Mercedes-Benz X-Class review

As with the outside, Mercedes has worked hard to give the X-Class a visual lift over the car it’s based on. Initially, the gearlever and starter button are the only obvious carry overs, and all the usual Mercedes cues, from clickwheel to column stalks, ensure existing Merc owners won’t find it totally alien. OK, it’s nowhere near as smart as an E- or MLE-Class, has none of their design flair or flash graphics, but it’s passable.

But quality is more of a mixed bag. Although the switchgear is fine, the plastic mouldings are slabby and cheap, the flat seats are unsupportive and the overall look and feel is a few notches down from any Merc passenger car with the possible exception of the A-Class. And that’s about to be replaced.

And is it really that practical and suited to your use? You need to ask yourself that question. Yes, it has an enormous boot – over 1.2 metres wide between the rear arches and close on 1.6 metres long. It can carry a payload of over a tonne, tow 3.5, you can add roller covers and load liners (for around £2,300). For mountain bikes or snowboards it’ll be great. You know this because in all the pics Merc has published everyone is smiling as they load their outdoor toys into it.

But in Europe we’re different to America. We don’t all carry chainsaws, we don’t have consistently good weather or live surrounded by nature. If we park at a motorway services with a mountain bike in the back, it won’t be there when we come back. And we view pick-ups differently, associating them with tradesmen, not families. Shifting that perspective will be tough. VW hasn’t managed it with the Amarok after all.

So yes, it’s big, but it’s not actually any cleverer than any other pick-up. You can’t carry more than five people, you’ll struggle to stop the supermarket shop turning to mush on the way home and you’ll need to be fit enough to climb into the boot – because you won’t be able to reach anything that’s slid to the far end.