October 26, 2017
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KZN’s Brett Swanepoel will be chasing Kenny Gilbert at the Atlas Copco Gold 400 in Gauteng’s West Rand this weekend. MORE RACING ON PAGE 4
… NOW YOU’RE MOTORING
XClass gets thumbs up in Chile SIBONELO MYENI discovers Chileans like their double cabs as much as we do in Mzansi THE Mercedes XClass double cab is one of the most hotly an ticipated cars not only in the bakkie segment but also inter estingly, the SUV segment. The local launch of the X220d and X250d is now confirmed aft er June next year, with the X350d coming later in the year. We, meanwhile, went to San tiago, Chile to find out if it’s worth the hype. South American countries are as mad for their bakkies as we are in Mzansi. In the city of Santiago every second car you see is a double cab, just like Durban. Wherever we stopped, the XClass caused a stir with on lookers who asked many ques tions in rapidfire Spanish (“En glisho speak” was generally our response). But their literal thumbs up suggests the XClass will create much fanfare in Mzansi. LED daytime lights, twinlou vre radiator grille with the prom inent threepointed star domi nate the front. 17inch to 18inch wheel options are offered with the 18s the one to go for. Metallic colour options and three levels of cladding are of fered, starting off with the entry level Pure, midrange Progres sive topping with the luxury Power. Customers can add a styling bar, canopy, various covers as well as numerous cargo and off
road solutions — all developed and designed by Mercedes. Of these two I’d take the rock sliderlookalike side steps, to add to that offroad look, and mud flaps. For to me the rear of the XClass looks unfinished with out large mudflaps. The fiveseat interior main tains the current design theme in MercedesBenz passenger cars, with the dash mounted central Command infotainment screen and really comfortable seats. The rear seats are positioned higher than the front, aiding all round visibility. Fit and finish is generally good but there are some suspect items that are not Merc level in terms of quality. There are three interior trim options, six seat covers includ ing two leather variants and two colour roof linings to help buyers customise their interiors. As usual with Merc, buyers will have an extensive list of inte rior options to choose from, which can quickly add half the vehicle’s value. Like all MercedesBenz vehi cles, the XClass features passive and active safety equipment in cluding Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Traffic Sign Assist, among others. Con nectivity is also offered with the Mercedes ME app. Three diesel engines are of fered, with two available at launch. The 2.3litre Turbo die
All the rear needs to finish the bakkie look are mud guards.
sel X220d has 120kW while the 2.3litre BiTurbo diesel X250d has 140kW. Both these models come with either rearwheel drive only, or shiftonthefly allwheel drive that has a low range. Unfortu nately, the rearwheel drive mod els don’t come with a rear diff lock, even as an option, a de mand that Merc should rectify as this is a big demand for Mzan si and European drivers. A sixspeed manual transmis sion comes standard with a sev enspeed automatic available as an option. At launch we drove the X250d allwheel drive and it felt refined especially from inside the cabin. Power delivery was noticeably better than its Navara cousin. Lowdown torque delivery aids off road drivability as well. On gravel and in offroad driv ing, the allwheel drive X250d offers unheard of levels of refine ment, noise insulation and vi bration management for the double cab segment and will def initely poach SUV buyers. We also got passenger rides in the X350d, the model set for launch in 2018. This model gets a 190kW/550Nm 3litre V6 Tur bo diesel linked to a 7G Tronic Plus Auto transmission driving through a permanent 4Matic allwheel drive system. The Dynamic Select is availa ble in addition. This model will definitely be the sports model for XClass buyers. The unique suspension setup allows for rugged roads as well as onroad refinement, offering SUV levels of comfort, albeit with that occasional “bakkie” feel over the bumps. The stiff suspension liked be ing pushed on the twisty bits of our test route, where the XClass felt surefooted with minimal understeer and roll. Rear passen ger comfort was also the best of any double cab I have ever sat in, including the KBs our KZN farmers like so much. • Full disclosure: MercedesBenz SA sponsored the trip to South America. • Catch Sibonelo Myeni live on Ukhozi FM, each Thursday from 7.45 am to 8 am.
The XClass was introduced to Chile’s bakkieloving drivers this week and our correspondent Sibonelo Myeni was there. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
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