculously low – I mean 60 and 70km/h – open-road speed limits and a warning that local coppers have a zero tolerance to speeding. So it was a slow day.

There was no real off-roading during this drive and nothing thrown in the tub so we could test load-affected on-road behaviour.

We drove one variant: the seven-speed automatic, twin-turbo diesel X 250d 4MATIC in top-spec Power trim, with ‘Low Posture’ European suspension that won’t be coming to Australia.

So there was no chance to try out the entry-level X 220d 4x2 or the lesser Pure or Progressive trim and equipment specifications, at least not before the deadline to file this story.

But there’s plenty more coming tomorrow including some off-roading and a ride-along in the V6 turbo-diesel that arrives in Australia in mid-2018.

That will flesh out our X-Class picture a little bit more.

But what we really have to wait for is the local back-to-back driving comparison of X-Class and its rivals on Australian roads both laden and unladen.

Obviously, that’s months away yet so we’ll make do with what we’ve got. So here’s some observations about the X-Class based on our long but repetitive first road drive.

The good
X-Class is quiet: Yep, the noise, vibration and harshness measures Benz is boasting about do work. This vehicle has a hushed cabin that embarrasses the Ford Ranger and maybe even the Amarok.

The Renault-sourced 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine also never feels strained by its work. It does get a bit louder as revs ride but it’s never unhappy under load.

X-Class rides superbly: Unladen that is. Benz’s stretching of the tracks and the development of Nissan’s multi-link coil spring rear-end works very well.

Key to this are trick new Tenneco dampers that absorb the big hits in a single movement. Remember though, this is the Euro tune we’re talking about here.

X-Class is safety conscious: No other ute can match its safety equipment feature list, which is highlighted by standard autonomous emergency braking across the range. But it remains to be seen what else comes standard in Australia.

The not so good
X-Class isn’t as classy as it first appears: Jump into the cabin and the rake-only adjustable steering wheel provides a disconcertingly downbeat first point of contact.

The top-spec Power’s instruments, dash and controls look good, like a slightly dumbed-down C-Class, but then start touching the surfaces and everything is hard and down low in the cabin it feels a bit flimsy.

X-Class lacks feel: Steering feel that is. The hydraulic power steering is light and vacant and doesn’t feel in sync with this big, heavy vehicle. It makes smooth negotiation of winding roads a challenge, but it’s handy round town. A massive 13.4-metre turning circle isn’t.

X-Class is no speed freak; Our X 250d is claimed to accelerate to 100km/h in 11.8 seconds. That’s pretty slow. A kerb 2234kg claimed weight doesn’t help there. That is well over the odds compared to the Benz’s rivals -- including the Navara, which tops out at just under two tonnes.

The widened and braced chassis, sound deadening and extra equipment all contribute to that climb in weight … and that average performance.

So where does that all leave us?

Well, with all those riders taken into account, I reckon the X-Class is still promising; a Navara reworked for the better. But we’ve got more driving to do, so hang on for more tomorrow.

You can read our Chilean First Drive of the new X-Class now. And if we’ve only just whetted your appetite for X-Class info, check out the links below.