This VW Australia Exec Is Not Impressed By The Mercedes X-Class
Remember when that BMW exec called the Mercedes X-Class “appalling”? Now someone from VW has taken a pop at Stuttgart’s new ‘lifestyle’ pick-up truck.
“It’s very difficult to disguise a Nissan Navara,” VW Australia corporate communications chief Paul Pottinger told Motoring. As a reminder, the X-Class is based on the ladder-framed pick-up from Nissan, and is built on the same production line.
“If I was a buyer I might be surprised [with the quality]. When a Mercedes-Benz owner opens the door and sees Nissan hinges, the game might be up,” Pottinger added. He refused to give his opinion on the styling, but did say that “it perhaps could be a polarising design.”
The X-Class may look remarkably similar to the Navara, but almost all of its body panels are bespoke. Which makes you wonder why Mercedes didn’t do more to differentiate them.
It’s quite different under the skin, too: it has different axles with a wider track, its own suspension setup aimed at sharpening up the driving experience, and is loaded up with a whole bunch of Mercedes safety electronics. The interior has been completely redesigned, incorporating bits from the C-Class and V-Class.
Regardless, it seems like this debate will rumble on.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Mercedes are just trying to be different am I right?
How ironic. Maybe our little guy did forget that it was as difficult to disguise a Dodge Grand Caravan?
I’m neither. Mercedes needs to stop this re-bandging sh*t. The X-Class is just a more expensive Navara, the Citan is just a more expensive Kangoo, and they even put RENAULT ENGINES into the lower spec A-Classes?! Unbelievable. What’s next? A 90 hp Dacia engine for the S-Class?
“as a buyer I might be surprised [with the quality]” Half the owners don’t even read or understand what goes on in their car, as long as it has a Merc badge, it’ll sell in huge numbers, so owners getting surprised:
If they sold these in the states, I don’t think I would ever buy one
Hey Matt, the upvote glitch thing is happening again. I don’t if it’s just me but I thought one of you guys should know
Remember this VW? I guess they’re speaking out of experience.
Sour grapes when this got replaced by the G-wagon
What if VW bought Holden? How would that be like..
I will say it’s the easiest way for a new car to begin it’s journey.
It might be based on a Navara bones. But if it did sell good, the X class can very possible get updated with new part, generated from the sales and after a while we might see a pure MB X class.