German brand Mercedes-Benz has just launched a ‘premium pick-up truck’ which it has built in collaboration with Japanese maker Nissan.
When Mercedes announced that it was entering the market with a premium commercial vehicle, it raised many eyebrows.
Could a truck predominantly used by people who spend their days driving through muddy fields really be attractive in a premium specification?
Mercedes thinks so, and proudly revealed at the UK launch that it has already taken nearly 1,000 pre-orders for the pick-up, which starts at £27,310 excluding VAT.
However, this isn’t a bespoke Mercedes. The German manufacturer signed an agreement with Nissan that would see its premium pick-up be based on the rugged Navara.
It was keen to point out that the trucks are not totally alike, even bringing a Navara along so journalists could poke around to see what’s different.
However, there are plenty of similarities – here’s what they are.
Engines and oily bits
While Mercedes was keen to point out all the subtle changes they have made, they couldn’t hide the big one – that most of what’s under the skin is a Nissan.
At launch both engine variants are based on the Japanese manufacturer’s 2.3-litre turbo-diesel unit, pictured here in the Nissan Navara pick-up. The entry-level model makes 161bhp while a 187bhp version is also available.
There’s also a six-speed manual and seven-speed automatic transmission, both taken from Nissan, while the clever differentials that move power between all four wheels are also present on the Navara.
Fortunately, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – we tried the X-Class on a tricky off-road course, and it proved incredibly capable climbing slippery slopes and pulling itself out of bogs. The engine is a bit unrefined and sluggish under acceleration out on the road, though.
Door handles
Mercedes went to great pains to point out that every exterior panel is different – even the rear doors, which look pretty much identical but have a slightly different angle to the window ‘flick’, apparently.
However, there’s one Navara-spec design feature jutting out of the bodywork, and that’s the door handles. That means you actually have to grab a piece of Nissan to climb into your premium pick-up that’s definitely not a Nissan.
Bottom half of the wing mirrors
We’re not sure how much time and money was saved by doing this, but Mercedes only redesigned half the wing mirror. The bulk of the design that you see is new, but the bottom half, which attaches to the door and supports the mirror’s housing, is straight off the Nissan.
It’s a minor detail, but it’s a detail nonetheless.
Aerial
Speaking of minor details, we have one more for you. The aerial on the roof, which protrudes proudly from the rear of the cab, is Japanese. It’s decidedly old school-looking, too, so it’s perhaps a surprise Mercedes didn’t see fit to change it…
Key
We’ve saved the best for last. The design of a key can tell you a lot about a vehicle, and premium manufacturers tend to use bulky items with satisfyingly sturdy button clicks.
Nissan, on the other hand, has rather slim, lightweight keys with flimsy buttons that feel like they could be picked apart by a bored child in five minutes flat.
Mercedes hasn’t fitted all the electronic gubbins from a Navara key into one of its heavier duty fobs, instead opting to essentially stick its own badge on a Nissan unit.
It does feel like a missed opportunity to extend that premium feeling…