Mercedes-Benz X-Class EXY Urban 2019 Review

The EXY Urban ute is a paragon of audacity. It's big, it's bold and it's unashamedly different.

Simply put, there's virtually nothing like it available in Australia and it turns heads – something the standard X-Class ute failed to do.

Back in October 2016, Mercedes-Benz revealed a pair of X-Class ute concepts, previewing the "world's first premium pick-up".

The two pick-up concepts looked amazing and our online traffic exploded as Aussies digested the images and information with the eagerness of a famished Labrador. Fast forward two years and the Mercedes-Benz X-Class that arrived in dealerships looked decidedly different to the concepts.

In some ways it was an opportunity gone begging, the X-Class production utes exposing far more conservative visuals.

But there are means and ways to get the concept car look.

Exhibit A, you're Honour: The Mercedes-Benz X-Class EXY Urban.

This mean-looking rig is an interior and exterior conversion for the Merc ute designed by Pickup Design which is owned by Carlex Design, a high-end Polish automotive, aviation and marine custom shop.

Exhibiting a murdered-out look (black-on-black) which together with its beefy front and rear designs, not to mention the pumped wheel arches and bigger wheels, create a dramatic visual.

But before we go any further, let me first address the burning question – price.

This kit is not cheap. You'll be looking at around $36,000 for all parts and labour on top of the cost of the X-Class ute.

Depending on the model, that can result in a total vehicle price of around $115,000, which is a lot more than the Ford Ranger Raptor ($75,390) desert dueler and RAM 1500 Express ($79,950) with its hefty 5.7-litre petrol V8.

The model on test is the X-Class X 250 d POWER model grade, which at $64,500 means you'll pay just over $100,500 with the EXY Urban kit. All fitted parts come with a three-year warranty.

Boasting a much wider, lower, more menacing aesthetic, the X-Class EXY Urban kit brings to bear smatterings of carbon-fibre on the front and rear bumpers and a completely re-upholstered interior.

The cabin is pretty full-on – and that's with black Nappa leather. Imagine it in red!? The 1980s lightning bolts may only appeal to Bon Jovi fans but the leather quality is much higher than the faux leather Benz fits as standard.

As such there's a more palpable sense of luxury when you clamber into the ute which is helped by the reshaped and re-upholstered steering wheel. Indeed, it's a lush ute to spend time in, with all the standard Benz finishes – such as the circular air vents, high-res infotainment screen and neat controls – adding to the occasion.

It feels less like a jazzed-up Nissan Navara and more like a premium ute – with a few lightning bolts thrown in as conversation starters.

Even the back seats get the outlandish leather treatment, as does the centre armrest, plus you can order door inserts as well if you don't mind shelling out a bit more coin.

Exterior extras transform the Mercedes X-Class from conservative to compelling, starting with a wider, more aggressive composite front bumper with carbon-fibre infill. There's a new bonnet protector and grille surrounds flanked by a large air intakes.

Chuck in pumped wheel arches and a 30mm lower ride height (courtesy of Pedders suspension, painted yellow) and the view in people's rear view mirrors as this vehicle looms is significantly different to most utes.

Riding on bespoke 20-inch alloy wheels, offset to fill out the extended wheel arches, coupled with a sculpted sailplane that dominates the roofline, and the result is a longer, sportier profile.

Other external changes include carbon-fibre mirror caps and a carbon-fibre inlay in the restyled rear bumper. Ersatz exhaust pipes with mesh finishes and a neatly integrated tailgate spoiler add razzle dazzle at the rear, which help communicate that you're not content to blend in.

There are also brake-light surrounds that blend into the rear wheel arches and spoiler.

The vehicle on test was assembled at Mach1 Panel and Paint in Mornington, Victoria and the fit and finish of the body work additions appeared to be very good.

There's no doubt the X-Class EXY Urban cuts a sharp image on the road but equally doesn't look out of place in the city. It's true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I reckon there's something to be said for unique, brash designs that stand out.

Only 999 of the EXY Urban kits will be manufactured globally. Our test car was number 002.

The European-designed and manufactured kits are supplied to dealers and fitters in Australia via RVE International, a New Zealand company, and the types of people who will buy the kit here – numbered in their dozens, not hundreds – are discerning customers.

That's the word according to Jim Stanners, the director of RVE International.

"This is an offering where price doesn’t come into it. It's the Rolex watch idea," he said, contending that the high quality of the kits and low build volume ensure exclusively.

The importer is working with several auto shops and dealers around Australia to offer the kits with several orders for the EXY kits already in the bag, according to Stanners.

"There is a market for this product. You've got people at the top that want the best, they want to be different. It's not going to have mainstream appeal, it's not for tradies wanting a $40K ute and throwing some mods on it.

"This is more for the discerning buyer who wants something to standout."

With its Nissan Navara underpinnings and Mercedes-Benz tuning, the EXY Urban drives pretty much the same as the X-Class, which means you'll get relatively refined (for a ute) ride comfort packaged around a competent cruiser that’s also a very capable towing machine.

The Benz ute is quieter on the road than most of its four-cylinder turbo-diesel rivals, the steering is direct and although it measures slightly longer than the donor car's 5340mm due to the body work, the parking sensors and camera help 'shrink' the car when slotting into car spaces.

All the parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control work with the extra body bits too.

The main difference in the way it drives is via the slightly firmer suspension fitted, which makes it a little more responsive to steering input. As mentioned ride comfort isn't compromised but it feels a little more dynamic tipping into corners. Given that the EXY Urban is 30mm lower and has a slightly wider track, it sits a little flatter through corners too.

It's no HSV Maloo GTS but it's more than fun to drive than most turbo-diesel dual-cab utes.

Although it's not technically an element of the way the X-Class EXY Urban drives, it definitely delivers a different experience, which manifests in other road users intense interest in it.

Like an exotic car, it attracts attention and stokes discussion. Several passersby wanted to know what it was, how they can get one, and usually concluded with "That's too much cash".

That said, when we were shooting the video for the striking Mercedes ute, a bloke in his Holden Caprice rocked up (who also owned a Mitsubishi Triton ute) and said he'd consider buying one, even with a $100,000 price tag.

The only disappointment with the way the ute drives is its lack of grunt – and that's not really an issue with the conversion but its donor car.

The 2.3-litre twin-turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine (140kW/450Nm) motivates adequately but I reckon if you're plonking down six figures for a Nissan-based Mercedes ute with a fancy getup, the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 (190kW/550Nm) would be the go.

Still, fuel economy is pretty good with the X 250 d’s four-cylinder coming close to the official 7.7L/100km consumption figure with 8.1L/100km across a range of urban and country driving.

The market for high-end specialty ute kits like this one are limited but as the popularity of dual-cab utes continues to grow, becoming the go-to vehicle for mainstream buyers, not just tradies and those who need to tow heavier loads, we'll see more of this ilk in future.

Top-end ute products, whether big US pick-up conversions like the RAM 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado or high-end Thai-built mud-pluggers like the Ford Ranger Raptor, show there is an appetite for expensive utes.

While the Mercedes-Benz X-Class EXY Urban nails the brief in terms of eye candy, it's just the tip of the iceberg. On top of more aftermarket kits, buyers will increasingly demand more performance from the factory, where tough truck hero versions of the Mitsubishi Triton and Toyota HiLux will bring a visual feast and better functionality to the party.

How much does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz X-Class X 250 d EXY Urban cost?
Price: $100,500 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.3-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined); 8.1L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 209g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2018)