Story and photo by Ross MacKay

A late relative of mine, Owen Nichol, would have loved Mercedes-Benz’s new X-Class ute.

He was lucky, I guess, to farm through the golden years of the 1960s and 1970s. And what he most loved about farming was the freedom it gave him to indulge his automotive idiosyncrasies......which needless to say included using his ‘car du jour’ as farm transport when the weather and ground conditions allowed for it.

Which is where the X-Class comes in.

Yes it is based around Nissan’s current coil-sprung NP300 platform and currently powered (until the V6 model arrives here in December) by Nissan’s 2.4 litre turbo diesel engines.

 But seriously, is that really going to stop someone interested, buying one? As so many keyboard warriors reckon is the case?

Having now driven an X-Class for a week on as well as off the road I doubt it. I know that again, were he alive and in the market today, smart-arse comments posted wherever an X-Class featured would have absolutely zero effect on Owen.

He was his own man and would simply roll his eyes and wonder aloud why, when (unlike him, obviously) you had neither the interest in, nor funds to purchase, a new car/tractor/truck/farm bike, you would waste your time and everyone else’s commenting on what he saw as his own private business.

As it is, you don’t even have to drive to drive a new X-Class (just sitting in one will suffice) to understand that it is very much a Mercedes-Benz.

The version I drove was a current range-topping  X250d Power auto (a $2,348 option), equipped with a style package (an extra $2304) and finishing in shimmering ‘Bering White Metallic paint job (a $913 option). With GST of $8657 the total cost was $74,037 (over a list of $63,130).

The Power is only available with the 140kW engine but either a manual or automatic transmission and comes complete with chrome/brushed alloy exterior trim highlights front and rear, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated mirrors, upholstered dash with contrasting stitching, electrically adjustable front seats, Mercedes’ COMAND multimedia and navigation system, dual zone climate control, a 360 degree camera, a parking assist system and keyless entry and start.

While the obvious giveaway outside is the large Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star which takes pride of place in the middle of the grille, it is inside where the company has gone all out to distinguish the X-Class from every other TD DC ute on the market.

And I don’t just mean by adding another three-pointed star in the middle of the (nice thick-rimmed, sports-feel) steering wheel.

The dashboard itself has a concave inset from which protrude six circular air vents plus an iPod-like app/infotainment screen which can be operated by a combined touch pad/rotary dial mounted between the seats.

Distinctive it definitely is, particularly for what could be a ‘rough ’n ready knockabout ute, though not as intuitive as it should be. And – largely because of it and where it is placed = for the life of me I couldn’t find a suitable place to put my smartphone.

The trim at Power level mixes a leather-like Artico/Dinama material with a flexible microfibre which provides an impressive mix of comfort and support. Though, again, at this spec/price level I was surprised that they are not heated as standard.

The rear bench also lacked support though leg room is fine for all but the lankiest teen in (my) family.

You don’t have to drive an X-Class far, either, to appreciate that all the ‘it’s just another Navara’ chatter is just that, chatter, the human equivalent of static buzzing away in your subconscious.

Though I was disappointed that steering action and feel was not as direct and communicative as that of Ford’s category standard-setter the Ranger, I’d rate the X-Class second-only to HSV’s SportCat in terms of poise, ride and suspension action/compliance and the way it rides bumps, hollows, g-outs and ridges without the usual double-tap through the ladder then body.

Rural buyers who spend a lot of time on gravel roads will no doubt also learn to appreciate the superior ride over corrugations with a well set-up trailing arm/coil sprig rear axle.

Off-road the compliance pays similar dividends. So good is the mix of four-wheel-drive, and a lockable rear diff I struggled to find some terrain steep and/or slippery enough to test the 4Low setting. 4High was fine even in Muriwai’s thickest and most rutted sand tracks.

Ground clearance and the approach and departure angles would appear to be as good as those of any other TD DC ute as well. You don’t need to fret about an auto version ‘getting away from you’ on a slippery downhill either because Mercedes’ version of Hill Descent Control (Downhill Speed Regulation) works as well as any similar system.

So there you go. The new X-CLass looks like a Mercedes-Benz, is engineered like a Mercedes-Benz and is specced and trimmed like a Mercedes-Benz.

That makes it a Mercedes-Benz in my book. No doubt Owen’s too!

To read the full story in the October 2018 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (September 14) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store