IT MUST HAVE SEEMED like a good idea at the time, but poor sales for Mercedes-Benz’s foray into the crew cab ute market means it will be discontinued in May.
It’s been a very short run. The X-Class was launched in 2017. Using much of the current Nissan Navara architecture, the X-Class is assembled in Spain and plans for an Argentinian production line have also been scrapped.
Mercedes-Benz rarely miscalculates and, in the past, has used other manufacturers’ architecture to dip its toe into the waters of markets it hasn’t previously attempted (the ML series is an example).
Putting the best face on it, M-B last week admitted the X-Class was a niche market model, even though it played “a great role in a few markets, including Australia and South Africa”. Everybody knows that Australia and South Africa aren’t sufficiently large markets to justify continued production of a model that isn’t successful elsewhere.
Sales of 2126 in 2019, following 1514 in 2018 (after its April launch) were disappointing and never looked like reaching the predicted sales of more than 4000 units in Australia. Even the release of a limited edition had little impact (see our story here).
Adding to the difficulties, the alliance between Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi meant the next-generation Navara would share its underpinnings with the Mitsubishi Triton.
It’s sad to see the end of the X-Class. From our experience with the vehicle, it was a completely different proposition to the Navara, far more civilised (thanks to its use of a coil-spring rear suspension) and certainly easier to live with on a day-to-day basis than most other crew cab utes. Using the Nissan 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesel engine was, in hindsight, probably a mistake, too. When Mercedes-Benz finally capitulated and used its own V6 engine, the X-Class finally felt like a proper Mercedes-Benz. Crucially, most people could clearly see that, despite the Mercedes star, the X-Class was still a humble Nissan, and they weren’t willing to pay the substantial premium.
Mercedes-Benz has assured owners that service and warranty coverage will not be affected.
If you’re in the market, now might be the ideal time to visit your Mercedes-Benz dealership and haggle.