Test Mercedes Class X 350d: premium versatility for a 260 CV pick-up

We tested the Mercedes Class X 350d, the top-of-the-range version of the premium pick-up. It features a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that produces 258 CV of power. It impresses with its quality and ride comfort on any terrain.

The Mercedes Class X has been on the market for a year, but until now we could only opt for the entry-level versions of the range: 220d and 250d. That has changed with the arrival of the Class X 350d, the top-of-the-range variant of this mid-size pick-up. With a 3.0-litre V6 engine, this version of the Class X not only impresses with its good performance, but also with its comfort and quality of ride, unmatched in the segment. As a preview, I’ll tell you that when I took the wheel of the new Class X 350d on a stretch of road, the first thing I thought was: “this vehicle has nothing to envy from many SUVs in terms of dynamism”. Later, I discovered that it is possible to “go wild” in the countryside with a pick-up without your back suffering. At times, I didn’t feel like I was riding in a pick-up, but in any of the saloons of Mercedes. That said, the incredible capability this pick-up offers for tackling rugged terrain without flinching is not something you’ll find in just any SUV. I won’t go on any longer; these are our impressions of the new Class X 350d.

258 CV V6 diesel engine: exuberant, uninterrupted thrust

One of the most important elements of this new Class X 350d is its 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine. This powerplant, with direct injection and a variable geometry turbo (which provides a more immediate throttle response), delivers a power output of 258 CV and 550 Nm of torque. When accelerating, this unit offers exuberant yet refined thrust. Vibrations are practically non-existent, and the torque is available from 1,400 rpm up to 3,200 rpm. This translates into an engine that delivers power at virtually any rev range, which, combined with the immediate throttle response, allows you to drive with complete ease on inclines. An interesting fact: this pick-up accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds; not bad for a vehicle weighing over two tonnes.

The official combined consumption of the Mercedes Class X 350d is 9.0 litres per 100 km. After driving a route through the hills of Cuenca, with their respective gradients and irregularities and the demands this places on fuel consumption, we recorded an average of 12 litres, a fairly acceptable figure for a pick-up weighing over two tonnes; although official figures are not yet available, we expect a weight above 2,200 kg for this version of the pick-up. Had we measured consumption on the road alone, it would probably have been quite close to the official figure.

7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission: speed and smoothness in equal measure

This V6 powerplant comes as standard with the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic gearbox with shift paddles on the steering wheel. This torque converter transmission with seven speeds stands out for its smooth operation and its quick gear changes.

Four driving modes as standard

In the lower part of the dashboard, we find a driving mode selector called Dynamic Select. This feature comes as standard on the vehicle and allows you to adjust the engine response, the transmission shift points and the use of Start/Stop depending on the selected mode: Comfort, Eco, Sport, Manual, Offroad.

4MATIC all-wheel drive

The Mercedes Class X 350d comes as standard with permanent 4MATIC all-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case as standard and an optional rear differential lock. This drivetrain is equipped with a central differential that distributes power between the front and rear axles with a fixed torque split of 40 to 60 per cent. This configuration, biased towards the rear axle, ensures better vehicle dynamics and greater lateral acceleration on the road.

Furthermore, with the optional rear differential lock, the classic power losses at one of the wheels (whether from uncontrolled slip or from the cornering effect itself) are avoided, improving the pick-up’s traction in many situations.

In this regard, it is worth noting that the Class X 350d has up to three all-wheel drive modes:

• 4MAT: for greater dynamism on the road
• 4H: for better off-road traction
• 4L: specially designed for crossing rugged and difficult terrain.

Images courtesy of the digital newspaper “Voces de Cuenca”

When it comes to the crunch, the 4MATIC drive system behaves with exquisite precision. At no point did I notice any loss of traction when going through fairly deep puddles or crossing muddy ruts. The effectiveness of this permanent all-wheel drive system on difficult terrain is undoubtedly greater than that of other systems that only engage all four wheels in certain situations.

Ultra-versatile chassis: outstanding performance on any terrain

The most surprising thing about this Mercedes Class X 350d is its great versatility on all types of terrain. It behaves like an SUV on the road (it has little to envy in dynamism from the Mercedes GLE) and offers off-road capabilities unmatched by most off-roaders on the market. This great versatility is due to a combination of elements. The first is its ladder-frame chassis with cross members, an option that is now largely obsolete and is only reserved for the purest off-roaders (the Class G is an example) and capable off the tarmac.

Images courtesy of the digital newspaper “Voces de Cuenca”

The second aspect, and the one that most sets it apart from its main rivals, is the suspension. On the front axle, the Mercedes Class X features an independent double-wishbone suspension (the most expensive and effective option for absorbing ground irregularities), the same option offered by its mainstream competitors. But on the rear axle it offers a rigid configuration with coil springs, an option that favours ride comfort of the vehicle compared with the leaf-spring suspensions fitted by some of its rivals (the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger, for example). That said, the latter option is more robust for carrying heavy loads in the bed (the open cargo area of the pick-up), but on the other hand it is harsher in its damping function.

Images courtesy of the digital newspaper “Voces de Cuenca”

The suspension tuning is one of the aspects I liked most about this pick-up. As I mentioned earlier, the Mercedes Class X offers astonishing composure on the road, while its ride comfort off the tarmac is also surprising. Driving across the countryside like an English lord is something I did not expect to experience in this Mercedes Class X 350d, but so it was… The damping absorbs all kinds of irregularities without the driver or passengers having to suffer excessively the consequences of an unexpected pothole. This should not be confused with a faulty off-road capability or lead us to think that the Mercedes Class X 350d is delicate; on the contrary, this pick-up is as rugged and capable on rough terrain as any other, only it does so without the driver suffering the irregularities of the ground.

The Mercedes Class X also has a track width greater than most of its competitors: 1,632 millimetres at the front and 1,625 millimetres at the rear; the Ford Ranger, for example, offers a track width of 1,560 mm on both axles. This promotes great stability on the road and allows higher speeds on winding roads. For such a tall and heavy vehicle, it is surprising how hard you can take a corner without risk of rolling over.

As for the braking system, the Mercedes Class X opts for large ventilated disc brakes on both axles, whereas some of its rivals fit drum brakes on the rear axle. This allows shorter braking distances and a high capacity to withstand heat.

Intelligent safety: as well equipped as any SUV

Like any Mercedes-Benz car (let us not forget that pick-ups are, legally speaking, commercial vehicles), the Class X 350d comes as standard with a comprehensive range of driver assistance systems. The most important are:

• Active brake assist
• Lane change detector
• Traffic sign assist
• Trailer stabilisation program
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• Emergency call system
• LED headlamps, fitted with six LEDs on each side to provide maximum light intensity.

Optionally, a reversing camera can also be chosen, at a cost of €380.

Extensive standard equipment with the Progressive trim

The top-of-the-range version of the Mercedes Class X (350d) comes as standard with the Progressive trim, which offers extensive equipment, highlighting the following elements:

• Front and rear bumpers in body colour
• 17-inch 6-spoke alloy wheels
• Halogen headlamps
• Heated and electrically adjustable exterior mirrors
• Rain sensor
• Black textured-surface instrument panel
• Silver shadow galvanised ventilation outlets
• Black Posadas fabric seat upholstery
• Manually adjustable front seats
• Leather steering wheel, gear lever knob and parking brake
• Aluminium sill trims and illuminated front footwell
• Audio 20 USB infotainment system
• Eight-speaker sound system
• Compass in the rear-view mirror
• Air conditioning
• Tie-down loops on the sides of the cargo bed base

Optionally, the Power line can be chosen, a trim that adds the following elements to what the Progressive trim already offers:

• Chrome rear bumper
• Chrome underbody cosmetic protection on the front bumper
• 18-inch 6-double-spoke alloy wheels
• High Performance LED headlamps and partial LED rear lights
• Heated, electrically adjustable and folding exterior mirrors
• Instrument panel with an upper section in ARTICO faux leather, including contrasting stitching and a large decorative element in matt black pixelated effect
• Silver shadow galvanised ventilation outlets
• Black ARTICO faux leather/DINAMICA microfibre seat upholstery
• Electrically adjustable front seats with lumbar support
• Storage net in the passenger-side footwell
• Interior mirror with automatic anti-glare function
• THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control
• KEYLESS GO

The Class X 350d also has a number of optional packs, such as the following:

• Winter pack (€399): heated driver and passenger seats, heated windscreen washer nozzles.
• Parking pack (€1,074): includes the PARKTRONIC system and 360-degree camera.
• Style pack (€2,565): includes an electrically opening tailgate window, tinted rear glass, side steps, roof rails and 19-inch 6-double-spoke alloy wheels.

Prices of the Mercedes Class X 350d

The Mercedes Class X 350d costs €55,964 for private buyers, but if the vehicle were purchased for business purposes (PFF) its cost drops to €40,276. These are the prices of the Mercedes Class X in its different versions: