This VW Australia Exec Is Not Impressed By The Mercedes X-Class

VW Australia's communications boss has a few things to say about the X-Class and its Nissan Navara origins
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.”

This VW Australia Exec Is Not Impressed By The Mercedes X-Class

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.

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Comments

Rise Comics

Look who’s talking

11/03/2017 - 21:53 |
0 | 0
Kalem Austin

“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”. This coming from a company that re-badges their low spec ‘Made as Volkswagens’ as Skodas,Audis and SEATs. They even put parts from Volkswagen vehicles in Bentleys to save a tiny bit of money. That’s a bit hypocritical.

11/04/2017 - 00:06 |
3 | 1
Anonymous

The front end looks good. The rear is horrible, it looks like a Great Wall ute.

11/04/2017 - 07:24 |
0 | 0
Rekord 86

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I’d say the other way ‘round

11/05/2017 - 13:44 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Let’s see how many europhiles will buy it just for the badge

11/04/2017 - 07:51 |
3 | 0
Anonymous

It’s funny how people are complaining about a Mercedes truck 😂
Mercedes has been making commercial vehicles (vans, lorries, etc.) for years now so why not a pickup? 😂

11/04/2017 - 11:05 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I guess the problem is not that they made a truck. The problem is that it’s based on a Nissan

11/04/2017 - 12:02 |
2 | 0