What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide

History will record the Mercedes-Benz X-Class not so much as, too little too late, but more likely too much too late. While fixating on VW’s Amarok, inventing the premium pick-up sector, it stared for too long before acting and was left with a quick-fix Nissan Navara base. By then the market had shifted, but the momentum could not. The X-Class was unveiled to more of an evasion than an ovation.

However, the Nissan Navara is one of the best pick-ups ever, while Mercedes-Benz refusing merely to rebadge it, modified (at great expense) the suspension, running gear and even some bodywork dropping in its own engines and transmissions on the upper-level versions. What it created was not the mish-mash you might expect, but a premium product in a shrinking market. What we call, a bit of a bargain. 

Dimensionally, it’s very similar to the Navara, but not identical. Overall length stands at 5,340mm, width 2,113mm and height 1,818mm. Sitting on a 3,115mm wheelbase the double-cab gives a load bay measuring 1,587mm-long with widths of 1,560mm and 1,215mm at best and between the wheel arches respectively, with sides 475mm high and a floor some 855mm off the ground. Payloads range from 1,112 to 1,140Kgs and it will tow 3,500 Kgs. Two 2.3L four-cylinder diesels (both Nissan engines) a single-turbo X 220 d with 163hp and 403Nm of torque, and a twin-turbo X 250 d with 190hp and 450Nm are ample for most purposes but the 3.0L Mercedes V6 with 258hp and 550Nm of torque is the headline act giving unladen acceleration of 0–60mph in 7.5 seconds. All have automatic transmissions, the V6 boasting Mercedes’ own 7G-TronicPlus device. The Navara’s part-time 4WD and locking rear differential serves the four-pot models whilst permanent 4WD is bestowed on the V6. All are fully off-road capable and have hill descent and mutli-mode traction controls.

Inside the cab, Mercedes-Benz has drawn heavily on its parts bin and although some Nissan switches can be spied, overall it feels like the V-Class but with the C-Class saloon’s facia. Quality is first rate. There are more choices of seating and even headlining, than any other pick-up and it boasts the Sprinter’s MBUX screen-based control. It’s built in top-down fashion which means the base version feels like no other pick-up at entry level. Pure, Progressive and Power nomenclatures are the trim levels, while the basic cab space is ample with good visibility. The Pure is the workhorse or fleet choice. No carpets, steel wheels and lowest hp, but it gets air-conditioning, Bluetooth, DAB and Mercedes-Me connectivity. The Progressive adds useful load securing rails in the bed, alloy wheels and better upholstery but everything else is cosmetic. Better to go top-end with the Power version. It has 18in alloys, keyless start, LED headlights, electric seats and mirror-folding with fake-leather upholstery and facia with an all-black finish. All the cab interiors are worthy of the three-pointed star for build quality, the Power is deserving of it for luxury too and it comes with the refined punch of the V6 engine.

Five best options

1) V6 engine

2) Permanent 4WD

3) 190 hp engine 

4) Power trim