Pic Khulekani Dumisa

By Pearlo_za

Cape Town – In late 2018, we were invited to experience the newly launched and powerful X350d 4MATIC V6 engine.

Here are the facts…

Built for gravel roads, city traffic and twisting roads; the stylish X-Class impressed us with its dynamism and quick response. This beauty boosts a six-cylinder engine, 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission and 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive. The new X350d 4MATIC flagship model develops 190 kW and a peak torque of 550 Nm.

This performance double cab completes the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds. Its permanent all-wheel drive ensures driving stability and handling dynamics both on and off the road. At our fingertips, we had a choice of engine and transmission response levels, from comfortable to sporty. It is the perfect combination of sportiness of a passenger car and practicality of a pick-up.

Compared to the X250d, yes, the price of the X350d is higher; but so is the specification which delivers performance that can be expected from a 6-cylinder engine (vs. the 4-cylinder 250d). The new X350d will also be offered in two trim levels, Progressive and Power (similarly to the X250d) – both trims of the X350d are fitted with all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission as standard.

Pic Pearlo_za

Experiencing the X-Class V6…

On Thursday 29th November 2018, we drove from Cape Town International Airport to Franschhoek through a mix of terrains; city roads, freeway, mountain windy roads and off-road. At our fingertips, we had a choice of five driving modes, our favourite being Sporty mode while we were on-road. This gave us the exact amount of dynamic response we needed, especially when we were ascending along the windy Franschhoek slopes – not for the faint-hearted!

Off-road, the X350 V6 really showed-off. One can choose from three all-wheel-drive modes; 4MATIC for increased vehicle dynamics, 4H for improved traction off-road, and 4L for tough off-road terrain.

Pic by Pearlo_za

There are no words to describe the adrenalin that was pumping while facing the ground in the car. Perhaps a mounted camera in the cabin would have been useful to capture the screams! However, the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive with low-range reduction gear and an optional differential lock on the rear axle ensures excellent performance and traction on a wide range of driving surfaces.

Speaking of the cabin space, it presented quietness (no rattles or road noise) and high-quality furnishings, which would be familiar to Mercedes-Bens drivers. A notable issue was ergonomics, it would be great to be able to adjust the steering wheel for reach (pulling it forward). Additionally, there could potentially be more storage compartments that could be utilised to place a cellphone or additional cupholders for example.

So, what can you expect from the new X350 V6 engine? A highly capable off-road pick-up, with a touch of Mercedes-Benz performance and luxury.