Guten tag mate Who would have ever thought we'd find ourselves broiling in the outback summer sun deciding which German 3
0-litre turbo-diesel V6 is the King of the Aussie 4x4 dual-cab heap. Arriving in the desert north-west of the Flinders Ranges via Stuttgart (but built in Barcelona alongside the Nissan Navara upon which it is based) comes the new 2019 Mercedes-Benz X 350 d 4MATIC Power — all $80,000 worth before you add options and on-road costs! From Wolfsburg via Hannover comes the Volkswagen Amarok V6 580 Ultimate
Amarok has been around for a long time in Australia, but this one is the most powerful (with provisos we'll explain later) and torquiest in the class
VW calls it the Big Bad Wolf. It's not quite as expensive as the Benz but it will still make a decent dent in your bank accountant
So, two powerful, expensive Germans versus the cruel Aussie outback. Achtung cobber! Time to get rolling
Why are we comparing the Mercedes-Benz X 350 d and Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate? Bragging rights — it's as simple as that
These two are the most powerful and gruntiest 4x4 dual cab utes on the market, as well as two of the most expensive (see below for more on that)
The Benz makes 190kW and 550Nm from its DOHC single-turbo diesel V6 mated to a seven-speed auto, averages 8
8L/100km and accelerates from 0-100km/h in a speedy – for a ute – 7.9sec. The Amarok also employs a 3
0-litre V6 diesel endowed with a single turbo, but in this case mated to an eight-speed auto
The power claim is 190kW, but that will climb to 200kW for 10sec on overboost (from third gear with more than 70 per cent throttle), topping the Benz for class bragging rights if little else
There's no contest when it comes to torque though. At 580Nm (hence the name), the Amarok is clearly number one
The fuel consumption claim is 8.9L/00km and the claim for the 0-100km-sprint is 7
3sec. In our experience the acceleration times were more believable than the consumption claims – shock! Fuel use drifted into the 12s across a combination of freeway, highway, dirt road, dirt track and technical off-road sections
How much do the Mercedes-Benz X-Class and Volkswagen Amarok cost? Before options or on-road costs, the Benz will set you back a hefty $79,415
This is the flagship model in the X-Class range, yet our test car still added black leather seat trim (up from the Artico artificial stuff) for $1750 and white metallic paint for $950
It also added a $1990 Style Pack that included privacy glass, a powered sliding window in the rear windscreen, side steps, roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheels (19s are standard)
Yes, are you still mulling that — an $80,000 vehicle where power rear windows are optional
Good Lord. Naturally, no ute is complete without accessories; so there's an $899 bedliner, $1551 silver sports bar and a $2063 towing kit
All up (still before ORCs)? $86,268. Good Lord! The Amarok starts at $71,990 and adds Iridium Grey metallic paint for $610 to reposition at $72,600 before ORCs
So, advantage Amarok. But be aware the Benz comes with autonomous emergency braking, active lane keeping assist that not only detects drift but corrects the steering, a surround view camera and seven airbags
The Amarok looks pretty poor in safety terms by comparison; it gets front and front-side airbags and a reversing camera… That's it
In terms of other equipment both have dual-zone climate control, satellite navigation, cruise control, power-operated front seats, all-round disc brakes, LED headlights and automatic transmission paddle shifters
The Mercedes-Benz X 350 alone has rear air-con vents, keyless start, voice control, multiple driving modes that affect the behaviour of engine, transmission and the stop/start system, as well as low range gearing for serious off-road work
The Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate comes standard with 20-inch alloys (but we tested it on 18s more suited to off-roading), better quality Nappa leather seat trim, a sports bar, side steps, a spray-on UV-resistant bed cover, a (small) touch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and reach as well as rake steering column adjustment
Another difference can be found in their rear suspensions; where the Amarok rides on orthodox leaf springs, the Mercedes-Benz uses coils
Crunch the numbers and the X-Class has a slight edge. Both can tow 3500kg braked and fit an 1165 x 1165mm Australian pallet
But the X 350 can carry 1010kg versus 836kg (in theory anyway). In terms of back-up, the X-class comes with a three-year/unlimited km warranty
Service intervals are 20,000km or one-year. Service plans vary in their up-front costs, from $2555 over three years
As of January 1, the Amarok has a five-year/unlimited km warranty. Service intervals are 15,000km/12 months and cost $1835 for the first three years
What does the Mercedes-Benz X-Class and Volkswagen Amarok do well? Well, the Mercedes-Benz X 350 d actually feels like a Benz for a start, which is more that can be said for its four-cylinder X 250 sibling
While the four-cylinder X-Class retains the Nissan Navara's drivetrain, the X 350 has a Benz engine, transmission and permanent 4MATIC 4x4 (including low range gearing and locking rear diff)
It simply drives more like a Benz. That means it steers, rides and handles with more authority and comfort — although severe corrugations still work it over, especially without a big load in the back
If you are planning big loads then make sure you give the coil rear-end a good workout because it has struggled with them in the Nissan and the X 250
The Benz is also the better vehicle off-road thanks to low range, which gives it that extra degree of control in severe off-road conditions compared to the VW's off-road mode
Give the Amarok credit through, scrambling around lifting wheels on the steep, rocky slopes of Mt Samuel in the Flinders Ranges, it got everywhere the Benz went, but just took a little more effort to do it
It was a close-run thing though. The Mercedes-Benz X-Class has better clearance entering an obstacle, the Amarok does better exiting
The X 350 d's hill descent control can be operated independently, whereas the Amarok's is integral to the off-road mode
Both of the V6 turbo-diesel utes kept reactivating their parking sensors… Very annoying
Another thing the Mercedes-Benz X 350 d does really well is stay hushed in the cabin
By ute standards this is a calm, quiet and pleasant place to be. Rear seat passengers also get more room than in the VW
The Benz does feel that bit more solid than the Volkswagen even though it weighs slightly less (2190kg versus 2244kg)
They are both porkers! Despite that, the Amarok goes fast in a straight-line, certainly faster than the Benz
The Volkswagen V6 engine is a free-spinner by diesel standards and launches hard
At the top end, the Benz is making ground, but the VW has the X-Class covered for traffic light grands prix and mid-range bursts
The Amarok also handles really well on or off-road, riding the bumps comfortably and handling well by the standards of the class
It's also pretty refined from a noise, vibration and harshness perspective. The Amarok has more storage options in the cabin, with plenty of handy bins and things
The flock lining in the door pockets is a nice touch. I'd give its bucket seats the edge as well, thanks to better side support
What could the Mercedes-Benz X-Class and Volkswagen Amarok do better? The Mercedes-Benx X 350d has really bad tip-in throttle lag, just press and wait and wait and, go
Very annoying and a fault almost bad enough to cost it this comparison test on that basis alone
One thing that saved it is the hesitation evaporates in low-range and isn't as bad in high-range if you engage sport mode
The interior, like the X 250, remans entirely underwhelming. Hey, by ute standards it's decent, but for an $80K anything, I expect better than hard surfaces, a pauper ambience and almost nowhere to put anything
The latter issue not helped by the floor-mounted transmission lever (Benz usually mounts them on the steering column these days)
But the VW fights back – so to speak. The lack of safety features, no low range and a pretty uninspiring cabin work against it – the parking brake on the wrong side of the centre console is an annoyance
At least the Amarok has the excuse of being eight years old! Both of them are way over-priced
Bloody hell, a simple ladder frame with a drivetrain and body bolted to it for $70K, let alone $80K! They're taking the piss
If I'm spending this sort of money for dual cab ute I'll have a Ford Ranger Raptor thanks – you can see where the money has been spent on that thing
If I'm budget-restricted, then I'll go for whatever's the best deal at the time. There's a reason Mitsubishi sells shedloads of Tritons
Is the Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate or Mercedes-Benz X 350 d better? You've probably already gathered we've ended up with a fair degree of frustration after spending some time with these two
For the money being charged here it's only right to expect more than what's being provided
If I had to pick a winner it would be the Mercedes-Benz X 350 d simply because it has the edge in safety equipment, not because it is a notably better vehicle than the VW
Indeed, in some ways – engine response and cabin equipment among them – the Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate 580 has the edge
But if I'm going to invest this sort of money in any vehicle then it should at least have up-to-date safety systems… How much does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz X 350 d Power cost: Price: from $79,415 (plus on-road costs) Engine: 3
0-litre V6 turbo-diesel Output: 190kW/550Nm Transmission: Seven-speed automatic Fuel: 8
8L/100km (ADR Combined) CO2: 230g/km (ADR Combined) Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2017) How much does the 2019 Volkswagen Amarok 580 Ultimate cost: Price: from $71,990 (plus on-road costs) Engine: 3
0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel Output: 190kW/580Nm Transmission: Eight-speed automatic Fuel: 8
9L/100km (ADR Combined) CO2: 234g/km (ADR Combined) Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2011)
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