The article was originally produced on January 20, 2019, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

The Mercedes pickup can now finally be had with a real V6 engine, which makes it practically perfect. I test drove this star-studded craftsman's dream.

Pickups are mainly associated with the USA and then with rumbling V8 engines. The world's best-selling car is, for example, a Ford F150 pickup. In Europe it doesn't look quite the same but the trend of driving pickups has exploded and even Mercedes has jumped on the bandwagon with their X-Class model.

Driving fuel-hungry pickup trucks in Europe is not politically correct, but European buyers won't settle for anything

Just like the Renault Alaska, the X-Class is basically based on the Nissan Navara, something some weren't entirely happy with. It was felt that Mercedes, with so many off-road models, should be able to build a pickup based on its own base. Just take the G-Class as an example, which is considered the world's best off-road car. So when the X-Class arrived and also had a four-cylinder engine, many were disappointed.

But now the X-Class has been released with a self-made 3.5 litre V6 diesel with 258 horses. With the new V6 engine, the X-Class really feels like it should from the start. There is plenty of power in all registers and the engine works calmly and relaxed even at higher speeds and under heavier stress. And if you only have the right authorisation on your driver's licence, you can tow up to 3,500 kilograms behind an X-Class V6.

When the V6 update came, some other updates came with it. For example, the dull gear lever knob that was all too reminiscent of Navarans disappeared. Now there is only a straight gap where the lever runs for the seven-speed automatic transmission. Behind the gear selector is a panel with various controls, including the wheel you turn to control the functions on the screen.

There is also a control here that you can use to select the driving programme. The X-Class V6 is equipped with five different programmes, Comfort, Eco, Sport, Manual and Off-road. In addition to the driving programs, the permanent four-wheel drive can be set in three different modes, 4H for easier off-road driving, 4L for difficult terrain and 4Mat for driving on normal roads. Rear diff lock is available as an option.

Unlike many of the other pickups on the market, the X-Class is among the safest. Among the safety systems that are available, we find course control and brake assistant that can intervene if the situation requires it. In addition, there is a system to stabilise the trailer, and should the accident still happen, there is an emergency call system in the X-Class.

What also differentiates the X-Class from other pickups is that it has keyless go, meaning that you can keep the key in your pocket when you start the car by pressing a button. To simplify parking and other situations when necessary, there is a 360 camera that can show the area around the car via the car's screen.

The whole of the X-Class V6 is really convincing and that especially thanks to the new engine. Getting this kind of comfort in a pickup truck is truly unique. Of course, a beefy V8 engine would be nice, and the rumour is that something like that might be in the works. But even a hybrid line would be nice and perhaps more politically correct to bring the pickups into the next phase of environmental awareness as well.

Mercedes X-Class V6

Basic price	From SEK 415,000
Engine	3-litre V6 diesel, 258 hp. Torque 550 Nm
Transmission	Front engine, 7G-TRONIC Plus, four-wheel drive
Acceleration	0-100 in 7.9 sec
Top speed	205 km/h
Fuel consumption mixed driving according to the manufacturer	0.88-0.90 l/mile
Weight	2,466 kg
Guarantees	New car 2 years, carriage damage 3 years, 30 years rust
Web	www.mercedes-benz.se