Mercedes-Benz X 250d 2018 Review

Ample POWER

The first of two Mercedes-Benz X-Class models we put to test was the top-spec POWER. Hitting the cash register at a base price of $61,600 our optioned ute tallied $70,846 before on-road costs… phew!

The option packs fitted were the Style Pack and the Winter Pack. The style Pack, for $2490 adds privacy glass on the rear windows, electric sliding rear window, side steps, roof rails and 19-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels. The Winter Pack for $590 adds heated front seats and heated windscreen washers.

As you’d expect, the X 250 d POWER, being the top of the specification levels for the X-Class is fairly well equipped. I use the term ‘fairly’ advisedly as there are a few curious omissions to the spec sheet that I’ll get to later. But for the moment we’ll stay with what the POWER has got.

In terms of comfort, you’re well catered for with plush seats in faux leather (Artico in Benz-speak) with faux suede trim (Dinamica). They are electrically adjustable and have adjustable lumbar support and are really quite comfortable. There’s climate-control air-conditioning, the aforementioned seat heaters, electric mirrors, auto headlights, keyless ignition, sat nav and Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND interface for the infotainment system.

Cruise control is standard but the lack of active (or radar) cruise control is one of the omissions I was speaking of. With Mercedes-Benz being one of the pioneers of this technology, I thought the company would have had a few lying around for the top-spec X-Class… especially when you consider it runs autonomous emergency braking as standard!

Another omission I thought would be standard on this spec was blind-spot warning. Lane departure is there, but no blind-spot warning. Rear vision from the internal mirror is not great so I think blind-spot warning would be good.

For parking, there is a 360-degree surround-view camera and lots of sensors and the rear camera is excellent.

Storage in the front of the cabin is poor. There is one drink holder and a little storage nook beside it. But I found that when I had a coffee or a water in the drink holder there was precious little room for items like garage remotes, the key fob, phone and other accoutrements that you need.

Sure there is the centre storage box but it’s small and fiddly. The interior screams for a couple of more open storage areas or at least a couple of cup holders.

In the rear, the passengers get air-con vents and their own 12-volt plug and there is a USB plug in the centre storage bin that can be accessed from the front and rear. I noted that the three I-Size child seat anchorages are easy to get to and have neat covers that clip in when they’re not in use.

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PROGRESSIVE thinking

The second of the X-Class utes that we got to spend a week in was the PROGRESSIVE (Where did they come up with these names?). The PROGRESSIVE is the mid-spec X-Class sitting between the PURE at the entry-level and the POWER on top.

The PROGRESSIVE is a sensible spec and will no doubt account for plenty of sales. Prices start at $54,900 for the manual version and $57,800 for the auto. For that you get 17-inch alloy wheels, colour coded exterior parts, fog lights, auto halogen headlights, seven air bags, lane-keeping assist, rear camera, tyre-pressure monitoring, adjustable rail system in the tub, 7.0-inch centre screen, digital audio, and more.

Our vehicle was fitted with the Style Pack ($3750) which adds LED headlights and partial LED tail-lights, privacy glass to the rear windows, electric sliding rear window, side steps, roof rails and 18-inch twin-spoke wheels. It also had a tray liner that retails for $899 bringing the total to $62,449.

Once again, there is no radar cruise or blind-spot alert, but most of the other safety gear is included and it’s worth noting that all versions get four-wheel disc brakes that are not included on many of the X-Class’s opposition.

Other standard electronic safety equipment includes: Active brake assist, lane keeping assist, Electronic Stability Programme, anti-lock Braking System (ABS), acceleration skid control (ASR), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and trailer stability assist.

On –and off – the road

The first impression one gets of driving the X-Class is that Mercedes-Benz has done a great job of the NVH levels in the vehicle. It is certainly a quiet and vibration-free environment, and you’d be excused for forgetting that you’re in a ute.

Similarly, the suspension is better sorted than virtually any other dual-cab ute on the market. The initial spring rate is soft and the damping feels well matched to the springs in the rear.

The seven-speed automatic works well with the 2.3-litre twin-turbo engine and again it doesn’t feel like a light-commercial vehicle. I’m not going to go the whole way and say it’s as good as an SUV – it isn’t. But the gap is closing.

Handling is good with a bit of wallow through the corners though it is sure-footed. On dirt, the X-Class shines. The suspension soaks up the bumps and axle-tramp over corrugations is minimal. Slip it into high-range four-wheel drive and it’s even better.

Off road, the X-Class is well-equipped. In front of the gear shift are the traction aid controls. Four-wheel drive is selected via circular switch give four high and low. To the left of that is the switch for the hill descent control, and beside that is the rear diff lock.

Low range is a deep reduction of 2.717 and that combined with a final-drive ratio of 3.357 for the auto and a first gear of 4.886 gives a final reduction of 44.565 which is really good for an auto.

Mercedes-Benz quotes an approach angle of 30 degrees and a departure angle of 25 degrees.

It all combines to make the X-Class a very good vehicle off-road. And while our test vehicles didn’t get much in the way of under-body protection, it is available as an optional extra for $1312 which may a good investment if you’re planning to any serious off-roading.

Mercedes-Benz is offering a three-year/200,000km warranty, whichever comes first, and service intervals are pegged at 12 months/20,000km – which are also covered by capped-price servicing. X-Class buyers can pay a total of $1850 upfront for their first three services or they can pay as they go – $585, $930 and $835 – for a total of $2350.

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Game changer?

So the bottom line remains: Is this a game changer? In short, no.

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is a nice, comfortable ute. The engineers have done a splendid job on the suspension and the NVH levels, but it remains a dual-cab ute the likes of which we have come to know and love.

Sure it’s got the cache of the three-pointed star badge and that will account for some sales on its own. But is it a ‘real’ Mercedes-Benz? We think not. It doesn’t have that Mercedes-Benz ‘feel’ that the passenger cars have, nor does it have the solid, robust ambience and build quality that the big Benz trucks have.

Sure, it’s nice and it’s a bit more comfortable – especially in the POWER trim – than most of its competitors and if you’re merely looking for a replacement for the family car it could be the vehicle for you. But if you’re looking for a robust ute for recreational use and to bash about the country a bit, then a game changer it isn’t.