Mercedes-Benz is one of the world’s leading luxury car brands with a catalogue of affluent SUVs and high-performance sedans that remain an aspirational purchase for many households.
It may therefore come as a surprise to some that Mercedes once tried its hand with bakkies – a vehicle type that is not traditionally associated with high-end lifestyles.
While premium double cabs have taken off over the last five years thanks to models like the BYD Shark, Kia Tasman, and the current-gen Ford Ranger and VW Amarok, it’s still not a segment that upmarket brands like BMW or Porsche have ever tried to tap into.
The same cannot be said of Mercedes, which used to sell a bakkie called the X-Class in South Africa.
The Stuttgart-based automaker does have a significant commercial vehicle sector that produces models like the V-Class, but a double-cab bakkie like the X-Class is an entirely different story.
It was developed in partnership with Nissan, which ultimately meant it shared the same architecture as the Navara.
It made for an enticing sales pitch, promising the luxury of a Mercedes with the proven ruggedness and reliability of a Japanese 4×4.
Luxury off-roaders are obviously not a new concept, but the segment has traditionally been dominated by SUVs like the Toyota Land Cruiser 300, Land Rover Defender, and Nissan Patrol.
While it was a novel idea, the premium double cab came at a price, as it was the first bakkie in South Africa to cross the R1-million mark.
This also put it in elite territory with well-established models like the Toyota Hilux Legend and the Ford Ranger Raptor, the latter of which is a halo product with special rally enhancements.
All of this meant that the X-Class failed to make much of an impression with buyers, both locally and abroad, as the vehicle’s production only lasted from 2017 to 2020.
One could argue that the Mercedes was actually ahead of its time, as newer models from various manufacturers have shown that there is a market for premium bakkies.
In any case, if you’re still interested in owning a pickup with the iconic three-pointed star on the bonnet, the good news is that a few units are still floating around on the second-hand market.
Mercedes X-Class in 2025
At the time of writing, there are 49 X-Class models listed on AutoTrader, the cheapest of which starts at R299,900 with 147,000km on the clock.
Several other models are also listed with prices in the R300,000 bracket with mileages over 100,000km.
Other outlets are selling the Mercedes for up to R649,900 with odometre readings just shy of six digits, so it seems like the price varies a lot between dealers.
The vehicle itself was sold with four different powertrains, ranging from a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.3-litre turbo-diesel to a 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel, and a range-topping 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel.
The V6 diesel is noteworthy as this was and still is a highly sought-after drivetrain for bakkies.
The first-generation Amarok offered one, and the V6 diesel has proven to be the most popular option for the current-gen Ranger and Amarok.
In fact, Ford plans to discontinue its mid-range 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel block next year to make way for more 3.0-litre V6 models, based on customer demand.
For comparison, the X-Class V6 produces 192kW and 550Nm, which is comparable to the 184kW and 600Nm you’d get from the new Ranger Wildtrak.
It’s another point that shows the X-Class may have paved the way for a new trend of upmarket bakkies, even if it wasn’t able to lead the charge.
Mercedes-Benz X-Class
Loading ...
