X-Class - Riding Shotgun

Mercedes-Benz X-Class ute reveals promising signs on- and off-road.

- Matt Raudonikis

WHEN Mercedes-Benz unveiled its X-Class ute in Cape Town back in July, there was no drive component on the program. That will have to wait until the official launch in October this year and the Australian release in April 2018. However, there was the opportunity to ride shotgun in an X-Class on a private test track comprising both on- and off-road sections. While we didn’t expect to learn a lot from this brief ride-along, it did reveal some interesting elements of the car that indicate Mercedes-Benz may well deliver on its promise of a premium performance pick-up.

The driver was one of Benz’s own test drivers, and he sure knew how to pedal... he didn’t hold back. The vehicle was an X250d Power, so a top-spec ute with the 450Nm bi-turbo four cylinder engine backed by a seven-speed auto and part-time 4x4. The first thing you notice as you drive off in the X250d is that Mercedes-Benz has done an impressive job of insulating the cabin from road and engine noise. The Renault 2.3-litre diesel can be vocal and harsh when pushed hard in the Nissan Navara, but there was none of that as the driver held the throttle to the floor around the test track.