'My bakkie has arrived!' The internet reacts to the new Mercedes-Benz X-Class in SA | Life

19 Jul 2017

Janine Van der Post

<i>Image: Wheels24</i>

Cape Town - Mercedes-Benz revealed its highly-anticipated X-Class bakkie in Cape Town on Tuesday.

The official global launch will take place in October 2017 while SA fans will have to wait until 2018 for the new X-Class to arrive locally.

And the price?

According to the automaker: "The Mercedes-Benz pick-up is attractively priced in the segment and is available in Germany from €37 294. Further market-specific prices will be made known successively."

Engine range

Mercedes has revealed the engine range for all markets. There are three 4-cylinder engines and a single 6-cylinder unit as follows:

X 200 - 122kW/238Nm
X 220 d - 120kW/403Nm
X 250 d - 140kW/450Nm
X 350 d - 190kW/550Nm

Here's what South Africans think of the new bakkie...

Those who love the new X-Class:

Packed in my backyard come October 2017
— otto tawanda chisiri (@tchisiri) July 18, 2017

I can imagine the price of this van yhoo
— bhut'Hlathi (@Sonwabile_Q) July 18, 2017

I love my Wildtrak... But this!!!

His-cerdes Benz ?????? https://t.co/sT3bydwF3j
— Zweli Ndhlovu (@JustZweli) July 18, 2017

Which would you choose?

Right... top or bottom? #Mercedes #MercedesBenz #XClass #XtraClass #Cars #CarsofInstagram #CapeTown #SouthAfrica #WorldPremiere #WorldReveal ??: @sean_parkersa
A post shared by Wheels24 (@wheels24_sa) on Jul 18, 2017 at 11:45pm PDT

Patrick Nicholls: The Toyota and now Ford Range offer a price range to capture both business and the middle to upper middle class South African. The New X-Class will do well in the Flashy and upper income class of buyer but I guess that is who you are targeting. So you will capture that section of the glitz market.

Jurie Nkadimeng: I think the Bakkie will take the local market by storm taking into considerations the quality products the Germans have been producing. I personally have a good belief in the product.

Raymond Becker: Will it compete in SA in the " Bakkie " range? Absolutely. If the launch price is comparable I'll be the first to buy one. Good news. I love my old Merc. At 300 000km she is going to be hard to park off. Will never sell her. 2007 C320 CDI. The best motor vehicle ever built. But I'll park her off for the x class.

Mike Sharples: Not another automaker climbing on the bakkie band wagon! However, I don’t think Toyota or Ford will be quivering in their boots - they’re selling more than 6000 bakkies between them every month in SA.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class Powerful Adventurer. #XClass #XtraClass #MercedesBenz #Mercedes #Bakkie
A post shared by Wheels24 (@wheels24_sa) on Jul 18, 2017 at 10:53am PDT

Off course, you won’t be seeing any X Class on construction sites either – who would want to pay a million (or whatever) when you can get a perfectly serviceable working double cab bakkie for less than half of that.

You’ll probably see one or two X Class with “designer dirt” running around Sandton – I mean, you can even open it with your cell phone – Hubba Hubba! Probably a great vehicle, but definitely aimed at the wealthy leisure market.

Nkosinathi Fudu: I am 100% sure your bakkie can withstand the conditions of South Africa. The products you mentioned are pretty good but because you have been in the game for some time even before the introduction of these products you will definitely out class them. Your engines are strong and long lasting. I see on the road a Mercedes Benz which I started to see in 1974 , the reason its on my mind is because it belonged to my University Rector you can imagine the impact it has on me.

Cwenga Mdala: The bakkie stands a chance of giving a Ford Ranger and VW Amarok a run for their money in terms of performance and comfortability. When it comes to reliability, durability, off road capability, fuel-efficiency and toughness, it surely won't match the two adorable legends of all time i.e Toyota and Isuzu. I don't think it will survive for our local harsh dirty roads besides affordability is gonna be a problem due to inflated prices on both entry level and top of the range models. Only time will tell how will it do on local market.

Lucious Bodibe: Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger are the most popular bakkies at the present moment. Given the current economic situation, it will take some time for the new X-Class sales to take off. It will however give the Hilux and Ranger a run for their money once the economy recovers.

Karel Van Niekerk: It looks stunning. It is all about price in SA but yes you can beat the current leaders in the market like Ford And Toyota.

Sharen Beryl Carr Naude: Very handsome! The look is powerful. I can see myself towing with it.

Joseline Do Amaral: Hope the price is in-line with the other makes and models, the I will trade in my Ford Ranger.

Bulelwa Nzo: Beauty at its best, I love it!

Alex McDonald: Ugly as usual but time will make us get used to it and like it.

Rudi Lombard: Gone are the days of boring Japanese bakkies. The Germans brought us Amarok and now this Benz!

John Fuller: Yeah! My bakkie has arrived - just need to work out how to pay for it!?

...And those who don't

TJ Motors: It's a glorified Nissan bakkie with a Merc drivetrain, and a big price tag, Ford and toyota are a better bet( Nissan is glorified Renault).

Alberto Rongo: Not a chance, it's going to be a city bakkie, not a work horse.

Alan Mayor King: Everything looks great until you get to the end of the cab. Rear end from all angles in these pics looks unfinished and like it doesn't match the rest. MB can't enter a market like this, at a premium price which it will be, and expect to challenge the established brands unless it ticks all the boxes. The most important factor now at launch is looks, and it isn't there as far as I'm concerned. Maybe and hopefully it can prove itself on and off the road.

And here it is, new Mercedes-Benz X-Class in Stylish Explorer form.
A post shared by Wheels24 (@wheels24_sa) on Jul 18, 2017 at 10:49am PDT

REVEALED: Mercedes-Benz X-Class Stylish Explorer unveiled in Cape Town, ????. #XClass #XtraClass #WorldPremiere #MercedesBenz #Mercedes #CapeTown #SouthAfrica
A post shared by Wheels24 (@wheels24_sa) on Jul 18, 2017 at 10:41am PDT

Marcel Erasmus: Just another overpriced ute. Why even? Waste of money.

Christo Retief: No comparison. This merc is not good looking at all.

Nkosingiphile Laduma Motha-Ngcobo: What a let down, from concept to this? Ladder frame Navara, suspension Navara, some model have Navara transmission. It also looks too close to the Navara. The front is not bad, but there is a big disconnect between the front and back. This is a rushed product, and it shows. Also steering wheel only height adjustable??!!

Frans Grundling: Ugly?? looks like a Foton at the back

We also asked our Wheels24 readers what they think of the new X-Class bakkie in a reader poll. See the results below:

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