Car makers are now increasingly frank about how much more collaboration and cost-sharing will be necessary for those striving to remain top players in the industry. R&D spending to stay ‘ahead of the curve’ at a time of such rapid change is eye-watering.
Familiar territory already for light commercial vehicles (LCVs): Renault and FIAT; PSA and Toyota, for example. Ford and VW are working together on the next Transporter-Transit and Ranger-Amarok. Mercedes has a number of joint projects with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
Light (1t) pick-ups too: Isuzu-GM; Mazda-Ford and others at plants in Thailand. For Europe however Nissan’s Navara pick-up comes from its Barcelona factory. Like SUVs, pick-ups are bucking the downward trend of automotive markets. Sales also indicate a migration from SUVs to pick-ups for those who want a more authentic 4x4.
Both Mercedes-Benz and Renault decided to adopt the Navara as a ‘fast-track’ into this growing sector. But “product differentiation”, as the marketing people call it, can be tricky - it doesn’t always work. FIAT has killed off its Mitsubishi L200-based ‘FullBack’ and Renault has put a UK launch of the Alaskan ‘on hold’ – i.e. unlikely.
Mercedes decided to do more than merely ‘change the badges’ on the Navara and the latest, range-topping X350d is very much a stand-alone variant – both 3.0-litre 258ps V6 Diesel and 7-speed auto-box are Mercedes units.
We looked at the first X-Class models (220d and 250d) a year ago. Despite retaining the Navara’s ladder-frame chassis, powertrain and running gear with coil rather than leaf-sprung live rear axle, bodywork was clearly bespoke and double-cab only.
The whole front end had a distinct Mercedes look but that’s not all. Slightly broader than a Navara, track was wider too improving the stance of the vehicle. Clearly a higher performance derivative was coming.
The 220d (163ps) and 250d (190ps) Nissan engines can struggle when propelling this 2.3t vehicle under load and a 6-speed manual gearbox is only offered on the 220d. The 4x4 system is the usual selectable set-up: 4x2 (rear wheel drive) on road with 4x4 High/Low ratios once off it.
Huge power increase apart this is where the X350d starts to become a different animal. The “4MATIC” 4x4 system is permanent (with a 40-60 front rear bias for a rear wheel drive feel) yet also offers a centre diff-locked off-road 4x4 high ratio and full low ratio range. As with the 220/230, electronic hill-hold and hill-descent controls are included but a rear axle diff-lock is £495 and increased ground clearance £220.
Lack of a manual 6-speed option is a real pity but a proper mechanical handbrake at least has been retained. Drive mode offers ‘Eco’, ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sport’. ‘Eco’ best kept for the urban crawl: throttle response is less than ‘linear’ with a deadening of the drivetrain. ‘Comfort’ fine most of the time whereas ‘Sport’, especially if manual over-ride engaged (steering column paddles), can make for pretty rapid progress.
The 3.0 V6 has its own ‘Power’ trim level and X-Class cabin interiors anyway a ‘cut above’ the rest. Front seats are comfortable and power-adjusted (V6), dashboard and steering wheel have also received a ‘Mercedes makeover’. Might not be an S-Class but it’s a civilised place to be.
On-road the X350d is refined and quiet by pick-up standards, the ride firm but not uncomfortable and steering (rightly) weightier than that of a Crossover/SUV. As for the 4-cyl vehicles, handling generally is ‘pick-up ponderous’ but well-resolved for what is after all, a credible working vehicle.
The X-Class has been transformed by the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel which, coupled with the breadth-and-depth competence of the 4MATIC 4x4 system, is clearly class leading – if at a price: £38,950 (Commercial Vehicle on the Road excluding VAT).
The two options mentioned and seven further items fitted to the test vehicle totalled an extra £6,500. They included a built-in SatNav system (if with enhanced features) and parking package with 360deg camera - should be standard at this list-price level.
The Competition
Only the VW Amarok with an all-V6 TDI range (3.0-litre; 204 or 258ps) comes close: £27,335-£40,595 (CVOTR). Cheapest has part-time 4x4 (4x2 rear-drive on road; 4x4 off-road) others are permanent 4x4 but H/R only (8-speed auto). Mitsubishi L200 (£19,865-£31,910 CVOTR) from £23,990 upwards has SuperSelect 4x4 which allows both 4x2 and 4x4 H/R on road as well as locked 4x4 High or Low off-road.
Facts & Figures
X350d: 127mph; 0-62mph 7.9 secs; 31.4mpg (official combined); 27-31 on test (brim to brim); CO2 236g/km; Road Tax £250; Payload 1t plus; Max Braked Trailer 3.5t.
By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper of the Farmers' Union of Wales
The whole front end had a distinct Mercedes look but that’s not all. Slightly broader than a Navara, track was wider too improving the stance of the vehicle. Clearly a higher performance derivative was coming.
The 220d (163ps) and 250d (190ps) Nissan engines can struggle when propelling this 2.3t vehicle under load and a 6-speed manual gearbox is only offered on the 220d. The 4x4 system is the usual selectable set-up: 4x2 (rear wheel drive) on road with 4x4 High/Low ratios once off it.
Huge power increase apart this is where the X350d starts to become a different animal. The “4MATIC” 4x4 system is permanent (with a 40-60 front rear bias for a rear wheel drive feel) yet also offers a centre diff-locked off-road 4x4 high ratio and full low ratio range. As with the 220/230, electronic hill-hold and hill-descent controls are included but a rear axle diff-lock is £495 and increased ground clearance £220.
Lack of a manual 6-speed option is a real pity but a proper mechanical handbrake at least has been retained. Drive mode offers ‘Eco’, ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sport’. ‘Eco’ best kept for the urban crawl: throttle response is less than ‘linear’ with a deadening of the drivetrain. ‘Comfort’ fine most of the time whereas ‘Sport’, especially if manual over-ride engaged (steering column paddles), can make for pretty rapid progress.
The 3.0 V6 has its own ‘Power’ trim level and X-Class cabin interiors anyway a ‘cut above’ the rest. Front seats are comfortable and power-adjusted (V6), dashboard and steering wheel have also received a ‘Mercedes makeover’. Might not be an S-Class but it’s a civilised place to be.
On-road the X350d is refined and quiet by pick-up standards, the ride firm but not uncomfortable and steering (rightly) weightier than that of a Crossover/SUV. As for the 4-cyl vehicles, handling generally is ‘pick-up ponderous’ but well-resolved for what is after all, a credible working vehicle.
The X-Class has been transformed by the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel which, coupled with the breadth-and-depth competence of the 4MATIC 4x4 system, is clearly class leading – if at a price: £38,950 (Commercial Vehicle on the Road excluding VAT).
The two options mentioned and seven further items fitted to the test vehicle totalled an extra £6,500. They included a built-in SatNav system (if with enhanced features) and parking package with 360deg camera - should be standard at this list-price level.
The Competition
Only the VW Amarok with an all-V6 TDI range (3.0-litre; 204 or 258ps) comes close: £27,335-£40,595 (CVOTR). Cheapest has part-time 4x4 (4x2 rear-drive on road; 4x4 off-road) others are permanent 4x4 but H/R only (8-speed auto). Mitsubishi L200 (£19,865-£31,910 CVOTR) from £23,990 upwards has SuperSelect 4x4 which allows both 4x2 and 4x4 H/R on road as well as locked 4x4 High or Low off-road.
Facts & Figures
X350d: 127mph; 0-62mph 7.9 secs; 31.4mpg (official combined); 27-31 on test (brim to brim); CO2 236g/km; Road Tax £250; Payload 1t plus; Max Braked Trailer 3.5t.
By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper of the Farmers' Union of Wales
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