Mercedes-Benz’s X-Class bakkie looks poised to shake up the establishment when it officially arrives in SA at the end of 2018’s first quarter. The current crop of players — including the stalwart Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu KB, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and the Volkswagen Amarok — all play a specific role in the market. However, the X-Class will most likely occupy the upper echelons of the segment as it caters to buyers looking for a premium offering. It is fundamentally based on Navara underpinnings, but the German manufacturer is at pains to assure us much work has been done to get the product more in line with its design proviso. One of the elements was to make the vehicle feel more SUV in its ride quality, while managing to fulfil its utility role too. In the metal We attended the global reveal of the model in Cape Town and, following the unveiling of the stunning concept models in 2016, the anticipation to see the production models was palpable. In the metal the X-C...

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