Mercedes-Benz Says X-Class Is Much More Than An Expensive Navara

Mercedes-Benz insists that although the X-Class shares its underpinnings with the Nissan Navara, the brand's first pickup truck is on a totally different level.

During an interview with Autocar, Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle boss Volker Mornhinweg said a huge amount of work has been done to make the X-Class unique and unlike any other pickup and not simply a Navara with a different body and fancy interior.

“We knew what had to be done. A hell of a lot of work, but we learned from our SUV experience,” he said. Mornhinweg also says that the X-Class has impressive handling characteristics and that you can “hardly feel the difference between off-road and on-road. I wanted a precise line through corners, and it has crisp handling - you can feel what the car is doing."

The vehicle's lead engineer, Klaus Benzinger, went on to say that, during the development of the X-Class, the firm stopped testing it against other premium pickups as its driving dynamics cannot be compared against any other vehicle in the segment.

When the X-Class hits the market, it will be available with a selection of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines as well as a range-topping V6 diesel.