Face Off
4x4 Magazine Australia|February 2019

Merc Slots In Its Own Diesel V6 To Take On The Mighty Amarok. Let The Battle Begin.

Toby Hagon
Face Off

IT'S WAR in the bush, at least when it comes to dual-cab utes, and the latest weapon of choice is the V6 turbodiesel. Ending an era dominated by four cylinders – and a rampant five-pot – Volkswagen unleashed its V6 Amarok on the emerging top-end dual-cab market in 2016. It’s something newcomer Mercedes-Benz couldn’t let slide, with a new arrival – the X350d – that sets up the ultimate German duel.

In decades of taking to the bush, Australians have largely relied on Japanese vehicles to get them out and back again. Even utes – once the domain of local manufacturers – are these days largely the domain of the Japanese. But Europe is fighting back, and big power is the artillery.

Those spending big on the Amarok Ultimate now get a performance upgrade in the form of a more potent tune from the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, something that brings a 580 badge. From traditional luxury fare comes the hotly anticipated V6 version of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class, known as the X350d. Each will drain close to $80K from your bank account and each can hold its head high against luxury machinery.

But what are they like where it counts – in the Aussie bush?

MERCEDES-BENZ X350D

IT’S NOT even a year on the market and already the X-Class family has expanded to include the vehicle many have been anticipating, the one with a V6 engine. While the X250d uses a proven Nissan/Renault four-cylinder powertrain, the X350d keeps things in-house, utilising a 3.0-litre all-Benz V6 also used in various other Mercs.

It’s an engine with pedigree, then, and one planned to broaden the appeal of a vehicle that’s got off to a slow start in the sales race, the price premium no doubt deterring the ute faithful; for every X sold Toyota shifts about 20 Hiluxes. But the V6 injects some much needed German flavour.

Denne historien er fra February 2019-utgaven av 4x4 Magazine Australia.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra February 2019-utgaven av 4x4 Magazine Australia.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA 4X4 MAGAZINE AUSTRALIASe alt
CORRUGATIONS.SAND, AND SPINIFEX
4x4 Magazine Australia

CORRUGATIONS.SAND, AND SPINIFEX

WHEN TALKING LEGENDARY TRACKS, THE CANNING STOCK ROUTE HAS THE TITLE OF LONGEST HISTORICAL STOCK ROUTE IN THE WORLD, BUT TACKLING ITS 1850KM IN A 1970S LAND ROVER MAKES FOR ONE INTERESTING DRIVE FOR THE TV CREW FROM SERIOUSLY SERIES. YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF BY VIEWING ROAD TO RUIN

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
PURE WATER
4x4 Magazine Australia

PURE WATER

THE GUZZLE H2O STREAM IS THE IDEAL WATER PURIFICATION SOLUTION FOR PROVIDING A RELIABLE SOURCE OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER OFF THE GRID

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
DOES IT GET ANY TOUGHER FOR THE AT52S?
4x4 Magazine Australia

DOES IT GET ANY TOUGHER FOR THE AT52S?

HAVING TACKLED SOME OF THE ROUGHEST TRACKS IN THE COUNTRY, THESE ALL-TERRAINS HAVE PASSED THE TEST

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
TOP 5 4X4 SPOTS IN SA
4x4 Magazine Australia

TOP 5 4X4 SPOTS IN SA

HERE ARE FIVE OF THE BEST 4X4 DESTINATIONS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
PLUGGING IN
4x4 Magazine Australia

PLUGGING IN

GWM IS STUDYING THE VIABILITY OF PLUG-IN HYBRID VERSIONS OF ITS POPULAR 4X4S FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET. WE GOT A CHANCE TO SAMPLE THEM ON TRACK

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
TOP TANK
4x4 Magazine Australia

TOP TANK

WE HAVE COME AWAY IMPRESSED AFTER A WEEK IN GWM’S TANK 500 HYBRID 4X4.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
HARD EARNED
4x4 Magazine Australia

HARD EARNED

HARD WORK AND THE RIGHT ADVICE HAVE HELPED JAMES ATKINSON BUILD THE PATROL OF HIS DREAMS

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
DYNAMIC DEBUT
4x4 Magazine Australia

DYNAMIC DEBUT

OUR FIRST TASTE OF THE LC250 COMES IN THE FORM OF THE LEXUS GX550 OVERTRAIL, AND THIS LUXURY 4X4 WAGON IMPRESSES BOTH ON THE ROAD AND OFF IT

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
BLACK GROWLER
4x4 Magazine Australia

BLACK GROWLER

IF YOU’RE GOING TO SWAP FROM A DOUBLE-CAB UTE TO A 4X4 WAGON, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO WITH THE BEST AVAILABLE. BRUCE HAS DONE JUST THAT AND EQUIPPED HIS GR SPORT 300 WITH THE BEST GEAR ON THE MARKET

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
2025 NISSAN PATROL MAKES GLOBAL DEBUT
4x4 Magazine Australia

2025 NISSAN PATROL MAKES GLOBAL DEBUT

CURTAINS DROP ON SEVENTH-GENERATION PATROL BUT NOT HERE UNTIL 2026

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024